The Parasitology Unit of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), under the Infectious Disease Research Centre (IDRC), traces its roots to the early divisions of Helminthology, Protozoology, and later the Malaria & Filariasis Division. The Unit was formally reorganized as the Parasitology Division in 1992 and, in 1996, absorbed the research, diagnostic and training functions of the former Malaria & Filariasis Division.

Today, the Parasitology Unit serves as a national reference laboratory for parasitic diseases, providing specialized diagnostic services for gastrointestinal and blood parasites, malaria including simian malaria such as Plasmodium knowlesi and P. cynomolgi, and other medically important parasitic infections. Its research portfolio encompasses malaria, helminths, intestinal protozoa, filariasis, leishmaniasis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and emerging parasitic infections such as Anisakis. The Unit undertakes multidisciplinary research integrating epidemiology, molecular diagnostics, submicroscopic parasite detection, genetic and population studies, antimalarial drug resistance, genetic manipulation, protein expression and characterization, bioinformatics, computationally aided research and in silico modelling. The Unit also supports postgraduate and professional training, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Parasitology and Entomology (DAP&E) under the purview of SEAMEO-TROPMED, and provides technical consultation and advisory services to the Ministry of Health and other agencies.