Introduction

The Institute for Health Behavioural Research (IHBR) was established in 1999 and is one of the six institutes under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health. Its history started in 1987, as a division (Behavioural and Research Division) in the Institute for Medical Research (IMR).From 1996 till 1999, the division was upgraded as the Institute for Health Promotion (IHP) and at that time was still located in IMR. In December 2005, the Institute was relocated to Jalan Rumah Sakit Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur adjacent to the Institute for Public Health. The Institute occupies a vacant building and together with other research institutes form under the National Institutes of Health umbrella. Subsequently, the Health Education Division in the Institute for Public Health was merged with Institute for Health Promotion (IHP). The Institute for Health Promotion (IHP) was renamed as The Institute for Health Behavioural Research (IHBR) in 2006.

The Institute for Health Behavioural Research (IHBR) is under the administration of Research and Technical Support Programme under the Ministry of Health. Since 2006, the institute has expand its capacity and functions which includes research, training, advisory and consultancy services in health behaviour.

It is determined to be a leading institute in the field for health behavioural research and health promotion training centre. In its quest for excellence, the Institute has put various plans in place including training its staff in specific fields such as research and training methodology, increasing the number of personnel in the relevant fields of expertise from time to time, collaborating with a wide range of organizations and sourcing consultations from various renowned local and international organization.