The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University was originally founded in March 1942, as the East Asian Research Institute of Endemics, in order to perform basic and applied studies on endemic diseases in East Asia. At the beginning, most of its research activities were field studies in mainland China, performed by several department such as Pathology, Bacteriology, Internal Medicine and Dermatology of Nagasaki College of Medicine. Unfortunately, all the facilities and research materials were completely destroyed instantaneously along with the Medical School by the atomic bomb which exploded on August 9th, 1945. As a result, development of the institute and its research activities were severely inhibited.
　　In April 1946, the institute was named as the Research Institute of Endemics attached to Nagasaki College of Medicine, and moved to Isahaya City in May in order to resume its research activities. In accordance with the Act on the Foundation of National Schools in May 1949, the institute was renamed as the Research Institute of Endemics, Nagasaki University. Becauce of the severe flood in Isahaya City, the construction of the new building in Sakamotomachi, Nagasaki City was started in 1960, and the institute moved to new building in April, 1961. At that time, there were only two departments, Pathology and Clinics, however, since 1964, new departments were established every Year, such as Epidemiology, Parasitology, Virology and at the end of 1966, the first extension of the building was completed.
　　In June 1967, according to the partial alteration of the Act on the Foundation of National Schools, the name of the institute was changed to the present one, in order to perform basic as well as applied studies on tropical medicine. At the same time, the Department of Internal Medicine of the institute with 20 bed facilities was opened in the University Hospital. In 1974, Department of Bacteriology and Reference Center as an attached facility were opened. In 1978, the Department of Preventive Medicine suppoeted by visiting staff and the Training Course of Tropical Medicine were started. In 1979, Ward of Infectious animals became Animal Research Center. In March 1980, the 2nd extension of the main building was concluded. In September 1983, the Training Course in Research for Tropical Medicine by JICA was opened. In 1984,Department of Protozoology was established. In July 1985, the 3rd extension of the building was completed. In 1987, Department of Medical Entomology was established. In 1989, the institute was reorganized to a collaboration research institute. In 1991, Department of Biochemistry was added. In March 1994, the 4th extension of the building was completed, and in April, 1994, the institute was reorganized to 3 research fields, Tropical Microbiology, Pathogenesis and Clinical Sciences, and Environmental Medicine, with addition of 2 new research departments, Thermal Adaptation and Social Environment, and the institute has 12 research departments at present. In 1995, the Institute was designated as one of the "Centers of Excellence" in the forefront of scientific research. In 1996, a new research department, Molecular Epidemiology, was established under the Research Field of Microbiology to invite an overseas visiting professor. In 1997, the Reference Center was abolished and in its place the Information and Reference Center of Tropical Medicine was established, symbolizing continuous consolidation and re‐organization of the Institute.