Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí

Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine

 

The Pedro Kourí Institute (IPK) is a Cuban scientific institution, internationally recognized for the numerous relevant results and awards obtained by its researchers.

In addition, one of its Laboratories constitutes a WHO Collaborating Center and at the national level, it is the highest authority in the following disciplines: Microbiology, Parasitology, Tropical Medicine as well as as Clinical and Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases.

Founded in 1937 by Professor Pedro Kourí, the international recognition achieved by the IPK is based on the high qualification of its scientific staff.

Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine IPK brings together highly qualified professionals who make up a multidisciplinary team for comprehensive patient care. The IPK, with eight decades of experience, complements specialized clinical care with national reference laboratories, equipped with cutting-edge technology and that collaborate with the World Health Organization.

Research, medical care and teaching are the three pillars on which the prestige achieved by the IPK is based, in charge of monitoring the epidemiological situation in Cuba, providing the tools to the prevention, detection and treatment of infectious diseases throughout the American region, the Caribbean and the world, as well as as well as the training of highly qualified medical personnel for Cuba and the world.


Mission

Promote and develop scientific research and innovation for the prevention, control and elimination of infectious diseases, which guarantee specialized and high-tech services for epidemiological surveillance , diagnosis and medical care, with a view to improving the quality of life of the Cuban population and the rest of the international community


Vision

We are an Institution of international scope, made up of competent personnel with high performance, which continuously improves its technology and services to confront communicable diseases and meet the needs of the population and its own workers. .


General Objectives of the IPK

  • Protect the population against communicable diseases, preventing their spread and participating in the diagnosis, control and elimination.
  • Maintain links of scientific exchange in the field of their specialty with institutions in other countries, helping Third World countries in the fight against communicable diseases.
  • Contribute to the development of Biomedical Sciences in general and Microbiology, Parasitology, Epidemiology and Infectology in particular.
  • To provide highly qualified medical assistance to HIV/AIDS patients and other communicable diseases as a National Clinical Reference Center.

IPK FUNCTIONS

  1. Carry out basic and applied research in the field of infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal) in correspondence with the health picture of the Cuban population.
  2. Propose and once approved, develop national and international scientific and academic exchange through collaboration projects, consultancies and joint activities.
  3. Provide specialized medical care services in the field of infectious diseases, serve as a National Reference Center in the treatment of people with HIV/AIDS, conduct and evaluate antiretroviral treatment.
  4. Provide teaching and academic services in the area of tropical medicine, infectology, bacteriology-mycology, virology, parasitology, epidemiology and entomology for training. n of resources in the country and from other countries according to current provisions.
  5. Market scientific-technical and educational events in any of their national and international modalities.
  6. Design, validate, introduce and transfer newvarious technologies in the National Network of Laboratories and other institutions. Act as headquarters of the national reference laboratories for human pathogens.
  7. Advise and participate in clinical epidemiological, microbiological and parasitic surveillance in the field of infectious diseases and coping with health emergencies.
  8. Conduct surveillance of adverse events to vaccination and develop and validate vaccine candidates, medications, diagnostic means, medical technology, and conduct licensing studies of medications and vaccines.
  9. Propose and once approved, prepare and sign memorandums of understanding, letters of intent and agreements between national and international institutions regarding research protocols, medical care and teaching in infectious diseases, according to ;n current regulations.
  10. Develop health promotion and education activities aimed at workers, students, patients, companions, visitors and society in general linked to the specialty.
  11. Carry out surveillance and hygienic-epidemiological control of the center and its surroundings, as well as how to alert the corresponding levels and participate in confronting the epidemiological situations detected.
  12. Commercialize scientific-technical services and technological innovation, provision of medical care specialized in infectious diseases and undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as as production activity to guarantee the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

 

Among the current topics they investigate and treat are:

  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Leptospirosis
  • Hepatitis
  • Intestinal parasitism
  • AIDS, its clinical-epidemiological and therapeutic aspects
  • Study on Dengue and Aedes aegypti
  • Validation of human vaccines
  • Epidemic neuropathy
  • Advanced technologies for the diagnosis of communicable and other diseases.

NOTE: It also has a hospital with 170 beds for patients suffering from communicable diseases.

In it, advice on infectology is provided to all medical units in the country and it is integrated into the screening activities for exotic diseases in travelers from endemic areas.

At the IPK you can find therapeutics for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, Toxoplasmosis and infectious and parasitic diseases in general.

 

CHECK PROGRAMS

Infectious diseases

Medical Services Providers