Our History
1961 - 1974
Los antecedentes de CIDEIM se remontan a un programa de cooperación técnica entre Tulane University y la Universidad del Valle.
Este programa involucró una gama amplia de investigación en salud que incluía nutrición y metabolismo, antropología social, fisiología de reproducción, psiquiatría y sanidad ambiental, además de enfermedades transmisibles.
Fotografía: Trabajo de campo en el municipio de López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia. Se describe por primera vez el foco de oncocercosis a orillas del río San Juan de Micay.
1975 - 1979
A partir de este momento, se abre una puerta para la colaboración multilateral entre Tulane University, COLCIENCIAS (hoy Minciencias) y diversas instituciones colombianas.
En esta etapa los trabajos del CIDEIM se concentran en estudios sobre la interpelación entre la respuesta inmune y la nutrición, particularmente la eficacia de vacunas en niños con desnutrición leve y moderada. También se llevan a cabo investigaciones sobre filariasis, leishmaniasis y tripanosomiasis americana.
Fotografía: Estudios realizados en la población de Guachené, Cauca, demuestran que vacunar mujeres contra el tétanos antes o durante el embarazo, protege a los bebés contra el tétanos neonatal.
80's
Surgen maestrías en ciencias biomédicas y el servicio social obligatorio.
1987
Primer médico rural - Trabajo en campo. La participación de médicos rurales en CIDEIM fue fundamental, porque permitió fortalecer los proyectos y el componente de formación clínica.
1989
Implementación de modelo de investigación interdisciplinaria, para abordar las problemáticas en salud desde una perspectiva clínica y epidemiológica, aplicando enfoques de microbiología, inmunología, biología molecular, desde la investigación básica, traslacional aplicada.
1990
CIDEIM es designado como el Programa Especial de COLCIENCIAS para Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales. Se consolida la organización como Centro Autónomo Colombiano CIDEIM, sin ánimo de lucro.
90´s
Surgen doctorados de las Facultades de Salud y de Ciencias en la Universidad del Valle: empiezan a haber estudiantes de doctorados en CIDEIM.
1991 - 1996
Se desarrolla por primera vez el programa Tropical Medicines Research Center (TMRC), financiado por NIAID de NIH.
1993
CIDEIM es designado como Centro colaborador en leishmaniasis de la OMS/OPS, hasta la actualidad.
1994
Implementación de nuevas líneas de investigación: sífilis, malaria y tuberculosis.
1995
Surge el programa de Jóvenes Investigadores de Colciencias. La participación de jóvenes investigadores en CIDEIM fue fundamental, porque permitió fortalecer los proyectos y el componente de formación en investigación.
1998
Investigadores de CIDEIM contribuyen a la identificación de la transmisión de tuberculosis multidrogoresistente (MDR-TB) en Buenaventura. Además, se detectaron los primeros casos de tuberculosis extremadamente resistente (XDR-TB) en Buenaventura y Cali.
Introducción de pruebas diagnósticas de tuberculosis, VIH avalados por el INVIMA. (Servicios no disponibles en la actualidad)
2003 - 2025
Surge el Programa Global Infectious Diseases (Fogarty) para el fortalecimiento de capacidades en investigación, a partir de la alianza entre la Universidad de Yale y CIDEIM.
2006
Acreditación ISO 9001 en Good Clinical Practices (GCP) y Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
Primer ensayo clínico de Miltefosine en niños.
2008 - 2023:
CIDEIM se convierte en “Centro de Referencia Regional de Entrenamiento” financiado por TDR-OMS para las Américas. Desde 2010 continúa como “Centro Regional de Entrenamiento”. (Más info aquí)
1961 - 1974
Los antecedentes de CIDEIM se remontan a un programa de cooperación técnica entre Tulane University y la Universidad del Valle.
Este programa involucró una gama amplia de investigación en salud que incluía nutrición y metabolismo, antropología social, fisiología de reproducción, psiquiatría y sanidad ambiental, además de enfermedades transmisibles.
