The Division of Parasitology at NICED actively integrates research into the pathogenic mechanisms of parasitic diseases at the molecular and cellular levels with epidemiological studies. While ensuring an increasing understanding of human parasitic diseases, like amoebiasis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis etc., this provides the foundation for further developments in screening, diagnosis and future therapeutics. To support these fundamental activities, the Department of Parasitology provides extensive research and training opportunities to graduate students and other trainees of India and abroad.

We have been working extensively and successfully for mapping the prevalence of STH throughout India. Our data and report have been utilized to formulate a policy to initiate annual/biannual deworming strategy by Govt. of India.
We have reported for the first time that although the common aetiology of amoebiasis (E histolytica) is decreasing but a more challenging amphizoic Entamoeba moshkovskii which was previously an environmental strain and not at all a pathogen is now becoming the major cause of amoebiasis in human. This is the first report of E moshkovskii as a pathogenic aetiology for amoebiasis in human and with very high prevalence. This is the most important event in human amoebiasis research in recent times.

Our long term work on parasitic diarrhoea has revealed many highly interesting and concerning strains of different parasites. Our study has revealed that asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica infection can turn directly to amoebic liver abscess for some special virulent factor in its genome. Our work first suggested immense zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium and other coccidian parasites in India. Our study on assemblage swapping in Giardia first revealed that sexual recombination is possible in this ancient mesokaryote. This division has developed a new stool collection procedure for better diagnostics and preservation (TFT). This test helps in very high sensitivity, specificity and preservation of stool sample for further diagnostics using molecular methods.

Numerous novel genotypes of different pathogenic parasites were discovered in the study region, which are phylogenetically unique and distinct from isolates previously reported in other geographical areas. More than 1000 new genotypes have been submitted in Genebank.
We have formulated many processes for quick detection, identification and multiplex detection of different parasites. This lab is one of the CDC accredited lab for training of identification and quick detection of different parasites both molecular as well as microscopic. Our recent elegant research on multiplex detection of newly identified pathogenic human parasites would have immense help for quick diagnosis of previously unknown pathogenic parasites.

Our recent studies on metronidazole resistant Giardia helped to understand why newer chemotherapeutics are important for treatment.

Our study on Human pulmonary paragonimiasis in crab eating communities and smear negative suspected TB cases has addressed the challenge of misdiagnosis by determining the incidence rate of Paragonimus spp. Future endeavours involve developing a cost-effective nucleotide-based detection kit to enhance diagnosis and genetic characterization of local isolates.

This division has strong collaborations with NIID, Japan, Okayama University, Japan, CDC, USA, NIH, USA, City University of New York, USA, etc.
This division offers PhD and Post-Doctoral training program in different aspects of Parasitology. Beside its PhD and Post-Doctoral program, this department organizes workshops and training for scientists, students and technicians and also entertains short training to Post Graduate students of different universities for learning basic molecular biology, cell biology and immunology techniques.

Different prestigious grants and awards from National and International level have enriched this department time to time