Razi institute with more than 80 years of experience in research
and production of biologicals, including a great variety of medical &
veterinary vaccines is known as one of the oldest and most reputed scientific
research center in the Middle East. This institute, founded in 1925, started
its activities with research on ways of combating the deadly diseases of
Rinderpest, which at the time had caused great causalities among the cattle
population in different parts of Iran. Production of effective vaccine against
Rinderpest in the year 1929 in fact was a starting point for research and
production of different vaccines and sera for human as well as veterinary use.
Rapidly Razi institute reached an outstanding international reputation with the
production of 60 different kinds of biological. Today Razi institute has
established an outstanding international reputation with the production of over
3.5 billion doses of different products including medical and veterinary
vaccines. In recent years, Razi institute has embarked on a far-reaching
program to further expand its scope of activities especially in the area of
biotechnology & recombinant vaccines.
Role of Razi institute in control of human diseases:
Since 1941 Razi institute has been in charge of producing human
vaccines and sera. In these 63 years five of the 6 compulsory vaccines under
EPI program are produced at Razi. These five vaccines are DTP Diphtheria,
Tetanus, and Pertusis), DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus for children), dt (Diphtheria,
Tetanus for adults), T (Tetanus), M (measles), and OPV (Oral polio vaccine).
Moreover, the institute was able to provide MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) in
bulk to the Ministry of Health in its National Immunization campaign.
It is the hard work and efforts of Razi institute that the above
mentioned diseases have been controlled and National Immunization Program has
become successful. One of the best examples set, has been eradication of polio
in the country that has been due to OPV, which is provided by Razi. Current
capacity of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertusis vaccine produced at Razi institute
is 50 million doses, which is almost double the amount required in our country.
In case of OPV, this capacity is 30 million doses and MMR is 10 million doses
annually. In the past years, Razi has provided a number of vaccines to the
neighboring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Role of Razi institute in control of livestock and poultry diseases:
Razi has played a leading role in the control of a number of
veterinary diseases with production of 3.8 billion doses of required vaccines.
The livestock in Iran are protected from diseases like Rinderpest, Foot and
Mouth disease, and Anthrax etc. Moreover, some of the poultry diseases like
Newcastle, Bronchitis and influenza have also been controlled by production of
vaccines against these diseases at Razi institute.
Apart from production activities, Razi plays an outstanding role
in the region due to its rapid and reliable diagnostic abilities. Modern and
fully equipped laboratories in Razi institute provide necessary facilities for
diagnosis of animal diseases. Different research centers in the country,
including medical universities and Iranian veterinary organization are
benefiting from Razi in the area of diagnosis of diseases. A major performance
shown by Razi was the rapid and reliable diagnosis of poultry influenza, which
had caused great chaos in the country last year. By rapid diagnosis (within 10
hours after receiving the suspected samples) Razi could report the absence of
this deadly disease in our poultry.
Annually more than 80 research projects related to diagnosis of
veterinary and poultry diseases, epidemiology of diseases, field trials of
vaccine, methods of controlling disease, novel molecular biology diagnostic
techniques, production of new recombinant vaccines, enzymes and diagnostic
kits, etc are executed at Razi. In the year 2003, 77 publication related to
these research has been published in reputable National and International
journals, by Razi researchers.
Moreover, the scientific journal of Razi institute named
"Archive of Razi" which is published in English thrice a year also indicates
the high caliber research activities of Razi scientists.
Education and Training:
Razi has laid great emphasis on education and training of its
employees. In the past four years in-service training courses have increased
from 12000 people per hours to 23000 people per hours, and number of trainees
has reached to 850 from a meager number of 260. In the last 10 years Razi has
also been offering M.Sc degree in virology and bacteriology.
To upgrade the knowledge of its staff, annually a number of Razi
scientists are enrolled for M.Sc and Ph.Ds. At the moment, 30 scientists from
Razi are enrolled for their Ph.D. in different discipline of sciences at
reputable universities inside and outside the country. Each year a number of
scientists from Iranian and foreign institutes are trained in Razi workshops on
scientific research including vaccine production and diagnosis of diseases.
Research & Development:
Scientific and technical innovations play a major role at Razi
institute in development of new biological products and further improvement of
its products. In this regard, the institute has placed great reliance on its
research and development functions. R & D comprises a core group of highly
qualified, intensively trained and dedicated scientists working in the
Bacteriology, Virology, Parasitology, Immunology, Biotechnology and Laboratory
animals department.
Export of vaccines:
With the implementation of GMP regulation Razi institute has
taken a major step towards entering into international market. In this regard,
Deputy Director for Quality Systems was appointed in the year 2001 that ensures
that products are produced in compliance with international quality standards
and are exportable.
In the year 2003, Razi institute initiated its export activities
by exporting its product worth 100,000 USD. This amount has been foreseen in
the next five years to reach minimum 2 million USD, annually.
International Links:
The institute has well established scientific links with many
well known universities, institutes and companies like RIVM; The Netherlands,
Berna Biotech; Swiss, Razi-Merieux foundation; France and Intervet; Holland,
Kitasato institute; Japan, CASVAB; Pakistan, UPM; Malaysia etc. Besides it has
also developed close relations with international organization like WHO, FAO
and OIE and eminent personalities from these institutes and organizations
regularly visit Iran for exchange of discussions, technical and research
consultations.
