It is most known for the discovery by Christiaan Eijkman that Beriberi was caused by a lack of thiamine in the human body.

[1][2] During World War II, Japanese occupiers accused the center's first Indonesian director, Achmad Mochtar, of poisoning a batch of vaccine that was to be delivered to slave laborers.

[1] It is possible that Mochtar was a scapegoat for a failed Japanese experiment designed to validate a conjured tetanus toxoid vaccine for their troops.

[3] During the 1960s, the institute closed due to upheaval in the country and was absorbed into the Cipto Mangunkusomo Hospital.

[1][2][4] In 2004, the institute identified the suicide bomber who blew himself up in front of the Australian Embassy, which drew recognition to the practical benefits of molecular biology.

Today, the institute houses one of the few Biosafety Level 3 laboratories in the country, which is equipped with a gas decontamination chamber.

[1] For a long time since its re-formation in 1992,the Eijkman Institute was subordinate of Ministry of Research and Technology.

[16][17][18] People's Representative Council, officially requested BRIN for information and explanation for the Eijkman staff's termination in response of the issues.