Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) is a centennial research institution, createdon May 25, 1900. It was first called Serum Therapeutic Institute. Initially theobjective was to produce serums and vaccines against the plague. After thedesignation of Oswaldo Cruz as director in 1902, the institution expanded itsactivities and became involved in research and experimental medicine.

The foundation became the base for Oswaldo Cruz’s famous sanitationcampaigns in Rio de Janeiro. That time the city suffered with epidemics ofbubonic plague, yellow fever and smallpox. After bypassing the critical situationin Rio, the foundation made scientific agreements that played a decisive role inthe occupation of the interior of the country. In response to requests from thegovernment, the institute laid the foundations to the establishment of the National Department of Public Health in 1920.

Nowadays, FIOCRUZ is linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Health and is present inmany Brazilian States as well as in Africa and it is formed by different areas ofknowledge, such as: research, education, maternal hospital, tropical diseasehospital, drug production, vaccine production, quality control for the BrazilianHealth Surveillance Agency, history of Science etc.

As one of the most important research institutions in Brazil, FIOCRUZ is a leadingorganization in promoting scientific research and development. In particular, itpromotes the development of non-animal methods that are closer to humanresponses and represent a technological evolution providing new approachmethodologies that are scientifically and ethically based.