Naval Medical Research Unit Indo-Pacific
A United States Navy biomedical research unit focused on infectious diseases and laboratory support in the Indo-Pacific region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Naval Medical Research Unit Indo-Pacific is a United States Navy biomedical research organization formerly known as Naval Medical Research Unit Two, or NAMRU-2. It belongs to the Naval Medical Research Command, whose headquarters are in Silver Spring, Maryland, and operates as part of the Navy's international network of medical research laboratories. Its principal mission is to identify, investigate, monitor, and help control infectious diseases that may affect military personnel, deployed forces, civilian populations in partner countries, and regional public-health systems. The unit was established in 1944 at Rockefeller University in New York City, with Captain Thomas Rivers as its commanding officer. It moved to Guam in 1945 to address medical problems associated with United States Navy and Marine Corps operations in the Pacific during the Second World War. After a period in which its institutional identity and location changed, the unit was re-established in Taipei in 1955 under Captain Robert Allan Phillips. Phillips led the organization for roughly a decade and helped persuade Navy leaders that a permanent Pacific research capability was strategically important. NAMRU-2's work has combined laboratory science, epidemiological surveillance, clinical investigation, medical entomology, outbreak response, and diagnostic support. Its research portfolio has included malaria, cholera, dengue fever, influenza, shigellosis, rubella, febrile illness, antimicrobial resistance, and other diseases of operational or regional significance. The organization has often worked with ministries of health, national public-health institutes, hospitals, universities, and United States diplomatic and defense organizations rather than functioning as a conventional commercial laboratory. Historically, the unit maintained or opened activities in Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore. Political and diplomatic developments shaped its geography. Following United States diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China in 1979, the command moved from Taipei to Manila. In 1990, political instability and security concerns prompted another move, this time to Jakarta. The Indonesian facility operated in cooperation with the Indonesian Ministry of Health's National Institutes of Health and occupied laboratory, office, and storage space within the ministry's compound. That arrangement ended when the bilateral agreement expired in 2000. Cambodia became an important regional base in the early twenty-first century. NAMRU-2 established activities in Phnom Penh in 2002 at the National Institute of Public Health, supporting infectious-disease research and diagnostic laboratory services. In 2007, the Phnom Penh activities were formally recognized as a detachment, while another detachment was established within the Office of Defense Cooperation at the United States Embassy in Singapore. These arrangements reflected the Navy's increasing emphasis on emerging infectious diseases and regional surveillance. The unit's present-oriented activities include surveillance of undifferentiated febrile illness, avian influenza monitoring, investigation of shigellosis morbidity, research into drug-resistant malaria, and medical entomology. Its role is therefore both scientific and operational: it generates evidence about pathogens and vectors, strengthens diagnostic capacity, supports outbreak investigations, and contributes to force-health protection. Unlike a consumer-facing brand, NAMRU-2 is an institutional military research identity whose value is expressed through scientific findings, partnerships, surveillance systems, and public-health support.
