MIHE – Historical outline

Traditions of the General Karol Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology date back to the Second World War. By virtue of the Order No.1/Org. of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, Lt.Gen. Michał Rola-Żymierski, of January 8, 1945, the 9th Sanitary-Epidemiological Laboratory of the Front was set up (following the equivalent Soviet order No.027/286) in Lublin (the name of the laboratory used to be abbreviated to SELF 9 or SEL 9; for the sake of correspondence, the Army Postal Service No.57089 was also used). Organization of SELF 9 was entrusted upon a military physician Leon Kesten. On January 17, 1945, he was replaced by Capt. Prof. Dr. Edmund Mikulaszek – a microbiologist and head of the Department of Microbiology of the Veterinary Institute in Lvov (currently in Ukraine), who at the end of November 1944 voluntarily joined the People’s Polish Armed Forces.
Organizationally and technically SELF 9 fell under the 3rd Department of Epidemiology at the Headquarters of the Military Medical Services, Polish Armed Forces, and economically - under the Front Epidemiological Post (FEP). The Laboratory was stationed on the premises of the 42nd Mobile Army Evacuation Hospital. The structure of SELF 9 included the HQ, epidemiological department, department of vaccines and hazardous infectious diseases, anti-malaria department, sanitary-hygienic department complete with a section for the detection of military gases, department of preparation of media and reagents, and a vivarium. Twenty two officers, one non-comissioned officer, three privates, and 20 civilians (who during the war were substituted by soldiers) constituted the full-time staff of the Laboratory.
During the Lublin period primary tasks of SELF 9 included training of the personnel and improvement of the laboratory techniques. Officers of the Lab lectured military physicians in epidemiology and methods of disinfection. The technical staff attended training courses at the Lublin branch of the National Institute of Hygiene. At the beginning of February 1945, SELF 9 was moved to the premises of the State Psychiatric Hospital in Tworki near Warsaw.
The general mission of SELF 9 was to overlook and provide technical guidance to the military laboratories of the wartime 1st and 2nd Polish Armies as well as to clinical laboratories of the mobile hospitals for infectious diseases and special platoons of the medical-sanitary battalions of all the fighting divisions; it also supplied these units with the necessary media and reagents. The Lab officers supervised sanitary-hygienic conditions of the military units, mobile hospitals, and prisoner-of-war camps, and overlooked immunization of the personnel. As early as in February 1945 routine laboratory tests were launched in SELF, the number of which approached several thousands in the months to follow.
When the war ended, the Laboratory was vested the full-time employment schedule for peacetime. By order No.0233 of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces of September 6, 1945 (signed by Lt.Gen. Władysław Korczyc), the 3rd vice-minister of the National Defence was instructed to create, based on the disbanded SELF 9 and the 28th Instructor Disinfection Emergency Unit of the Front (set up by order No. 1/Org. of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces of January 8, 1945, according to unit No.027/225, and commanded by Col. Nikodem Butrymowicz, MD), the Central Sanitary Epidemiological Laboratory (CSEL).
The unit No.21/15 of CSEL envisaged 47 soldiers, 24 contracted civilians, and up to 50 trainees. On October 1, 1945, the Laboratory, still on the premises of the Tworki Hospital, set to work playing special emphasis on scientific activities. In December 1946, CSEL was transferred to Lodz. At that time Col.Prof.Dr. Edmund Mikulaszek, became head of the Department of Microbiology at the Medical Faculty of the Warsaw University and retired from the military service. Hence, Col. Paschalis Zagórski, MD was appointed head of the Laboratory. After the move to Lodz, a part of the personnel remained in Warsaw, a part was transferred to other units, others left the military service. The Laboratory was seated on the premises of the Clinical Hospital in Lodz (on 113 Żeromskiego St.) and became part of the Centre for Sanitary Training (CST), later renamed the Military Centre for Medical Training (MCMT).
