Centro Internacional de Zoonosis (CIZ) was created in 2002 to carry out research on endemic zoonotic diseases in the Andean region: taeniasis-cysticercosis, brucellosis, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis and fasciolosis. CIZ was created in an attempt to improve the collaboration between medical and veterinary services in Ecuador and between the respective faculties at Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE).

CIZ plays an important academic role on public health, reflecting in the mandate it was given by UCE “To generate a research process to improve the academic standard of UCE and develop technologies in benefit of the society”. As such, CIZ evolves towards an interfaculty centre of excellence for the benefit of academic research, education and public health. Research is focused on the diagnosis and epidemiology of zoonoses, supporting control strategies. CIZ offers pregraduate and postgraduate training in important parasitic and bacterial zoonoses that are endemic in Ecuador and the Andean Region.

CIZ is made of four units collaborating with national and international projects: Research (Biotechnology and Microbiology), Academic, Public Health and Entomology Units.