National University of Asunción (Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud)

Mission

The Health Science Research Institute (Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, IICS), depends on the National University of Asunción. Since 1980, this institution has been a reference in health science applied research in Paraguay. Its mission is to generate research, innovate in diagnostics services and promote scientific training in clinical research and basic science in priority areas for the country.

Organisation

The institution has 98 researchers and widely equipped laboratories. It is an institution focused on the training of young researchers offering short internships for undergraduate students of different schools of the National University of Asuncion and offers a Ph.D.and Master's program in Biomedical Science.

Research activities

The main topics of research include epidemiological studies on infectious and non-infectious diseases, such as tropical neglected diseases (Chagas, Leishmaniosis), Arbovirosis (Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya), Tuberculosis, HPV, Sexually transmitted pathogens, Respiratory Infections, COVID-19, Enteropathogens, Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Hematological diseases, and Metabolic diseases.

The areas of research focus on the molecular epidemiology of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the characterization of virulence factors, and the genetic variability of clones that cause hospital and community-acquired infections.

Epidemiological and basic research is carried out on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from human, animal, food, and environmental samples. Various studies are also being conducted on the ability of isolates to form biofilms and on the effects of natural products isolated from Paraguayan plants for possible inhibitory compounds.

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