When in February 1949 Col. Zagórski became Epidemiologist-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces, LtCol.Dr. Jan Chomiczewski became head of CSEL. On March 18, 1951, the Laboratory was detached from MCMT and in 1952 renamed the 34th Central Military Sanitary Hygienic Laboratory (34th CMSHL), the head of which was appointed Lt.Col. Marian Lesisz, MD. Main tasks of the Laboratory at that time included organisation of the training and specialization courses for epidemiologists, food analysts, medical laboratory personnel of the military (e.g. MCMT) and other organizations (e.g. Service to Poland) The staff of the Laboratory established two military medical departments at the Military Medical University in Lodz.
In 1955, 34th MCSHL was moved to Warsaw and LtCol.Prof.Dr. Maksym Nikonorow took up the command. The transfer to the capital and resetting of the laboratories, a library, and the supporting infrastructure in the 100-year old buildings and frame-houses was supervised by Maj. Józef F. Kubica. The translocation resulted in major replacements of the personnel: some of them retired, whereas a number of new physicians, pharmacists, biologists, and chemists, both military and civilian, joined the staff. In February 1957, the Laboratory was reshaped into a scientific institution subdivided into departments and laboratories.
On the occasion of its 15th anniversary, by the order of the Minister of National Defence of February 10, 1960, 34th CMSHL was transformed into the Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (MIHE). On June 20, 1960, by order No. 27/MON of the Minister of National Defence, MIHE became the proud namesake of Karol Kaczkowski (1797-1867), Surgeon General of the Polish Armed Forces during the 1830 November Uprising (appointed to this post and promoted to the rank of general by the National Government of the time), professor of the Warsaw University, excellent epidemiologist and organizer of the military health services, presented for his merits with the Gold Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order. On the same day, during the celebration of the anniversary, an obelisk devoted to Gen. Kaczkowski (founded in 1931 by the 1st Sanitary Battalion) was revealed on the premises of MIHE on 4 Kozielska St. The ceremony was attended by Brig. Gen. Wiktor Ziemiński - a Quartermaster of the Polish Armed Forces, numerous representatives of the Academy, the Allied Armed Forces of the Warsaw Pact and, last but not least, a 100-year-old grand-daughter of Gen. Kaczkowski, Ms Kamila Przegalińska.

From 1957 to 1960, the Annals of the Central Military Sanitary-Hygienic Laboratory were published, and in 1961 the first volume of the Annals of the Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology was issued.
By virtue of the order of the Minister of National Defence of January 28, 1963, MIHE became a research institute, and on February 13 of the same year the first session of its Scientific Council (chaired by Prof.Dr. Edmund Mikulaszek, member of the Polish Academy of Sciences) was held.
In 1960, MIHE was joined by the Centre for Radiation Protection and Radiobiology (CRPR) – a research and diagnostic unit contrived and initiated at the turn of 1959 and 1960 by Maj. Tadeusz Obara, MD and Dr. Stanisław Lipiński - a candidate of medical sciences; the former was appointed the first head of the CRPR. With time, the Centre was moved to the newly erected buildings of the Central Hospital of the Military Medical University (CH MMU) on 128 Szaserów St. in Warsaw. In the autumn of 1963, with the introduction of a departmental structure, CRPR consisted of the Dept. of Radiobiology (head: Capt. S. Lipiński), Dept. of Radiation Protection (formally headed by Maj. J. Derecki, actually led by Capt. Z. Bałtrukiewicz), Dept. of Radiotoxicology (head: Maj. J. Derecki), Dept. of Nuclear Medicine (head: Capt. Z. Toth), and Radioisotope Subunit (initially headed by Capt. W. Forgalski, MD, later by Maj. R. Denisiewicz, MD) of the Internal Medicine Ward at the 1st Military Regional Hospital. In 1967, LtCol.Dr. Juliusz Derecki was appointed head of CRPR; this post was temporarily taken over by Lt.Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Przemysław Czerski, and, from 1969 to 1971 again by LtCol. Derecki. In June 1971, after being joined by Dept. of Toxicology, the Centre was renamed Group of Departments of Radiobiology and Toxicology (GDRT) and Lt.Col.Dr. Jerzy Dyjak was appointed its head. In January 1972, GDRT was moved to a new building on 128 Szaserów St., specially designed for the purposes of the Group and equipped with devices conducive to studies utilizing radioactive isotopes and toxic agents (in perspective, GDRT was to become the Interdepartmental Centre for Defence against NBC Weapons). At that time, GDRT consisted of the Dept. of Nuclear Medicine (head: Capt.Dr. Zbigniew Toth), Radiological-Isotopic Clinical Ward (heads: Maj.Dr. Rościsław Denisiewicz, later replaced by Lt.Col.Dr. Maksymilian Siekierzyński), Dept. of Radiobiology (head: Col.Prof.Dr. Stanisław Bitny-Szlachto), Dept. of Radiotoxicology (head: Lt.Col.Dr. Juliusz Derecki), Dept. of Radiation Protection (heads: Lt.Col.Dr. Juliusz Derecki, then since 1967 – Maj.Dr. Zenon Bałtrukiewicz), Dept. of Toxicology (head: Col.Prof.Dr. Tadeusz Kisieliński), Dept. of Microwave Protection (head: Lt.Col.Dr. Mieczysław Piotrowski, after his death replaced by Lt.Col.Dr. Roman Kubacki who led the Microwave Protection Group from 1991 to 1998), and Laboratory of Radiological Contaminations (head: LtCol. Jan Ciepliński, M.Sc.). In 1975, the Dept. of Nuclear Medicine and the Radioisotope Ward were incorporated into the Center for Postgraduate Training of the Military Medical University (currently Military Medical Institute). Noticeably, the research and diagnostic profiles of both CRPR and GDRT complemented the scientific activities of MIHE with novel at that time in Poland fields of radiobiology, radiation protection, and nuclear medicine. From December 1980, after stepping down of Col.Dr. J. Dyjak, the following officers served as acting heads of GDRT: Col.Prof.Dr. Zenon Bałtrukiewicz (1980-1981), Col.Dr. Romuald Kulesza (1981-1982), Lt.Col.Dr. Marian Bielec (1982-1986), Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Jerzy Drapiewski (1986-1987), Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Krzysztof Chomiczewski (1987-1992), Col.Assist.Prof. (since 1994 Col.Prof.) Zygmunt Pojda (1992-1998). At that time, in addition to the above units, the Group also housed the Dept. of Immunology (1980-1984, acting head: Maj.Assist.Prof.Dr. Wiesław W. Jędrzejczak), Dept. of Biological Effects of Nonionising Radiation (1982-1991, heads: Brig.Gen. Assist.Prof. Tadeusz Obara, later replaced by Prof.Dr. Stanisław Szmigielski), Independent Laboratory of Radiation Pharmacology (1987-1991, head: Lt.Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Sławomir Lipski), Interdepartmental Isotope Laboratory (1988-1989, head: Maj.Assist.Prof.Dr. Marek K. Janiak), and Dept. of Radiation Haematology (1987-2002, initiator and head: LtCol.Assist.Prof.Dr. Zygmunt Pojda).
In May, 1963, a new MIHE’s Centre of Experimental Epidemiology was created in Cracow from the disbanded Sanitary-Hygienic Laboratory of the Air Force. The Centre adopted the epidemiological-microbiological profile and consisted of the Dept.of Microbiology (headed by Col.Prof.Dr. Tadeusz Lachowicz, 1965-1980, later replaced by Col.Assist.Prof. Juliusz Reiss, 1980-1982), and the Dept. of Special Hygiene (headed by Lt.Col.M.Sc.Pharm. Janusz Zaionc (1963-1982). The Centre was successively commanded by Col.Dr. Erazm Chodorowski (1963-1965), Col.Prof.Dr. Tadeusz Lachowicz (1965-1980), and Col.Assist.Prof. Juliusz Reiss (1980-1982). In 1982 most of the equipment of the Cracow Centre was relocated to 4 Kozielska St., Warsaw, where a new Department of Microbiology was created.
By virtue of Resolution No. 12/64 of the Council of Ministers of January 22, 1964, MIHE was granted a privilege to graduate doctors (Ph.D. degrees) in medicine, pharmacy, and natural sciences. In 1972, the right was extended to supervising postdoctoral studies and applying for postdoctoral degrees (doctor habilitatus) in the same fields.
