The Danish Statens Serum Institute celebrates its centenary

The Statens Serum Institute (SSI) in Denmark celebrated its centenary on 9 September 2002. Conferences were organised on emerging and re-emerging diseases, vaccine development, and the launch of a new website (www.ssi.dk). Inaugurated in 1902 to ensure the production of anti-diphtheria serum, the institute has continuously applied research-based knowledge towards the prevention and control of infectious diseases and congenital disorders. Today, the SSI performs the epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases, and serves as a laboratory diagnostic reference and training centre. It uses specifically developed diagnostic facilities, and has achieved the development, and production of vaccines, and plasma-based medicines.