Veterinary Research Institute Lahore – VRI Lahore

Veterinary Research Institute Lahore (VRI Lahore) is under the administrative control of the Directorate General Research of Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab. This Institute is conducting research on the livestock sector and producing vaccines, diagnostic agents, and other biologics to ensure healthy livestock and poultry. Besides providing research-based veterinary biologics, it also ensures the safe supply of vaccines and monitors the efficacy in the fields. Foot and Mouth Diseases Research Centre (FMD Research Center Lahore) is also part of VRI Lahore.

VRI Lahore was initiated as the Bureau of Disease Investigation and Biological Production, Lahore, which was upgraded in 1963 to the Veterinary Research Institute. Over the decades, it has been developed as a leading veterinary research institute with a range of products for disease control in livestock and poultry.

Punjab Livestock Department

Objectives of VRI Lahore

1. Biologics Production: Production of vaccines and diagnostic antigens for the control of diseases in livestock and poultry.
2. Research and Development: Studies on prevalent and emerging animal diseases and improvement of efficacy and safety of veterinary Biologics.
3. Capacity Building: Training of veterinarians, para-veterinary staff, and postgraduate students to strengthen the livestock healthcare infrastructure.
4. Farmer Education: Sessions to educate farmers about livestock health issues and vaccination schedules.

Divisions of VRI Lahore

There are five divisions of Veterinary Research Institute Lahore.

• Biologics Production Division
• Quality Control Division
• R&D Division
• Research and Production Support Division
• Admin Division

Biologics Production Division

This division produces viral vaccines and bacterial vaccines.

• Hemorrhagic Septicemia Section – It produces HS vaccines using advanced fermentation technology.
• Anaerobe Section – It is specialized in the production of vaccines for anaerobic diseases such as Enterotoxemia and Black Quarter.
• Mycoplasma Section – It produces a vaccine for Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CPP).
• Avian Influenza Section – This section produces oil-based and aqueous vaccines for Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease.
• Newcastle Disease Vaccine Section – It produces live vaccines for Newcastle Disease and Fowl Pox.
• Antigen Section – Focus of this section is on zoonotic diseases, it produces Anthrax spore vaccine, Tuberculin Antigen and Brucella antigens.
• Cell Culture Section – It produces vaccines such as Peste des Petits Ruminants PPR Vaccine through cell culture technology.
• Flury Section – This section of VRI Lahore produces sheep and goat pox vaccines using advanced cell culture methods.
• Freeze Drying Section – This section is responsible for lyophilizing vaccines and master seeds.
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Centre – It is an independent facility producing trivalent Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine. (Click for Details)

Quality Control Division

This Division has Quality Control Laboratory. It ensures the sterility, identity, safety, and potency of biologics produced at VRI.

R&D Division

This division has Central Reference Laboratory. This lab is equipped with advanced molecular diagnostic tools like PCR and ensures the vaccine quality. It also investigates zoonotic diseases.

Research and Production Support Division

• Media and Sterilization Section – This section prepares and sterilizes media for various vaccines and biologics production.
• Biochemistry Section – It provides biochemical analysis and produces diluents for freeze-dried vaccines.
• Mice Colony
• Small and large Animal Units
• Poultry Unit

Achievements and Impact of VRI Lahore

• Development and production of over 20 vaccines and diagnostic agents.
• Successful eradication of rinderpest in Pakistan through the production of effective vaccines.
• Introduction of cell culture technology, revolutionizing viral vaccine production.
• Establishment of a Central Reference Laboratory for advanced molecular diagnostics.

VRI Lahore Vaccines and Other Products

The Veterinary Research Institute Lahore (VRI Lahore) is renowned for its extensive range of products especially vaccines for livestock and poultry.

Vaccines:

1. • HS Vaccine
   • Enterotoxemia Vaccine (ETV)
   • Black Quarter Vaccine (BQV)
   • Avian Influenza Vaccine
   • PPR Vaccine
   • Newcastle Disease Vaccines (ND LaSota, ND Mukteswar)
   • Sheep and Goat Pox Vaccines
   • Brucella Vaccine
   • Anthrax Spore Vaccine
   • PPR Vaccine
   • FMD Serum

Diagnostic Antigens:

1. • Brucella Antigens for the detection of Brucellosis.
   • Tuberculin Antigens for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in animals.

Vaccine Diluent:

1. • Specially formulated diluents for freeze-dried vaccines.

Contact Veterinary Research Institute Lahore

Zarrar Shaheed Road,
Lahore Cantt
Phone: 042-99220136-38
Web. www.vri.punjab.gov.pk

Editor In Chief

Dr. Jassar Aftab is a qualified Veterinarian having expertise in veterinary communication. He is a renowned veterinary Journalist of Pakistan. He is veterinary columnist, veterinary writer and veterinary analyst. He is the author of three books. He has written a number of articles and columns on different topics related to livestock, dairy, poultry, wildlife, fisheries, food security and different aspects of animal sciences and veterinary education.

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