An infectious disease research center, the only laboratory of the World Health Organization (WHO) in China, has been built in Peking University, Beijing Times reported.

The laboratory is also the first of its kind in China engaged in infectious disease research.

World renowned scientist W. Ian Lipkin, professor at Columbia University, is invited as honorary chief and guest professor of the research center.

The laboratory is expected to integrate the relevant research resources in China and build itself into a world-class one.

The laboratory devotes itself to studying existent and newly found infectious diseases such as bird flu, SARS, AIDS as well as hepatitis. The focus will be put on the research of new pathogen, new infectious disease diagnosis, virus sequence analysis, vaccine research and development, new therapies and pathological mechanisms.

The number of researchers at the laboratory is between 30 and 50, including six to ten leading scientists as well as a few visiting scholars.

Sources with the research center said it will be open to undergraduates and graduates and will actively participate in teaching.

(People's Daily March 9, 2006)