Rodrigo Fasce Head of Virology Department, Public Health Institute of Chile (PHI)
Rodrigo Fasce trained as a Biochemist. He is currently in charge of the Virology Department at the Public Health Institute of Chile (PHI), where he has been a member of staff for more than twenty years. Initially in charge of laboratory diagnosis for measles, rubella and influenza in the Respiratory and Exanthematic Virus Laboratory, he became head of the lab in 1999 and was responsible for establishing PCR diagnostics and strengthening and expanding the PHI-coordinated influenza and other respiratory viruses laboratory network around the country.
As a member of the National Technical Committee on Pandemic Influenza he participated in developing technical documents and guidelines for Chile. Since 2009, as an Influenza Expert on the International Health Regulations (IHR) Roster of Experts he was in charge of the management at PHI of the Influenza pandemic, as well as the implementation of ILI and SARI surveillance with the Ministry of Health.
As a Consultant for PAHO, Dr Fasce helped set up sentinel respiratory laboratory surveillance and supervise laboratories in other countries in Central and South America. He spent 6 months with the Global Influenza Program at WHO HQ in Geneva as a Technical Officer in charge of laboratory issues, and has since acted as a consultant.