History
Naval Medical Research Unit Indo-Pacific originated in 1944 as Naval Medical Research Unit Two at Rockefeller University in New York City. Captain Thomas Rivers served as its first commanding officer. In 1945, the unit moved to Guam, where it addressed medical problems affecting Navy and Marine Corps forces engaged in Pacific operations during the Second World War. In 1946, the organization was redesignated the United States Naval Institute of Tropical Medicine, reflecting an emphasis on tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. During this period it developed a cholera treatment regimen that used whole-blood and plasma-specific-gravity observations to guide the replacement of extracellular fluid. The institute was subsequently disestablished, but the Navy later revived the NAMRU-2 designation as regional medical research needs grew. In 1955, Commander Robert Allan Phillips persuaded Navy leaders to restore a permanent Pacific research presence. NAMRU-2 was re-established in Taipei, Taiwan, with Phillips as commanding officer. He remained in command for approximately ten years. The Taipei laboratory became a base for research into tropical infections and diseases of importance to military personnel and regional populations. The unit expanded its regional reach in the 1960s. In 1961 it responded to cholera problems in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It also established a collaborative research site at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila during an El Tor cholera outbreak. Work there helped establish practical principles for intravenous fluid replacement in cholera patients. In 1966, NAMRU-2 opened a detachment at the Naval Support Activity Hospital in Da Nang, South Vietnam. Lieutenant Myron Tong conducted influential studies of pathogens associated with combat wounds, including early descriptions of Acinetobacter baumannii infection among combat casualties. The Da Nang detachment closed in 1970. Also in 1970, Indonesian Ministry of Health officials invited NAMRU-2 to establish a detachment in Jakarta. The unit's location changed again in 1979, when United States recognition of the People's Republic of China led to the transfer of the command from Taipei to Manila. In 1990, political upheaval and concerns about the safety of American personnel prompted a further relocation from Manila to Jakarta. The Jakarta operation occupied laboratory, office, and storage facilities within the Indonesian Ministry of Health's National Institutes of Health compound. During the 1990s, researchers in Indonesia conducted important studies of primaquine as a potential primary prophylaxis for falciparum and vivax malaria among Javanese men living in Irian Jaya. The Indonesian agreement expired in 2000, and the Jakarta facility closed. In 1998, NAMRU-2 became part of the reorganized Naval Medical Research Center, integrating it into a broader Navy medical research structure. NAMRU-2 established operations in Phnom Penh in 2002 at the National Institute of Public Health. The Cambodian laboratory supported regional infectious-disease research, outbreak investigations, and diagnostic services. In 2007, the Navy formally designated the Phnom Penh activities as a detachment and opened a parallel detachment within the Office of Defense Cooperation at the United States Embassy in Singapore. The changes reflected the Navy's growing focus on emerging infectious diseases and on distributed regional surveillance. The unit's research and surveillance agenda has included febrile illness, avian influenza, shigellosis, drug-resistant malaria, medical entomology, cholera, dengue, rubella, and other diseases with military or public-health significance. In 1969, NAMRU-2 researchers were reported to have demonstrated the role of an attenuated rubella vaccine in preventing naturally acquired disease in humans. Across its history, the organization has operated through partnerships with national health ministries, public-health institutes, hospitals, universities, diplomatic missions, and military medical organizations. Its current identity as Naval Medical Research Unit Indo-Pacific reflects the geographic and mission scope of the former NAMRU-2 network.
- 2007
Phnom Penh and Singapore detachments formalized
[1]The Phnom Penh operation became a formal detachment, and a second detachment opened at the United States Embassy in Singapore.
- 2002
Phnom Penh laboratory activities established
[1]NAMRU-2 began operating from a laboratory at Cambodia's National Institute of Public Health.
- 2000
Jakarta facility closed
[1]The Indonesian government agreement expired and the Jakarta facility ceased operations.
- 1998
Joined the reorganized Naval Medical Research Center
[1]NAMRU-2 became part of the reorganized Naval Medical Research Center.
- 1990
Command relocated to Jakarta
[1]The command moved from Manila to Jakarta amid political upheaval and concerns about threats to United States personnel.
- 1979
Command relocated from Taipei to Manila
[1]Changes in United States diplomatic recognition led to the transfer of the command to the Philippines.
- 1970
Jakarta detachment established
[1]At the invitation of Indonesian health officials, the unit established a research detachment in Jakarta.
- 1969
Rubella-vaccine research
[1]NAMRU-2 researchers demonstrated the preventive role of an attenuated rubella vaccine against naturally acquired disease.
- 1966
Da Nang detachment opened
[1]A detachment opened at the Naval Support Activity Hospital in Da Nang, where research examined infections in combat wounds.
- 1961
Expanded cholera research in Southeast Asia
[1]The unit responded to cholera outbreaks in Indonesia and the Philippines and collaborated with San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.
Products and positioning
A U.S. Navy regional biomedical research and surveillance organization serving military medicine, force health protection, and partner-country public-health needs in the Indo-Pacific.
