Emerging viral infections have become a constant threat to humanity. The Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), an autonomous research institution under Department of Science & Technology, Government of Kerala, was established in this context and started functioning inthe year 2020. At IAV, we aim to enhance the indigenous capacity in virology and support the nation’s pandemic preparedness.

IAV has established and made functional a molecular diagnostic facility that is currently offering support to hospitals around the Institute, six BSL-2 research laboratories and a core instrumentation facility in its first phase. It will soon add sixteen more research laboratories, a BSL-3 facility, a virus bio-repository and an animal experiment facility in the campus to expand its research activities.

IAV has conceived flagship research programs that focus on key areas of virology to support the health care sector. Our target is the time-bound development of deliverables in new generation molecular diagnostics, monoclonal antibody therapeutics, antivirals and nucleic acid-based vaccines against emerging viruses. While these programs are primarily conceived as institutional research activities, to enable an early translation of the products into market to benefit the public, there is a critical need for participatory R&D with stake holders from the manufacturing sector from the inception.

In this connection, IAV invites expression of Interest from reputed private manufacturers and start-ups in the field of molecular diagnostics, vaccines and biological production to collaborate and co-develop the products with scientists of IAV.