Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology named after General Karol Kaczkowski

The Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology named after General Karol Kaczkowski is a Polish research institute that began its operations in 1945. Its headquarters are located in Warsaw and Puławy, where the Center for Diagnostics and Control of Biological Threats operates. The institute focuses on research in the fields of medical and health sciences, including epidemiology, pharmacology, hygiene, and immunology, and its activities are of particular importance to the security of the Polish Armed Forces. The institute's patron, General Karol Kaczkowski, was a pioneer of military medicine in the 19th century and the creator of the medical assistance system on the battlefield. The institute traces its traditions back to the sanitary and epidemiological units established during World War II. In 1960, the institute received its current name and patron, and its research activities were expanded to include the diagnosis of biological agents, including weapons of mass destruction. Architecturally, since the 1970s, the institute has had the "Alpha" facility, a hermetic WMD shelter, which reflects the strategic thinking of civil protection during the Cold War. Culturally, the institute emphasizes its history by honoring its patron, who has his own monument located on the institute's grounds. An interesting fact is the introduction of a commemorative badge and a recognition emblem in 2019, which refer to the historical traditions of military medical units. The institute regularly organizes conferences, courses, and training sessions, aiming to increase knowledge in the field of public health and protection against biological threats.