Disease surveillance
Febrile-illness surveillance
Regional surveillance of undifferentiated fever helps identify infectious causes of illness among military personnel and local populations. The work can support early recognition of outbreaks, improve diagnostic understanding, and inform force-health protection and public-health responses.
Tropical medicine
Malaria research
NAMRU-2 has conducted research into malaria prevention, treatment, drug resistance, and transmission. Its Indonesian work included clinical investigation of primaquine as prophylaxis against falciparum and vivax malaria, while its wider regional activities have addressed malaria risks relevant to deployed forces and endemic communities.
Emerging infectious diseases
Avian-influenza surveillance
The unit monitors avian influenza and related emerging-infection risks in the Indo-Pacific. This activity combines laboratory diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, and cooperation with regional health institutions to improve awareness of pathogens that could affect military readiness or civilian populations.
Enteric disease research
Cholera research and outbreak support
Cholera has been a major historical research field for the organization. NAMRU-2 investigated outbreaks in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, developed approaches to fluid replacement, and worked with San Lazaro Hospital in Manila on clinical questions concerning intravenous rehydration.
Vector-borne disease research
Medical entomology studies
Medical entomology research examines insects and other arthropods involved in disease transmission. The work supports understanding of vector ecology, malaria and other vector-borne infections, and practical measures for protecting personnel operating in tropical environments.
Marketing campaigns
- 2002Phnom Penh regional laboratory program
Cambodia · Southeast Asia
NAMRU-2 opened and staffed a laboratory at Cambodia's National Institute of Public Health to conduct regional infectious-disease research and provide diagnostic support.
Outcome. The Phnom Penh operation became a continuing regional platform and was formally recognized as a detachment in 2007.
- 1961Southeast Asian cholera investigations
Indonesia · Philippines
The unit investigated cholera outbreaks in Sulawesi and the Philippines and collaborated with San Lazaro Hospital during an El Tor cholera outbreak.
Outcome. The collaborative work helped validate principles for intravenous fluid rehydration in cholera treatment.
- 1958Bangkok cholera response
Thailand
NAMRU-2 responded to a cholera epidemic in Bangkok, extending its regional role in enteric-disease research and clinical support.
Outcome. The response contributed to the unit's reputation and expertise in cholera research and treatment.
Brand decisions
2007
Formalization of regional detachmentsStrategyBackground
Navy Medicine was placing greater emphasis on global emerging infectious-disease threats and distributed surveillance.
Action taken
The Phnom Penh activities were recognized as a detachment and another detachment was opened within the Office of Defense Cooperation at the United States Embassy in Singapore.
Aftermath
The arrangement broadened the unit's regional operating network and linked laboratory research with diplomatic and defense cooperation structures.
2002
Creation of the Phnom Penh laboratory presenceStrategyBackground
The Navy sought stronger regional capacity for infectious-disease surveillance, outbreak research, and diagnostic support.
Action taken
NAMRU-2 established activities at Cambodia's National Institute of Public Health.
Aftermath
The site became a regional research and diagnostic-support platform and was designated a detachment in 2007.
1990
Relocation from Manila to JakartaStrategyBackground
Political upheaval and possible threats to United States personnel affected the suitability of the Manila location.
Action taken
The command moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where it operated within the Indonesian Ministry of Health's National Institutes of Health compound.
Aftermath
The Jakarta facility continued regional research until the bilateral agreement expired and the facility closed in 2000.
1979
Relocation from Taipei to ManilaStrategyBackground
Changes in United States diplomatic recognition altered the political and operational environment for the Taiwan-based command.
Action taken
The command was relocated from Taipei to Manila in the Philippines.
Aftermath
The move preserved a Pacific regional research presence before a later relocation to Jakarta.
Recent events
- 2007
Phnom Penh activities recognized as a detachment[1]
Other
Navy Medicine recognized the Phnom Penh operation as a formal detachment and established another detachment at the United States Embassy in Singapore.
- 2002
NAMRU-2 establishes activities in Phnom Penh[1]
Other
The unit established a Phnom Penh laboratory presence at Cambodia's National Institute of Public Health to support regional infectious-disease research and diagnostic services.
Sources2 sources
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