Partner 9
Partner 9: Eidgenössiches Volkswirtschaftsdepartement -FDEA (IVI)
Institute
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs is the legal entity with the autonomous Institute for Virology and Immunoprophylaxis (IVI). The institute serves as the national reference centre for highly contagious animal diseases. The laboratories are designed as BL-4 containment facility. The routine diagnostic services as well as the registration of immunobiological products are accredited according to ISO 17025. The IVI is dedicated to animal health, in particular to the diagnosis, control and prevention of highly contagious diseases such as African and classical swine fever (CSF), foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, and bluetongue, by providing diagnostics of these and other livestock diseases, testing and registration of vaccines for veterinary use, continuing education and consulting in the area of highly contagious and emerging diseases. Major areas of research are the molecular mechanisms and immunopathogenesis of livestock diseases, and the development of new diagnostic assays.
Expertise
The Development Department was recently formed in order to strengthen applied research at Institut für Viruskrankheiten und Immunprophylaxe (IVI). Molecular biology techniques for cDNA cloning, in vitro mutagenesis, protein expression, handling of infectious viral RNA are well established, and are supported by a modern infrastructure. The laboratory is fully equipped, including two automated DNA sequencers, a flow cytometry unit, three TaqMan real time sequence detection systems, an FPLC unit for affinity purification of proteins, robots for nucleic acid extraction and sample distribution, a confocal microscope, an dual laser infrared imaging system for direct signal detection (gels, blots, microtiter plates etc.,).
Role and contribution in the project
Research activities will focus primarily on work packages 1,3 and 11 in addition to WP 12 and 14
Principal scientific and technical personnel
Dr. Martin Hofmann, DVM, PhD, head of the Development Department of IVI
Dr. Artur Summerfield, DVM PhD, head of the Immunology Laboratory
Dr. Nicolas Ruggli, DVM, PhD, senior scientist
Sandra Renzullo, senior laboratory technician
Markus Mader, senior laboratory technician
Contact
| Official address: | Contact person for the project: |
| IVI | Martin Hofmann, Dr. med. vet. |
| Sensemattstrasse 293 | IVI |
| 3147 Mittelhäusern | 3147 Mittelhäusern |
| Tel. +41 31 848 92 11 | Tel. +41 31 848 92 11 |
| Fax: +41 31 848 92 22 | E-mail: martin.hofmann@ivi.admin.ch |
