HIV infection was detected in India for the first time in 1986. In the early nineties it became evident that HIV was spreading widely in the country and the national efforts for its containment required multi-disciplinary research involving virology, immunology, microbiology, clinical research, epidemiology, field based trials and socio behavioural investigations. An institute devoted exclusively to HIV/AIDS research was thus formed in 1992 with the name ‘National AIDS Research Institute (NARI)’.

ICMR-NARI is located at Bhosari, Pune on a seven acre plot. Since its inception the Institute has ably supported the National AIDS Control Programme, especially in the areas of surveillance, capacity building, laboratory services and drug resistance studies. ICMR-NARI derives strength from wide ranging National and International Collaborations.

The Institute's research activities are guided by a Scientific Advisory Committee which includes eminent scientists from varied disciplines. All research projects are reviewed and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee, which ensures that a research activities are conducted maintaining highest ethical standards. Community involvement and community participation in the studies have always been followed as core principal from the conception of new ideas to implementation and final dissemination of results.