Fondation Merieux [to 23 April 2016]
Mission: Contribute to global health by strengthening local capacities of developing countries to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations.
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/news

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19 April 2016
Inauguration of Charles Mérieux Infectiology Center of Brazil in Rio Branco
Rio Branco (Brazil)
Fondation Mérieux provides the 1st high level (BSL3) lab in the Amazon, along with a training and research center.

…the Charles Mérieux Infectiology Center and its Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory at the Fundhacre Hospital in Rio Branco. The 400 m2 center, which includes 245 m2 of laboratories, was built through a partnership between the State of Acre, Fundhacre Hospital, the NGO SOS Amazonia, the University of Salvador de Bahia and Fondation Mérieux.

The center will perform 3 vital missions:
:: Service: providing patients with quality diagnosis for improved care.
:: Training: contributing to training students in clinical biology and infectious diseases.
:: Research: conducting projects that address public health issues in Brazil, especially hepatitis.

The creation of the Charles Mérieux Infectiology Center and Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory is an important milestone in the fight against viral hepatitis, a major public health problem in the Amazon, which affects thousands of patients. The center will provide training for laboratory personnel and enable the development of fundamental and clinical research in the region. The Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory will also perform routine testing as well as infectious disease surveillance for research programs. It has the only high biosafety level laboratory (BSL3) in the region, three biosafety level 2 (BSL2) laboratories and rooms dedicated to techniques such as molecular biology…