Kamphaeng Phet-AFRIMS Virology Research Unit (KAVRU) is a field station of the Department of Virology, U.S. Army Medical Component-Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMC-AFRIMS) in Bangkok, Thailand.

KAVRU was established in 1980 and is located on the grounds of the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Hospital (KPPPH) and has a long history of collaborative research with the Ministry of Public Health and KPPPH. Highlights of the collaboration include the conduct of two phase 3 vaccine trials (Japanese encephalitis and hepatitis A) and 10 years of conducting prospective dengue surveillance in cohorts of primary school children. Current projects include conduct of influenza surveillance and studies of dengue virus evolution and vector-host-virus interactions. This has greatly expanded its field research capabilities and community relationship between KAVRU, KPPPH, the Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Public Health Office, Educational Institute and the people in Kamphaeng Phet Province.

A new, 2-floor, KAVRU facility was opened in 9 July 2003. The first floor contains office space, a conference room, data entry and IT support, a biologic specimen receiving, processing and storage area, and state of the art vaccine storage section. The second floor contains additional office space and laboratories.  KAVRU currently employs 20 staff.

KAVRU address: Kamphaeng Phet-AFRIMS Virology Research Unit (KAVRU) 382 Rajdamnern Rd. Muang District Kamphaeng Phet 62000 Thailand Tel: (66)55-713-734 Fax: (66)55-715-967

Back to Department of Virology