Areas of Research

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

  • Scientific activities of the IM department are mostly centralized in the following orientations:
  • To implement immunological approaches in diagnostic and treatment research for human and animal diseases at the cellular (microbials, viruses, parasites...) and molecular (genes, proteins, enzymes...) level.
  • To conduct identification, diagnosis, and taxonomic clarification of the causative agents for animals; zoonoses (transmitted from animals to humans) and common diseases of human and animals using molecular approaches; and development of uniplex and multiplex diagnostic kits.
  • To upgrade and to develop, based on the previous achievements and fields set up, new directories of research in immunology, virology, basic and applied vaccine technology and natural compounds for preventive control and treatment.
  • To establish and to develop new generation vaccines: ie, subunit vaccines (recombinant antigens), vector-based recombinant vaccines (viral vectors) and DNA vaccines. Depending on the financial support/funding (from internal or external sources), the research capacity will set up accordingly and carry out all together or each in every period.
  • To study on development of fast diagnostic methods for effective detection of the zoonotic causative agents candidate for the use in fields.
  • To maintain gradual establishment of collaborative programs/projects for biodiversity of basic organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) based on specific genetic markers of genes and mitochondrial genomes (this direction is dependent on national and international funding source). This is considered as a long-term set up to enhance collaboration among national and international institutions.
  • To accelerate seeking for contracts from outside for getting financial support to complete their demand regarding to studies on molecular biology of genes/genomes, mostly from the WHO/TDR, the Wellcome Trust (Commonwealth), any non-governmental organization (NGO) and the known scientific societies.
  • To seek for subprojects in basic or research development from Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Natural Sources and Environment, and other national institutions.
  • To keep regular activities on scientific seminars, short-term training, basic skills, refreshment of foreign languages, national and international training/workshops.