The Institute has emerged as a multi-disciplinary, full fledged bio-medical research Institute engaged in various aspects of infectious diseases - Bacteriology, Bioavailability, Biochemistry, Chemotherapy, Clinical Pathology, Entomology, Human Pharmacology, Immunology, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Radiation Biology, Toxicology, Virology and Zoonosis.

Earlier, research centred mainly around the development of biologicals, such as vaccines and sera. Between 1899 and 1904, large quantities of vaccines had to be produced and sent out. So, methods of production, standardization and packaging were improvised. It was not just imitation, but adaptation to the demands made by the exigencies of circumstances.

After 1905, research at the Institute entered a second phase. Plague epidemiology was thoroughly investigated; Liston, a young and astute observer, studied the ecology of bubonic plague and proved beyond doubt that bubonic plague was carried by rat fleas to man. He was the first to establish the epidemiology of the zooanthroponosis transmitted by an arthropod and this discovery opened the way to the eradication of plague. The American Veterinary Epidemiology Society recognized the work of this pioneer posthumously with the 1971 Karl F. Meyer Award.

During this phase, many important adaptations and innovations were made in the development of culture media and the methods of production of vaccines and antisera. Sokhey and Habbu standardized methods for bioassay of plague and cholera vaccines, both of which continue to be in vogue. Cholera and plague vaccines were produced using modified liquid media and this served to enhance their antigenicity. The search for newer and better methods of production and standardization still goes on.

After 1940, research at the Institute entered a third phase of development under the able leadership of Major-General Sokhey, the Institute accepted the challenges of World War Il. Sulphonamides had just been introduced as chemotherapeutic agents by Domagk in 1939-an epoch-making discovery. Simple chemicals were highly effective in the treatment of bacterial infections, but they were scarce and highly priced. The Department of Chemotherapy pioneered the synthesis of sulphathiazole in this country. Young scientists, working under the inspiring leadership of Dr. Ganapathi and Dr. Shirsat, prepared Vitamin A concentrates, so essential in the prevention of night blindness, from shark liver oil. A new antiseptic formulation 'Pemon' was developed.

The Institute often acts as a reference laboratory for plague and materials are referred here by the WHO.

Susceptibility of rats to Yersinia, as well as to rodenticides has been studied in the Department of Zoonosis. V. cholerae has also been the subject of intensive study. Because of a lack of animal model for study, the pathogenesis of cholera was not understood for a long time. Dr. Dutta and Dr. Panse made a breakthrough when they reported development of typical cholera-like syndrome in infant rabbits. Since then, the rabbit model, has been used all over the world for the study of this disease and the elucidation of the mechanism of cholera toxin. Various strains of Vibrio have been studied at the Institute for their growth requirements at the macromolecular level.

The Institute developed a Killed Tissue Culture vaccine for KFD (Kysanur Forest Disease) Virus and in the early 70's carried out research in Cholera carriers and epidemiology of Filariasis.

On September 1, 1975, the Institute was bifurcated into two separate organizations:-Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing, and Haffkine Bio-pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd.

The Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing continues its works in research, testing and training field whereas the Haffkine Bio-pharmaceutical Corporation Ltd. is involved in production of different medicinal drugs and vaccines.

The current research areas in the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing include studies of infections occurring in AIDS patients, improvement in the FMD vaccine, surveillance and microbiological analysis of typhoid, prevalence of drug resistance in bacteria, and continuous development of newer chemotherapeutic agents to combat microbial and zoonotic infections.

The Institute also serves as a premier teaching institution in the field of biomedical sciences and is affiliated to the University of Bombay for M.Sc (Microbiology, Applied Biology & Organic Chemistry), Ph.D. (Microbiology) and M.D (P.S.M.) degree programs. In addition, the Institute undertakes specialized testing assignments/projects for pharmaceutical and other health-related products.

All the scientific activities are backed by a library, which boasts of a huge collection of scientific journals, books, monographs, other reference material, literature and search facility on electronic media.

A snake farm, created in 1938, is now engaged in a public education program with an objective to clear the misgivings and fear about snakes from the public mind and to educate people on the usefulness of snakes to human beings by explaining their role in biodiversity and ecology in today's era.

As research in communicable diseases is the first priority at the Haffkine Institute, its research programmes are organized to tackle problems of public health. It works in close collaboration with public health authorities of the countrv and the State.

Biomedical research is aimed at bringing about lasting changes in the structure of our society. In a developing country, what matters is the priorities we set for progress in biomedical sciences. The Haffkine Institute has set its priorities in research in the context of the needs of the community. Its scientists have pledged themselves to harness science to solve the problems that still continues to plague millions of our countrymen.

The Future:

The war against infectious diseases is unending. Newer diseases keep emerging, posing newer challenges for scientists. Hence, after a decade into its 2nd century, it is poised for a great leap ahead through up-gradation of its laboratories and acquisition of expertise to combat the impending danger of emerging diseases.