Our History

THE CARIBBEAN EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTRE (CAREC)

Formerly: The Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory
and The Colonial Microbiological Research Institute

The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre began operating on 1 January 1975 under the administrative management of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) at the request of the Caribbean Health Ministers' Conference held in the Bahamas in 1974.

Background

During 1971 and 1972 the Caribbean island of Trinidad experienced major poliomyelitis and typhoid fever epidemics. In addition, cholera reached Portugal around that time. Because of these developments, the territories and English-speaking countries of the Caribbean were especially conscious of communicable disease problems not only the direct threat posed to their inhabitants but also the potential threat to tourism, their major industry. It was realized, however, that little accurate information existed on communicable disease patterns in the Caribbean countries and territories. The consequent need for good epidemiologic surveillance and backup laboratories was first stated by Dr. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and his call for action was endorsed by the Caribbean Health Ministers' Conference held at Dominica in 1975. In this same vein, Dr. Williams had approached PAHO the previous year to see if the Organization would be interested in setting up a disease surveillance center based in Trinidad that would incorporate the activities of the existing Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. This laboratory, situated near the center of Port of Spain, was used by the Rockefeller Foundation for Arbovirus studies from 1962 to 1968, during which time it was attached to the Department of Microbiology of the University of the West Indies. In 1968 the Rockefeller Foundation withdrew its funding, but the University kept it in operation with contributions from the Governments of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Britain, and serial grants from the Medical Research Council of the United Kingdom and the National Institutes of Health (USA). In response to Dr. Williams' request, PAHO sent a team of leading scientists to examine surveillance requirements in the area. This team presented a report in 1975 confirming the need for a disease surveillance center. Subsequently, a Pan-Caribbean conference held in Jamaica in April 1974 endorsed plans for performing disease surveillance work based at the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. As a result, PAHO and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago signed a bilateral agreement making over the lands and facilities of the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory to PAHO for 10 years; and in October 1974 PAHO signed an additional multilateral agreement with the Governments of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Together, these agreements provided the structure of what was to become the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC). By geographic coincidence the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory was situated in the same building as CAREC, facilitating the arrangement whereby the Director of that laboratory also became the Assistant Director of CAREC. Very strong and essential links were thus created between the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory and CAREC links, which have continued to develop. The close relationship established between CAREC and the West Indies Government (through their health Ministries and the Caribbean Health Ministers' Conference) is particularly important.

In accord with the multilateral agreement, CAREC was established for a 10-year period beginning on 1 January 1975. The Governments signatory to the agreement also consented to make quota contributions providing approximately 60 per cent of CAREC's core budget, the remaining 40 per cent to come from PAHO/ WHO, and the Overseas Development Ministry of the U.K.

THE TRINIDAD REGIONAL VIRUS LABORATORY

The Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory (TRVL) was established by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1953 in a wooden building (formerly an army barracks) near the docks in Port-of-Spain. In 1961, the Laboratory was transferred to modern buildings in Federation Park, Port-of-Spain, some of which housed formerly the Colonial Microbiological Research Institute. In the same year, the Laboratory became part of the Department of Microbiology of the University of the West Indies. The research programme was concerned initially with the study of the ecology and epidemiology of arboviruses (mosquito, mite and tick transmitted viruses) in the Caribbean and that part of the mainland of South America which is adjacent to the island of Trinidad. The programme of the Laboratory was also widened to include investigations on all viruses affecting man and domestic animals in the region, and some agents other than viruses, which are of medical importance to the region. Apart from research, the laboratory undertook routine diagnostic work on virus diseases.

A field station was maintained by the Laboratory in Bush Bush Forest in the Nariva Swamp. At this station, studies were carried out continuously on the arboviruses of Trinidad. At various times, similar studies were conducted in other parts of the island. In 1967, field activities were concentrated at Turure Forest near Sangre Grande. Many viruses were recovered from this area.

The laboratory also provided training to research workers and technicians who came from different parts of the world on Rockefeller Foundation or World Health Organization fellowships.

COLONIAL MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

In 1945 Sir Robert Robinson and Professor J.L. Simonsen, acting on behalf of the Colonial Products Research Council, paid a visit to the West Indies to acquaint themselves with the tasks in which scientific research could assist these and other tropical territories of the Commonwealth. From the observations they made in the Colonies which they visited, they concluded that almost every branch of science could be called upon to take a share in raising the prosperity of these lands; but that a special claim could be made for microbiology of which only the most urgent medical aspects had been receiving attention in the past.

The Colonial Office accepted their conclusions and made funds available for the foundation of a Colonial Microbiological Research Centre to be situated within the tropics.

Port of Spain, Trinidad, was decided on as a suitable location. It was approved that the Centre should devote its energies to fundamental research in microbiology; to the application of the results of its investigations; and to assisting agricultural and other industries in improving their products. Further, it was approved that the new Institute should form a Centre for post-graduate training in microbiology. Afterwards, it was decided that a branch of the new Centre should devote itself to the maintenance of a collection of micro-organisms, which could be made freely available to interested institutes and to research workers in tropical and temperate climates.

To meet the needs of the new Centre a building was designed, which, in addition to a library, comprised six laboratories, three for microbiological and one for biochemical research. One laboratory was reserved for the type culture collection, and one for the preparation of culture media.

The construction of the various buildings commenced early in 1947 and by July had progressed so far that the Institute could be opened officially on July 5, when Lord Hankey, Chairman of the Colonial Products Research Council, consented to perform the ceremony in person.