Research and Publications
Research Program Units
Since its inception, the Institute has been organizing itself into various departments/units depending on the prevailing situations and research activities. In view of the recent reforms made across the University, ALIPB is now established as an independent research institute focusing on biomedical research, under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer. Currently, the Institute consists of five research units, which carry out their respective research programs:
- Microbiology Research Unit (MRU)
- Medical Parasitology Research Unit (MPRU)
- Vector Biology & Control Research Unit (VPRU)
- Endod & Other Medicinal Plants Research Unit (EMPRU)
- Animal Health & Zoonotic Diseases Research Unit (AHZRU)
Research activities
Since its establishment, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, Endod (Phytolacca dodecandra) and veterinary parasitology have been the mainstays of the Institute’s research activities. Other health problems like onchocerciasis, malaria, tuberculosis (human and bovine), HIV/AIDS, trypanosomosis, rabies and food- and water-borne diseases have been incorporated later to be part and parcel of the Institute’s research activities.
The Institute has over four decades of research experience, and has a large database on tropical and infectious diseases. Presently about 36 research projects are well in progress in five research programs of the Institute. The major funding sources for the research activities of ALIPB, in addition to Addis Ababa University, are collaborative undertakings including the Research Council of Norway, Ulleval University Hospital, Ohio State University, the National Institute of Heath, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Health Organization
Presently, based on the Strategic Plan of the University, the different units of the Institute are reviewing their activities and working for the implementation of the various aspects and are focusing on thematic/ collaborative research and their effective dissemination as well as consultancy and enhancing public services. In brief, the Institute aims to work on high tech capacity building; infectious disease preparedness capability building; establishment of the center for “One Health”; assessment of exposure of humans, animals, mosquitoes and water bodies to pesticides; and the search for medicinal plants towards combating infectious diseases and their vectors/ intermediate hosts.