Following the collapse of the East African Community (EAC) in 1977, the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) was established by the Act of parliament No.23 of 1979 and became operational in October 1980. Tanga Medical Research Centre (NIMR Tanga) , is one of the Centres of the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR).
NIMR Tanga Centre had been operating as a Field Station and then Research Station known as Bombo under the NIMR Amani Centre until August 2005. Bombo Station, which had been researching on filariasis during the EAC as Tanga Centre, continued to work under the supervision of Amani Centre until it became fully operational in September 2005 when most research activities were shifted from Amani to Tanga. The Centre is situated next to Bombo Regional Hospital in Tanga City.
Most of the Laboratory activities are carried out at the Amani Biomedical Research Laboratory (AMBRELA). Tanga Centre is managed by a Director appointed by NIMR Council.