The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) is a parastatal service organization under the Ministry of Health.  In 1980, NIMR took over all health research institutions in the country, which were previously administered by the East African Medical Research Council.  The institute's primary mission is to improve disease management, prevention, and control in the country.  NIMR's functions are to:

• Carry out medical research designed to alleviate disease among the people of Tanzania
• Conduct research of various aspects of local traditional medical practices to facilitate the development and application of herbal medicine
• In cooperation with the government, promote, or provide facilities for, the training of local personnel for carrying out scientific research into medical problems
• Monitor, control, and coordinate medical research carried out in Tanzania, or elsewhere on behalf of or for the benefit of the Government of Tanzania, and evaluate the findings of that research
• Establish a system for registration of the findings of medical research carried out within Tanzania, and promote the practical application of these findings to improve or advance the health and general welfare of the people of Tanzania
• Establish and operate systems of documentation and dissemination of information on any aspect of the medical research carried out by or on behalf of the Institute
• Control and manage the affairs of Centers vested in the Institute
• Assume responsibility for the control and management of any other Centers that may be established by the Institute or vested in the Institute
• Do anything necessary to uphold and support the credit of the institute and its research findings to obtain and justify public confidence and facilitate the proper and efficient performance of its functions