WHO HPV Reference Laboratory

The WHO had designated the Institute of Microbiology as the HPV reference laboratory for the European region in order to provide technical and theoretical guidance on the determination of HPV genotypes and the analytical aspects of detecting HPV16/18 neutralizing antibodies. This was part of the WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research (IVR) in connection with the introduction of prophylactic HPV vaccines aimed at preventing cervical cancer. This reference laboratory was headed by Denise Nardelli Haefliger, who was responsible for a research group on HPV vaccine development at CHUV.