Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) is an apex research organization operating under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. Since its inception in March 1978, the CCRUM has been dedicated to pioneering research and development in the field of Unani Medicine. Headquartered in New Delhi, it operates through a robust network of 23 research centers strategically positioned across the nation. Our primary mission is to foster innovative research, promote excellence in Unani Medicine, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare through evidence-based practices. With a strong commitment to quality and collaboration, the CCRUM strives to create a positive impact on public health and wellbeing.

With state-of-the-art facilities accredited by prestigious agencies like the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and GMP certified pharmacies as well as dedicated research personnel, the CCRUM has made significant strides to achieve its objectives. The research endeavours encompass a wide array of areas:

• Survey and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants: The CCRUM has collected over 1 lakh specimens of medicinal plants from 5000 species and documented about 10,000 folk medicinal claims. It also cultivates 30 plant species and maintains a collection of 400 rare and endangered Unani medicinal plants.
• Drug Standardization: The CCRUM has developed pharmacopoeial standards for 338 single and 200 compound drugs, fostering quality assurance and standardization in Unani Medicine.
• Literary Research: Translation of 66 volumes of classical books, compilation of 22 books, preparation of a vast database of manuscripts, and reprinting of over 70 rare classical books showcase our commitment to preserving Unani heritage.
• Research on Fundamentals: The CCRUM has conducted over 30 studies to validate core principles and fundamentals of Unani Medicine. It aims to align traditional Unani theories with modern biology.
• Preclinical Research: The CCRUM has conducted safety and toxicology studies on 115 single drugs and coded formulations and pharmacological studies on 70 Unani formulations.
• Clinical Research: The CCRUM has completed 130 randomized clinical trials and around 50 projects on the clinical validation of drugs, while 70 such projects are in progress. These initiatives contribute to the evidence-based validation of Unani formulations.

Besides, the CCRUM plays active role in public health through OPD and IPD services, co-location health centres, mobile clinical research program under Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan and school health program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCRUM actively engaged in research and published studies related to the disease. Crucial information, advisories on preventive measures, and prophylactic Unani drugs were provided to those at high and moderate risk.

To blend education with research, the CCRUM conducts MD programs in Mu‘alajat (Medicine) and ‘Ilm al-Adwiya (Pharmacology) at the National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad, and the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Srinagar.

The CCRUM publishes periodicals, books, booklets, brochures, and leaflets in English, Hindi, Urdu, and regional as well as foreign languages. The periodicals include the Hippocratic Journal of Unani Medicine and Jahan-e-Tib, both journals recognized by UGC-CARE. It has also produced about 300 books, monographs and reports, besides IEC materials.

The CCRUM has implemented A-HMIS, NAMSTE Portal and SNOMED-CT projects under Ayush Grid scheme of the Ministry of Ayush. It has also developed five mobile apps – ‘Unani Treatment Guideline’, ‘Single Unani Drugs’, ‘Common Remedies in Unani Medicine’, ‘Know Your Temperament’ and ‘Unani Murakkabat’.

The CCRUM actively collaborates with renowned scientific institutions both nationally and internationally. Our collaborations span institutions such as ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hyderabad; Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, New Delhi; National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, New Delhi; National Research Development Corporation, New Delhi; Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi; Gurugram University, Gurugram; Islamic University of Science and Technology, Jammu & Kashmir; Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi; Accelerating Growth of New India's Innovations – AGNIi, New Delhi; SRMIST University, Tamil Nadu; Amity University Noida, University of Kashmir, Srinagar; Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir; Integral University, Lucknow; National Institute of Unani Medicine, Bengaluru; ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad; National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Hyderabad; CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad; Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay; CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad; etc.  These partnerships enable us to leverage collective expertise and resources for the advancement of Unani Medicine.

At the international level, the CCRUM is playing an active role in the globalization of Unani Medicine. Collaborations with institutions in Bangladesh, Tajikistan, South Africa, Iran, etc. alongside cooperation with the World Health Organization, underscore our commitment to spreading the benefits of Unani Medicine worldwide.

With over four decades of impactful research, the CCRUM is poised to achieve even greater milestones in the years ahead. We are dedicated to fostering ongoing research and development activities, further enhancing Unani Medicine's credibility, effectiveness, and accessibility.

Dr. N. Zaheer Ahmed

Director General