VMRI - Veterinary Medical Research Institute (Hungary)

The aim of VMRI is to investigate the viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases of farm animals and conduct molecular biology research on these areas. The overwhelming part of this research is basic research. In particular, molecular and genetic aspects are increasingly emphasized. The Institute is also participating oin gradual and postgradual training of veterinarians, biologists and animal scientists nationally, and internationally.

Most of the research concentrates on studying the nucleic acids and proteins of various pathogens. Among the viruses: primarily the herpes-, adeno-, paramyxo., and tumor viruses are investigated. Among the bacteria: members of the Bordetella, Escherichia, Pasteurella, Salmonella genuses, and several members the Mycoplasma genera are studied, in order to gain information about their less well known virulence charachteristics and mechanisms of pathogenesis. There are also basic research projects on the area of fish parasitology (with special regards to protozoa and Myxobolus.

Accordingly, the Institute has three large area of research into which 9 research groups are allocated, according to their main profile:

• Virology/immunology
• Bacteriology/Mycoplasmatology
• Fish Parasitology

The number of employees of the Institute is 53, including 30 scientists and young researchers (with10 PhD Students), allocated into the above 9 research groups, with each working on several projects that are gained from the Hungarian Basic Science Foundation (OTKA), or from the Ministry of Education (OM) or different other Ministries, or from the EU. The research, and the publication activity of the Institute is being evaluated year-to year by the H.A.S. and - periodically - by peer committees - and was found satisfactory to outstanding. The number of ISI impacted publications/year are between 30-40 as an average.

The Enteric Bacteriology and Foodborn Zoonoses Unit is one of the research groups (Head: Prof. Béla Nagy), working on Salmonella and pathogenic E. coli of animals (detection methods, molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis).

Managing Director: Balázs Harrach,
H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18, Hungary
Tel: +36 1 252-2455
fax: +36 1 252-1069