Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation is a UGC, Government of India recognized private deemed-to-be-university located in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.

[3] VMRF had its inception in 1981 with the establishment of the Thirumuruga Kirupananda Variyar Thavathiru Sundara Swamigal (TKVTSS) Medical Educational and Charitable Trust.

In 2001, "deemed to be university" status was conferred on Vinayaka Missions by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

Nearly 15,000 students study in the various constituent colleges, and every year approximately 2,000 medical, dental, homeopathy, paramedical, engineering and management professionals besides arts and science graduates graduate from the VMRF campuses.

[4] On 6 July 2008, VMRF founder Dr. A. Shanmugasundaram conferred an honorary doctorate in philosophy on the MIC deputy president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel for his contribution to politics and the Indian community in Malaysia.