MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London

Science for Health

Facts and figures

Quick facts and figures about NIMR

more than 200 scientists work at NIMR
with roughly 100 PhD students
they are joined by 100 externally funded post-doctoral fellows
and are supported by over 200 research support and ancillary staff
Professor Jim Smith was appointed Director of NIMR in January 2009
NIMR is the largest research institute supported by the Medical Research Council
it is funded by the British taxpayer
it was founded in 1913 and scientists began work in 1914, though the premises at Mount Vernon Hospital in Hampstead, were not occupied until 1920 due to the outbreak of the First World War
the Institute moved to its current location in Mill Hill in 1950
the building at Mill Hill was designed by Maxwell Ayrton, also the architect of nearby Wembley Stadium
construction of the current building began in 1937, but when war broke out in 1939 the uncompleted building was handed over to the Women's Royal Naval Service.
after the war it was handed back to the scientists in the autumn of 1949, and was officially opened on the 5th of May 1950, by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
the human influenza virus was identified at NIMR in 1933
The WHO World Influenza Centre (WIC) was established at NIMR in 1948 at the behest of the newly formed World Health Organisation (WHO)
Today the World Influenza Centre (WIC) at NIMR one of is one of four WHO Collaborating Centres for Reference and Research on Influenza