Fotografía: Trabajo de campo en el municipio de López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia. Se describe por primera vez el foco de oncocercosis a orillas del río San Juan de Micay.
1961 - 1974
Los antecedentes de CIDEIM se remontan a un programa de cooperación técnica entre Tulane University y la Universidad del Valle.
Este programa involucró una gama amplia de investigación en salud que incluía nutrición y metabolismo, antropología social, fisiología de reproducción, psiquiatría y sanidad ambiental, además de enfermedades transmisibles.
Fotografía: Trabajo de campo en el municipio de López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia. Se describe por primera vez el foco de oncocercosis a orillas del río San Juan de Micay.
1961 - 1974
Los antecedentes de CIDEIM se remontan a un programa de cooperación técnica entre Tulane University y la Universidad del Valle.
Este programa involucró una gama amplia de investigación en salud que incluía nutrición y metabolismo, antropología social, fisiología de reproducción, psiquiatría y sanidad ambiental, además de enfermedades transmisibles.
Fotografía: Trabajo de campo en el municipio de López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia. Se describe por primera vez el foco de oncocercosis a orillas del río San Juan de Micay.
Our History
1961 - 1974
The origins of CIDEIM can be traced back to a technical cooperation program between Tulane University and Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia.
This program encompassed a wide array of health research areas, including nutrition and metabolism, social anthropology, reproductive physiology, psychiatry, environmental health, and communicable diseases.
Photo: Field work in the community of López de Micay, Cauca, Colombia. An outbreak of onchocerciasis is first described on the banks of the San Juan de Micay River.
1975 - 1979
From that point on, the door was opened to multilateral collaboration between Tulane University and various Colombian institutions, along with COLCIENCIAS, which is currently the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Minciencias).
At this stage, CIDEIM’s research focused on the interaction between the immune response and nutrition, particularly the efficacy of vaccines in children with mild to moderate malnutrition. Research was also conducted on filariasis, leishmaniasis, and American trypanosomiasis.
Photo: Studies conducted among the population of Guachené, Cauca, show that vaccinating women against tetanus before or during pregnancy protects babies against neonatal tetanus.
1980
Master’s programs in biomedical sciences were starting to be offered at regional universities in Colombia. Compulsory social service begins at CIDEIM.
Additionally, funding has became available from other international organizations, including the Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
1987
First Rural Doctor: The participation of rural doctors in CIDEIM was essential because it strengthened research projects and clinical training.
1989
Introduction of an interdisciplinary research model to tackle health issues from a clinical and epidemiological standpoint, utilizing microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology approaches for both basic and applied translational research.
Photo: CIDEIM staff in the 1980s.
1990
Designation of CIDEIM as the Special Program of COLCIENCIAS (currently Minciencias) for Research in Tropical Diseases. The organization solidifies its status as a non-profit Colombian Autonomous Center.
1990
The Universidad del Valle expanded its postgraduate programs and launched the first doctoral programs in the faculties of health and sciences. Consequently, doctoral students began joining the CIDEIM research teams.
1991
The Tropical Medicine Research Center (TMRC) program is being developed for the first time. TMRC was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a group of institutes and centers that make up the US Department of Health and Human Services. (1991-1996).
1993
Designation of CIDEIM as a Collaborating Center in Leishmaniasis by the World Health Organization (WHO). (1993-2024).
1994
Introduction of new research lines focusing on syphilis, malaria, and tuberculosis.
1995
COLCIENCIAS created the “Jóvenes Investigadores” (Young Researchers) program. The participation of recently graduated professionals as young researchers at CIDEIM strengthened its projects and research training.
1998
CIDEIM researchers contribute to identifying the transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Buenaventura. Additionally, the first cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) were detected in Buenaventura and Cali.
Introduction of tuberculosis and HIV diagnostic tests endorsed by INVIMA (Colombian National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance) (Services not currently available).
