WHO Collaborating Centres
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Ref.No. [Initiator]
ITA-49 [Headquarters]
Status
Active
Title of the centre:
  WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Poliomyelitis

Director / Head: 
  DR Lucia FIORE
 




Institution:
  Enterovirus Group, Department of MIPI
  Istituto Superiore di Sanita
Address:
  Viale Regina Elena 299
  I-00161
 
Town:
  Rome
Country:
  ITALY
Region:
  EURO
Phone:
  (39-6) 4990 3256
Fax:
  (39-6) 4990 2082
Date of Designation:
  06/Nov/1991
Last Redesignation:
  27/May/2009
Expiry:
  27/May/2013
Terms of Reference:
  1. Support for virological investigations to 5 countries with National Polio Laboratories and 4 countries without National Laboratories in western east Europe. 
  2. Assisting linked countries to isolate, identify & characterize polioviruses & other enteroviruses from clinical samples of AFP patients. Countries with national polio lab provide viral isolates for identification & characterization. 
  3. Typing & characterization of polioviruses & other enteroviruses isolated from healthy subjects & environmental samples will also be performed, upon request. 
  4. Genetic analysis of polio & other enterovirus isolates. 
  5. Monitoring of patients with primary or secondary immunodeficiency, to detect long term poliovirus excretors among Italian immunodeficient patients. 
  6. Distribution of reference material (new cell lines, sera, etc.) 
  7. Training activities. 
  8. Organization & evaluation of proficiency tests (sub-national laboratories, & linked countries). 9. Research (new rapid diagnostic methods for enterovirus detection & serological investigations). 10. The centre will have links with the technical programme in WHO Headquarters & WHO Regional Office for Europe on polio eradication. 11. To perform AFP surveillance & environmental surveillance in Italy & all the virological investigations. 
  9.  
  10.  
Subjects:
  1. Poliomyelitis 
  2.  
  3.  
Types of activity:
  1. Provision of reference substances and other services 
  2. Research 
  3. Training and education 
WHO organization wide expected result:
  1.2 - Effective coordination and support provided in order to achieve certification of poliomyelitis eradication, and destruction , or appropriate containment, of polioviruses, leading to a simultaneous cessation of oral poliomyelitis vaccination globally.
  1.4 - Policy and technical support provided to Member States in order to enhance their capacity to carry out surveillance and monitoring of all communicable diseases of public health importance.
 
Responsible Officer:
  DIOP Ousmane
Phone:
  +41 22 79 12503
Email:
  diopo@who.int

Technical Counterpart:
  GAVRILIN Evgeniy
Phone:
  +45 39171574
Email:
  ega@euro.who.int
Access to annual progress reports and the current workplan (this is accessible to WHO Staff Members only):
  Link to eWork