The first Council was chaired by Dr Charles Toh, a well known cardiologist in Singapore,Comprising the following professionals, a wide range of research areas were represented:

Dr Chen Ai Ju
Prof Soo Khee Chee
Prof Tan Chorh Chuan
Prof John Wong
Prof Woo Keng Thye
Prof Christopher Tan
Prof Peter Hwang
Prof Lee Bee Wah
Prof Feng Pao Hsii
Dr Ronald Paul Ng
Dr Toeh Eng Soon

This pioneering Council established a fundamental framework in the funding of clinical research in Singapore. Firstly, they identified 4 priority research areas, namely: cancer; cardiovascular; eye and neurological disease.

Secondly, they established the NMRC funding framework to fund clinical research projects (IRG, Individual Research Grants); research programmes and research facilities (IBG, Institutional Block Grants); medical research fellowships and scientist awards; in addition to protected time for physician researchers.

The IRG was the first peer reviewed competitive research grant for clinical research provided in Singapore. The first Council established a collaborative partnership with the Canadian Medical Research Council (CMRC) (the current CIHR, Canadian Institutes of Health Research). With limited local expertise to conduct scientific peer review, the NMRC was very grateful to the CMRC for their input and support for the peer review.

Under the IBG, the Council proposed to fund four national specialty centers, in line with the four strategic research areas set: National Cancer Centre (NCC); National Heart Centre (NHC); National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) and Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI).

This was the creation of the research infrastructures in the four institutions and allowed each of the institutions to specifically focus on its' own disease area respectively.

In addition, key research programmes were established and funded through NMRC grants, including the Clinical Trial and Epidemiology Research Unit (CTERU); Department of Clinical Research (DCR) and Department of Experimental Surgery (DES); National University Medical Institute (NUMI) and Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

During its term, the first Council awarded grants to more than 30 researchers under the NMRC Fellowship programme, to pursue clinical research studies. This helped to significantly build up Singapore's clinical research competency. The awardees include: Dr Michael Chee; A/ Prof Kong Hwai Loong; A/Prof Pierce Chow; A/Prof Goh Boon Cher; A/Prof Hong Ga Sze; A/Prof Lim Su Chi; Dr Philip Karuman; Dr Philip Wong En Hou; A/Prof Soong Tuck Wah; Dr Tan Eng King; Dr Gerrard Teoh; etc. Many of these individuals are now well established and respected clinical scientists in Singapore.

The second Council was chaired by Prof Lim Yean Leng, who is an internationally renowned cardiologist and was, at that time, the Director of the National Heart Centre.The members of the second Council, which had more of an International representation, comprised:

Prof Peter Hwang
Prof Soo Khee Chee
Prof Tan Chor Chuan
Prof Lee Eng Hin
Prof Yap Hui Kim
Dr Chew Suok Kai
Dr Richard Guan
Prof Sir Roy Calne
Prof Moti Kai Kashyap
Prof Louis Lim
Prof Edison Liu
Prof Richard T Johnson
Dr Stephen Wise

The Second Council continued its efforts to promote and fund medical research. However, its focus was to ensure that the research funded had international worthiness and would contribute significantly to the advancement of medical knowledge locally and internationally.

It was committed to fund a whole spectrum of medical research from population-based studies to clinical trials and basic research with the aim of having this research to eventually translate into healthcare improvement and wealth conservation.

The Second Council also developed a NMRC grant management system, which comprised a peer review system, facilitating the peer review process and a project monitoring system to closely monitor the research projects.
In addition, a Research Committee (RC) was set up to oversee the peer review process and make funding decisions based on the scientific merit of the proposals. The RC comprised of experts from the key research areas identified.A three-tier funding approval mechanism, comprising the RC, Council and MOH was established.

Subsequently, peer review subcommittees were set up, which supported the RC in-depth review of specific areas. Each subcommittee, comprised experts from a few (or key) specialty areas. They were tasked to review each of the grant proposals within their specialized areas and to make recommendations to the RC.

The third Council was chaired by Prof Woo Keng Thye, an emeritus advisor in Renal Medicine. The Council members comprised of:

Prof Barry Haliwell
Prof Soo Khee Chee
Prof Lee Eng Hin
Prof Yap Hui Kim
Dr Chew Suok Kai
Dr Hong Wan Jin
Assoc Prof S M Krishnan
Assoc Prof London Lucien Ooi Peng Jin
Prof Louis Lim
Assoc Prof Shazib Pervaiz
Assoc Prof Jorgen Selddrup
Dr Stephen Wise
Prof Donald Tan

The Council held its first strategic retreat during this term. The event was a major milestone which allowed the Council and key stakeholders and partners to reflect and debate on the needs of biomedical research in Singapore, in addition to strategizing on enhancing the level of research for the benefit of Singaporeans.Consequently, the Council developed its strategic plan, consisting of 3 key elements:

- Development of research landscape.
- Building up a critical mass of clinician scientists.
- Development of greater depth and breadth of clinical research expertise.

The Council reviewed its policies with regards to competitive grants, block grants, programme grants and fellowships, and created 3 new grant categories, the Enabling Grant, the Competitive Priority Grant and the Competitive Programme Grant.

The fourth council was chaired by Prof Edward Holmes, former Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean, School of Medicine at the UCSD. Prof Holmes is a major thought leader in translational research and academic medicine. The council board members comprises of:

Prof Donald Tan
Assoc Prof Ivy Ng
Prof John Wong
Dr Mabel Yap
Assoc Prof Chong Siow Ann
Dr Beh Swan Gin (2006)
Prof Lee Eng Hin (2007-
Dr Edwin Low (2006 - 2009)
Dr Loke Wai Chiong (2010)
Prof Alex Matter
Dr John Potter
Prof Patrick Sissons
Prof Robert Sanders Williams
Prof Soo Khee Chee (2006 - 2009)
Prof Yap Hui Kim (2006 - 2009)
Prof Edison Liu (2006 - 2010)
Prof Barry Coller (2006 - 2009)
Prof Ranga Krishna (2009 -
Assoc Prof Allen Teoh (2009 -
Assoc Prof Wong Tien Yin (2009 -
Mrs Carmee Lim (2009 -
Prof Sir Peter Gluckman (2010 -
Prof Stephen K Smith (2010 -
Prof Alastair Campbell (2010 -
Prof Jan Carlstedt-Duke (2009 -