Photo: CIDEIM researchers at work in the laboratory.
2002
In response to the need to understand the extent of bacterial resistance in Colombia and in accordance with WHO guidelines, CIDEIM established the first network of medical centers nationwide to study bacterial resistance.
2003
The Global Infectious Diseases Research Training Program – GID (Fogarty International Center U.S. NIH) was created to strengthen research capabilities. It was established through a partnership between Yale University and CIDEIM (2003 – 2026).
2006
CIDEIM received ISO 9001 accreditation in Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). The first clinical trial of Miltefosine (a drug used to treat leishmaniasis) was conducted on children.
2008
CIDEIM was designated as the “Regional Reference Training Center” for Latin America and the Caribbean, supported by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases of the World Health Organization (TDR-WHO). It has continued as an Regional Training Center since 2010.
CIDEIM and the Universidad Icesi in Cali, Colombia, formed a partnership. Thanks to this partnership, CIDEIM moved to a new facility within the university campus. This new facility is equipped with the necessary infrastructure to research and propose solutions to infectious diseases. In turn, CIDEIM has supported the faculties of Natural Sciences and Medicine at Universidad Icesi, contributing to the education of students of medicine, pharmaceutical chemistry, and biology. (2008–2023).
2009
CIDEIM consolidated a portfolio of virtual courses and other modalities, including B-learning.
Photo: CIDEIM researchers at work in the laboratory.
2011
The CIDEIM IPS was established in Tumaco, Colombia, to provide healthcare services to research volunteers. Two new clinical trials were conducted to study the pharmacokinetics of pentavalent antimony combined with pentoxifylline.
2012
Awarding of doctoral scholarships abroad.
Certification in Good Clinical Practices.
The development of the dengue research project was made possible through intersectoral collaboration.
2013
- The services unit was closed. It offered biopharmaceuticals and specialized diagnostic and antibiotic susceptibility testing for tuberculosis and HIV.
- MHealth applications were developed in collaboration with Universidad Icesi engineers.
2017
Development of the second Tropical Medicines Research Center (TMRC) program, funded by NIH’s NIAID. Creation of the Social Innovation in Health Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, within the framework of SIHI Global.
2018
CIDEIM was selected as the TDR Global regional node for the Americas. This designation is still in effect.
Photo: Researchers working on a vector control project.
2020
The Social Sciences in Health Research Unit was created to approach CIDEIM’s research projects from a social science perspective and implement processes of social appropriation of knowledge.
2020
Initiation of research into SARS-CoV2 in collaboration with the Fundación Valle del Lili and the National Institute of Health of Colombia.
2021
The implementation of the project “Strengthening and synergizing the scientific and technological capabilities of the Alliance CIDEIM – Fundación Valle del Lili – Universidad Icesi to address issues associated with biological agents that pose a high risk to human health in Valle del Cauca” was initiated. Funded by the Colombian government (Sistema General de Regalías – SGR), this project focused on strengthening the capacity to diagnose and monitor endemic and emerging diseases that pose a high risk to public health in Cali and Valle del Cauca.
2022
The project “Cultural Adaptability of Health Interventions in the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Tuberculosis) for the Dispersed Rural Population (Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and Mestizo) of the Municipality of Pueblo Rico (Risaralda, Colombia). 2022-2025” was initiated. This initiative was financially supported by the Colombian government (Sistema General de Regalías – SGR).
2024
CIDEIM has partnered with Yellow4FLAVI, an international, interdisciplinary consortium that seeks to design safer and more effective vaccines against multiple flaviviruses. The research project, “Deconstructing the Protective Immunity of Yellow Fever Virus 17D to Inform Flavivirus Vaccine Design. (Giovanna Barba Spaeth, Institut Pasteur; María Adelaida Gómez, CIDEIM; 2024–2029)” is coordinated by the Institut Pasteur and funded by the European Union. The project comprises 13 partner institutions, and CIDEIM is the only non-European partner.
