The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research and has always been on the forefront promoting ethics in biomedical and health research in the country. ICMR Bioethics Unit located at Bengaluru supports and foster initiatives towards ethical conduct of biomedical and health research in India. It is involved in development of ethical guidelines, policy and supplementary guidance related to various types of biomedical research conducted in the country. It is also involved in preparing tools and extends support for conducting programs for training and capacity building of ethics committees in the country.

It also works closely with various government organizations, regulatory agencies and ministries in guiding as well as supporting initiatives for implementing ethical conduct of research in the country.