When in December 1970 Col.Prof.Dr. Maksym Nikonorow retired from the military service, Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Józef F. Kubica took over as Commandant of MIHE. During his term in the post, new structures and buildings were erected housing new laboratories, store-rooms, and the animal-breeding unit to meet the growing assignments, tasks, and needs of the Institute. On April 7, 1971, Scientific Council of the 2nd term was inducted, chaired again by Prof.Dr. Edmund Mikulaszek. In 1974, doctoral fellowships for military physicians, dentists, pharmacists, and biologists as well as civilians employed in the military units were started at the Institute.
On December 19, 1977, Scientific Council of the 3rd term was called up with Col.Prof.Dr. Józef Kubica as the chairman.
When Col.Prof.Dr Kubica was transferred in 1978 to another post, his position as Commandant of MIHE was taken over by BrigGen.Assist.Prof.Dr Tadeusz Obara. In 1979, a new main building of the Institute was finished on Kozielska St. in which four departments, the command, a library, a photo shop, and several store-rooms were comfortably accommodated.

In 1981, in appreciation of its scientific accomplishments and contribution to health protection in Poland, the State Council of the People’s Republic of Poland presented the General Kaczkowski Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology with the Order 2nd Class of the Banner of Labour. By virtue of Bylaw no. 20 of the Quartermaster-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of December 12, 1981, the Institute began (as of March 15, 1982) to officiate as the Sanitary- Epidemiological Station of the Capital Garrison, carrying out these duties until 1999.
In December 1982, Brig.Gen.Prof.Dr. Jerzy Bończak was appointed Commandant of MIHE; on July 7 of the next year, when the Scientific Council of 4th term was elected, he became chairman of the Council. In September 1984, the post of Commandant of MIHE was taken over by Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Juliusz Reiss who, in 1985, was replaced by Col.Prof.Dr. Józef F. Kubica. On February 19, 1986, Scientific Council of the 5th term was called up, with Prof.Dr. Włodzimierz Kuryłowicz as chairman.
By virtue of Bylaw No. 031/Org. of the Chief of General Staff of April 3, 1990, Military Research Centre of the Veterinary Services in Puławy got incorporated to the Institute. Concurrently, by virtue of Ordinance No. 46/MON of the Minister of National Defence of May 30, 1990, MIHE was established as both a military unit and a research and developmental centre. This latter document automatically changed the hitherto existing Statutes of MIHE introduced by Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence No. 03/MON of January 28, 1963. At that time, the Institute consisted of three basic sub-units: a) the Group of Departments of Military Hygiene and Epidemiology (on Kozielska St, in Warsaw), b) the Group of Departments of Radiobiology and Toxicology (on Szaserów St. in Warsaw), and c) the Centre for Veterinary Research (on Lubelska St. in Pulawy).
In 1991, when Col.Prof.Dr. Kubica retired from the military service, the position of the Commandant was given to Col.Prof.Dr. Jerzy Faff. On September 25 of the same year, Scientific Council of the 6th term was inducted with Prof.Dr. Kubica as chairman. On September 29, 1995, the 7th-term Council was called up with Prof.Dr. Jan Ryżewski as chairman. In 1997, Col.Prof.Dr. Jerzy Faff retired from the military service and was replaced at his post by Col.Prof.Dr. Krzysztof Chomiczewski.
By virtue of Ordinance No. 5/MON of the Minister of National Defence of February 4, 1997, MIHE was incorporated, as a separate faculty and a health-care facility, into the gen. Bolesław Szarecki Military Medical University (WAM) in Lodz.
On Septemer 28, 1999, Scientific Council of the 8th term was elected and Prof.Dr. Janusz Jeljaszewicz became its chairman; when the Professor died on June 20, 2001, his duties were assumed by Prof.Dr. Adam Nowosławski.
