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United StatesISTC Takes active Part Against Flu Pandemics
Through its various programs, ISTC has invested $7 million USD in over 20 projects leading to improved virus surveillance in Russia and Central Asia and to upgraded preparedness of the Russian health care system thanks to better diagnostics, vaccine and antiviral research. Major works started in 1999 related to the identification, isolation and characterization of avian influenza viruses in birds in their natural habitats and stopover areas in Western Siberia and Kyrgyzstan during their migration to the South of China.
The project to strengthen influenza surveillance in Russia as a part of a global surveillance system has been instrumental as it empowered the country to better prevent and control annual epidemics of influenza and current swine flu virus. The main goals were the analysis of virological and epidemiological data, introduction of rapid diagnostic tests, virus isolation and case reporting. The project was led by the National Influenza Centers (St Petersburg) and the Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology (Moscow).They received novel diagnostic equipment from ISTC and trainings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on identification of swine flu cases in Russia.
Another project involving the State Research Centre of Biotechnology Vector (SRC VB Vector) studies influenza А viruses circulating among wild birds, poultry and pigs of Novosibirsk region. A microchip that can distinguish influenza viruses from different sources and different genotypes was developed. Through another project Vector research center, in collaboration with the Research Institute of Viral Preparations, started developing a new influenza vaccine now being manufactured in a pilot plant. An international patent is being filed with the financial support of ISTC and clinical trials of the vaccine are underway.
At the beginning of 2009, ISTC funded a new project on swine fever with the Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology, RAMS, Moscow.
These are just a few examples showing that ISTC has been at the forefront of the battle against influenza for many years already and its deep knowledge of the situation in Russia and Central Asia makes it an instrumental tool coordinating the efforts of various players, thus minimizing risks of global pandemics.