The Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease Unit supports the National Health System through a multidisciplinary approach that includes the development and validation of diagnostic tests, the molecular characterization of parasites, molecular epidemiology, field studies, as well as experimental research into new therapeutic and prophylactic approaches for their control.
The laboratory has extensive experience in the characterization of the cellular and humoral immune response of leishmaniasis and post-treatment monitoring, as well as in asymptomatic individuals and in experimental animal models. The laboratory also contributes to immunological studies of the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis under immunosuppressive conditions (HIV/Leishmania co-infection, malnutrition, immunosuppressive treatment...). The laboratory has been a WHO Collaborating Center for Leishmaniasis since 1997, providing technical support to the various research and training activities of the WHO and participating in the evaluation of outbreaks of human leishmaniasis in endemic countries.
The laboratory also participates in the evaluation of prognostic markers for the evolution of T. cruzi infection and vertical (transplacental) transmission, an important public health problem in our country. It also carries out studies on the pharmacokinetics of drugs against Chagas disease.