On April 24, 2002, the first in Poland laboratory of the 3rd- class biological safety (BSL-3) was officially opened at the Veterinary Centre of MIHE in Pulawy, which was renamed Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre. The launching of the Laboratory was possible owing to the persistent and steadfast technical and financial support of the Office of Defense Cooperation of the U.S. Embassy in Poland, especially its deputy chief – Ms. Betty Dent. The ceremony was attended by the Chief Sanitary Inspector of Poland, Brig.Gen.Dr. Andrzej Trybusz, Director of the Dept. of the President’s Supremacy over the Armed Forces – Maj.Gen. Tadeusz Bałachowicz, Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation of the Embasssy of the United States of America in Poland - Col. Peter Podbielski, Deputy-Chief of the Office - Ms. Betty Dent, a/o. The Centre started off very well and was soon recognized as the hub of research and a reference unit in Poland related to studies, final confirmation, and archiving of most dangerous pathogens regarded as potential biological weapons and/or biothreat agents.
When in May 2002 Col.Prof.Dr. Krzysztof Chomiczewski retired from the military service, he was replaced by the last Commandant of MIHE - Col.Assist.Prof.Dr. Marek Krzysztof Janiak. Indeed, by virtue of the Ordinance of the Minister of National Defence of September 16, 2002, MIHE was transformed into an independent research and development (R&D) entity subjected to the laws of the market economy which resulted in major changes in the operating rules of the Institute. Concurrently, MIHE ceased to be a military unit, the post of Commandant was cancelled and Col. Marek K. Janiak was appointed the first Director of MIHE, and Assist. Professors Jerzy Bzdęga and Michał Bartoszcze became Deputy Directors. According to the Research and Development Units Act, the Institute was entailed the life usufruct of the land on its premises on 4 Kozielska St. in Warsaw (total area of 62,919 m2) and on 2 Lubelska St. in Puławy (total area of 37,669 m2); at the same time, the Institute was granted the right to own all the buildings seated on that land (the value of which on Kozielska St. was estimated at 7,723,270 PLN).
On October 8, 2003, Scientific Council of the 9th term was called up with Prof.Dr. Piotr Heczko appointed as chairman.
On May 21, 2004, Director of MIHE, Col. M. K. Janiak, signed, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Poland, the Information Exchange Annex IEA-A-03-PL-1688 for the US-Poland Master Information Exchange Agreement Concerning Technologies for Biological Defense. The Annex provided for the exchange of scientific and technical information on mutual interest on the research, development, and testing of equipment, reagents and techniques intended to contribute to the defence against biological and mid-spectrum (biological modulator) agents. For the Department of Defense of the United States of America the IEA was signed by Mr. James H. Zarzycki, Technical Director of the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC). The ceremony took place on the premises of the ECBC in Maryland, USA. The Annex, effective for a period of five years, renewed the similar agreement (IEA-A-96-PO-1556) signed between the two parties on December 13, 1996; in both cases Assist.Prof. Michał Bartoszcze served as the Polish Technical Project Officer to the Agreement.

On December 21, 2004, Minister of the National Defence, against the position of the MIHE’s Management and the Scientific Council, decreed incorporation as of January 1, 2005 of MIHE into the Military Medical Institute, a therapeutic institution with a mission totally different from and incompatible with that of MIHE. However, following the intervention of the Parliamentary Commission for National Defence, the Minister was forced to recall his decision (which he did on February 21, 2005) and MIHE remained an independent R&D entity.
In 2005, pursuant to recommendations of the Polish Ministry of Science and Information Technology as well as to those of the European Union, MIHE entered two R&D consortia:

• “Protection of the Population – Inherited Anti-Infectious Immunity – Biological Attack” (agreement signed May 31, 2005; 6 subjects; coordinator: MIHE);
• “Polish Technological Platform of Security Systems” (agreement signed Sept 9, 2005; 33 subjects; coordinator: Military Institute of Technology).

In 2005, in connection with the celebration of its 60th anniversary, the following commemorating events were carried out:
• 4th Scientific and Educational Conference “Hygiene of Food and Feed as the Basis of Health”, organized September 6-9 in Jurata (a beach resort on the Baltic coastline);
• 3rd International Conference “Defence against Bioterrorism” organized on September 3 in Kazimierz Dolny (a picturesque, historical town 133 km south-east of Warsaw);