The IMR is the research arm of the Ministry of Health Malaysia . Research programmes of the Institute are geared towards the various identified priority areas, which is in line with the health problems in the country. Research findings and results are used by managers and administrators, in the various ministries and other government agencies, in forming, implementing and evaluating programmes and activities for the diagnosis, prevention and control of diseases in the country.

Recent and current and/or on-going research activities are carried out by the following centres/units:

- Allergy and Immunology Research Centre ( AIRC )

- Cancer Research Centre ( CaRC )

- Haematology Unit
- Molecular Pathology Unit
- Stomatology Unit

- Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Nutrition Research Centre ( CDNRC )

- Cardiovascular Unit
- Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders Unit
- Nutrition Unit

- Environmental Health Research Centre ( EHRC )

- Herbal Medicine Research Centre ( HMRC )

- Information Unit
- Bioassay Unit
- Toxicology & Pharmacology Unit
- Phytochemistry Unit

- Infectious Diseases Research Centre ( IDRC )

- Acarology Unit
- Bacteriology Unit
- Entomology Unit
- Parasitology Unit
- Virology Unit

- Medical Research Resource Centre ( MRRC )

- Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit
- Biotechnology Unit
- Information Technology Unit
- Electron Microscopy Unit
- Laboratory Animal Resource Unit
- Library & Information Resource Unit
- Medical Photography & Audio Visual Unit
- Biomedical Museum

- Specialized Diagnostics Centre ( SDC )

- Biochemistry Unit
- Molecular Diagnostics and Protein Unit