Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology

First Moscow state medical university named after I. M. Sechenov
Institute of Professional Education

Head of the Department –
RAS academician, professor A. L. Gintsburg

The Department of Infectious Diseases was established in 1993 by RAMS academician S. V. Prozorovskiy, who headed the Department until 1997. In 2000, the Department was headed by recipient of the Prize of the Russian government, professor Alexander Leonidovich Gintsburg – director of the N. F. Gamaleya National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Ministry of Health.

In 2012 by order of the President of the First Moscow state medical university named after I.M. Sechenov through a merger with the Department of Virology, the department was transformed into the Department of Infectious Diseases and Virology.

The faculty of the department is staffed by well-known experts from across the country in the fields of microbiology, virology, epidemiology, genetics and molecular biology of bacteria - professors Yu. M. Romanova and T. A. Semenenko; recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, Professor I. S. Tartakovskiy; recipient of the Prize of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and Prizes of the Government of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences F. I. Ershov; recipient of the Prize of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Professor B. S. Naroditskiy; professors A. D. Altshtein and A. I. Mazus; Associate professors G. A. Danilina, A. E. Snegireva, E.V. Tsyganova and N. M. Shustrova; assistant A.P. Samsonova.

The department’s operations on the basis of its center and integration with the country’s leading scientific center in the area of medical microbiology into the system of specialized post-graduate education make it possible to:

include expeditiously the most recent scientific achievements in the area of medical microbiology, epidemiology, virology, biotechnology and infectious immunology into the training and retraining program for leading physicians, including bacteriologists and virologists.

build on the Institute’s strong methodological potential, the results of top-priority and fundamental research in the area of conventional and molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases, while arranging the didactic process and conducting practical activities,

introduce scientific methods into the pedagogical process when preparing state educational standards, guidelines, text books, and methodological materials.

Additional special education at the department includes:

  • Advanced specialized training in the field of Bacteriology – 504 hours,

  • Advanced specialized training in the field of Virology – 504 hours,

  • Advanced training (certification cycle) in the field of

  • Bacteriology – 144 hours,

  • Advanced training (certification cycle) in the field of

  • Virology – 144 hours,

  • Advanced training in the Molecular and Genetic Methods program in the Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases” for experts in Bacteriology and Virology – 108 hours,

  • Advanced training in the Viral Hepatitis program – 72 hours,

  • Advanced training in the HIV infection program – 72 hours,

  • Advanced training in the Cold, Flu and ARVI program – 72 hours.

Teaching method in advanced training cycles – classroom attendance. Training is available on a budgetary and contractual basis (extra-budgetary teaching method).

Experts with higher medical and pharmacological education are eligible to enroll.

Experts with a degree in Biology may be accepted under the license terms of the First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov.

The term of study under additional advanced training programs as specialized training in the fields of Bacteriology or Virology is 504 hours, or 3.5 months.  The performance of attendees enrolled in the professional training program is verified by the Final Certifying Exam. The Final Certifying Exam requires experts to pass a test and an evaluation based on problem solving, performing scientific and practical work, and a final oral examination.  Upon successful completion of the full study program, trainees are awarded a state-recognized Professional Postgraduate Diploma and a certificate.

The term of study for qualification upgrade (certification) cycles is 144 hours, or 1 month. A trainee who passes the qualification examination and performs scientific and practical work is issued a state-recognized expert certificate and an advanced training certificate.

Special-focus coursework (108 hours) is intended for experts in Bacteriology and Virology. Following the completion of coursework, trainees who pass the final test receive a state-recognized advanced training certificate.

The topics of lectures and workshops include fundamental (“Basic Principles of Molecular Genetics of Bacteria”) and applied (“PCR and Other Molecular and Genetic Methods Used in Infectious Disease Diagnostics”, and “Organizational Principles of PCR labs”) sections.

In recent years, new sections have been added to the curriculum, including “Basic Principles of Bio-Safety”, “Using PCR to Detect Genetically Modified Microorganisms, “Real-Time PCR”, “Using Molecular-Genetic Methods to Study the Persistence of Pathogens and the Formation of Biofilms” and “DNA Sequencing Methods”.

Practical lessons are held in a laboratory for genetic engineering of pathogenic microorganisms. Each trainee is assigned an individual workplace where he or she has the chance to gain hands-on experience in a typical PCR setup and perform an individual assignment that involves the detection of bacteria and viruses in biological material.  Trainees have the opportunity to train on state-of-the-art equipment, and meet with representatives of companies involved in developing equipment and test systems for molecular and genetic diagnostics of infectious diseases.

Cycles of special-focus coursework (72 hours) are intended for physicians of various specialties in the following areas: HIV Infection, Cold, Flu and ARVI, and Viral Hepatitis.

Following the successful completion of coursework, trainees receive a state-recognized certificate.

To enroll in the various sections, trainees should submit an application to the Department (by telephone or email) and provide documents that show the applicant’s level of education and the number of years worked in a certain specialty.

Address of the Department:

National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N. F. Gamaleya, 18 Gamaleya St., bldg. B, 4th floor, room 180, Moscow, Russia, 123098.

Instructions: Take the Metro to the Shchukinskaya Metro Station, then take Bus # 100 or #681 to the bus stop near Gamaleya Institute and enter the main gate to the Institute.

Telephone numbers: 8 (499) 193-6130 or 8 (499) 193-5597, Fax: 8 (499) 193-5597, email snegireva@gamaleya.org

Head of the educational section of the Department – prof. Antonina Egorovna Snegiryova.

Academic calendar for 2020