Uganda Virus Research Institute

The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), located in Entebbe, Uganda, was established in 1936 as the Yellow Fever Research Institute by the Rockefeller Foundation. In 1947, scientists researching yellow fever placed a rhesus macaque in a cage in the Zika Forest. The monkey developed a fever, and researchers isolated from its serum a transmissible agent that was first described as Zika virus in 1952.[1] Other noteworthy arboviruses discovered at the institute include Chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, Bwamba virus, Semliki Forest virus, O'nyong'nyong virus, and Kadam virus.[2]

In 1950, after gaining regional recognition, the Institute was renamed the East African Virus Research Institute, under which identity many of its noteworthy accomplishments were published; in 1977 it was reorganized under its current name.[2]

Organisation

After the collapse of the East African Community in 1977, it became a Ugandan government public health research institution and was renamed the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The government of Uganda administers and funds the UVRI through the Uganda National Health Research Organization, which is an umbrella research body within the Uganda Ministry of Health.

The mission of UVRI is to carry out scientific research concerning communicable diseases, especially viral diseases of public health importance, and to advise the government on strategies for control and prevention. It consists of three buildings.

UVRI also plays a large role in coordinating and administering virology related clinical trials within the country. Most recently, UVRI has been involved in human HIV vaccine clinical trials. The HIV/AIDS Reference and Quality Assurance Laboratory, which is part of UVRI, plays an important role in making public policy recommendations to the Uganda National Drug Authority on the access and usage of new drugs and medical technologies.

UVRI maintains a field station at the Zika Forest near Entebbe.[3]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Dick, G. W. A.; Kitchen, S. F.; Haddow, A. J. (1952-09-01). "Zika virus. I. Isolations and serological specificity". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 46 (5): 509–520. doi:10.1016/0035-9203(52)90042-4. PMID 12995440
  2. 1 2 East African Virus Research Institute: History of Health Research at UVRI, http://www.uvri.go.ug/index.php/about-uvri/history, last updated on Wednesday, 27 August 2014.
  3. ↑ Kaddumukasa M. A., Mutebi J. P., Lutwama J. J., Masembe C., Akol A. M. "Mosquitoes of Zika Forest, Uganda: Species Composition and Relative Abundance". Journal of Medical Entomology 2014 Jan;51(1):104-13. PMID 24605459. Retrieved 26 December 2015.

External links

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