About the Institute of Epidemiology
Teaching and Research
The Institute of Epidemiology teaches Epidemiology course in the 5th year of study in the General Medicine and Dentistry study programs, in both Slovak and English languages.
The subject covers the following topics: methods used in epidemiology, epidemiological studies, clinical epidemiology, the use of epidemiological research results in evidence-based medicine for clinical reasoning, the importance of vaccination in disease prevention, field epidemiology and community outbreak management, epidemiological situation of infectious and non-communicable diseases in Slovakia and worldwide, and the global burden of diseases.
The aim of teaching Epidemiology is to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the occurrence, prevention, and control of diseases and health conditions. This includes data collection, critical analysis of scientific literature, and active participation in research in the future clinical work.
The Institute's research activities are centered around the epidemiology of selected diseases.
In the area of infectious diseases, we focus on legionella infections, leptospirosis, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. The institute is renowned for its unique capabilities in legionellosis diagnosis, identification, and subtyping using both direct and indirect methods.
In the field of non-communicable diseases, the institute's research interests encompass mental health, oncological diseases, cardiovascular risk factors, and diabetes.
The institute's scientific research endeavors are closely intertwined with practical applications. Through collaborations with clinical workplaces, regional public health authorities, scientific institutions, other faculties, and state institutions, the institute develops and implements effective measures to address public health challenges.
National and International Collaboration
Institute of Epidemiology maintains strong national and international collaborations in both teaching and research. Two institute members hold positions as National Focal Points for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC):
· Professor Alexandra Bražinová for HIV and sexually transmitted infections
· Dr. Miriam Fulová for legionella infections
Professor Bražinová is also a member of the Slovak Republic's Government Council for Mental Health and an international working group on the Global Burden of Disease.
In 2023, the Institute became a member of the consortium for the teaching position of the international course in applied epidemiology (EPIET), conducted under the auspices of the ECDC. Other consortium members include the Slovak Republic's Public Health Authority and the Department of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology of the University Hospital Bratislava. Please find more information here: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/skoliace-miesto-medzinarodneho-kurzu-v-aplikovanej-epidemiologii-epiet-ecdc-fellowship-programme
In 2025, Dr. Jorge Salinas, an infectious disease specialist and hospital epidemiologist at Stanford Health in California, USA, joined the Institute of Epidemiology as a visiting lecturer.
Workplace History
The Institute of Epidemiology has a long-standing history of specializing in the epidemiological aspects of zoonoses, including leptospirosis, tularemia, Lyme disease, and legionella infections. Under the institute's leadership, a comprehensive zoonoses surveillance system was implemented in Slovakia to reduce the risk of infection for the population.
For over four decades, the institute has conducted surveillance and research on natural focus infections, such as leptospirosis and tularemia, and has published its findings. The institute is also credited with pioneering the identification of tick-borne borrelia prevalence, the diagnosis of Lyme disease, and the diagnosis of the first cases in Slovakia.
The institute employs unique methods, such as serological cross-absorption tests, for the identification of leptospiral strains. It maintains one of the world's few international collections of leptospires, comprising over 200 serovars of strains. Additionally, the institute has conducted research on the subspecies and biovars of Francisella tularensis.