News

From June 24 to July 5, 2019, the delegation of Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak” headed by the Acting Managing Director Vera Stoiljković made an official visit to St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute.

During the visit the seminar for microbiologists, virologists, specialists of laboratory diagnosis and laboratory assistants “Issues of improving the epidemiological surveillance and control of measles and exanthemous viral infections in the framework of WHO program for the elimination of measles” was held.

 Welcoming the guests and participants of the seminar Vladimir Dedkov, the Deputy Director for Research, noted that Russia and Serbia had long-term partnership. He said, “The Russian Federation has a lot of experience in providing the epidemiological well-being of the population, production of vaccines and control of infectious diseases. Russia is ready to share its experience and good practices, as well as to establish mutually beneficial scientific contacts in these areas.”

Vera Stoiljković thanked the organizers for the opportunity to take part in the joint research and expressed confidence in the establishment of collaborative, productive relationship.

On the first day of the visit the following informative presentations were offered: “History of St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute” (by the Head of the Laboratory of Zooantroponozes, professor Nikolay Tokarevich), “The main activities St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute” (by the Deputy Director for Innovation, Head of the Laboratory of Immunology and Virology of HIV infection Alexander Semenov), “History and main activities of Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera “Torlak”(by the molecular biologist Nataša Eremić and specialist in microbiology Ana Janjušević). Also the issues regarding the installation of the virology laboratory equipment at the Institute “Torlak”, joint research project, planned publications and organization of the seminar in Serbia were discussed.

 On June 25, 2019, two lectures were presented: “Current measles and rubella epidemic situation in Russia” (by the Head of the Laboratory of Etiology and Control of Viral Infections Maina Bichurina) and “The measles and rubella epidemic situation in Serbia” (by the specialist in medical microbiology, principal investigator of the project Maja Bančević). In addition, the Serbian specialists visited the laboratories (Laboratory of Enteric Infections, Laboratory of Etiology and Control of Viral Infections, Laboratory of HIV Immunology and Virology, Central Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory), Medical Center of St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute and got acquainted with their activities.

The intense program of the seminar included a course of lectures on WHO global strategic plan for measles elimination, measles in the world and in WHO European Region, WHO Measles Laboratory Network, search and development of antiviral drugs, on biosafety, extended immunization program and vaccines, Parvovirus В19 infection, PCR in measles and other exanthemous infections laboratory diagnosis, PCR laboratories organization, etc.