The Center for Research on Meningitis and Schistosomiasis (CERMES) was founded in 1977 and became fully operational in 1980. Its mission is to provide support to the member states of its parent organization, the OCCGE. The CERMES is WHO collaborating centre for research and control of schistosomiasis and subregional reference laboratory for diagnosis of meningitis. In the field of meningitis, the CERMES carries out epidemiologic and bacteriologic studies and investigates new vaccination strategies. The CERMES is presently conducting clinical trials of several conjugated vaccines. In the field of schistosomiasis, the CERMES is studying mechanisms of transmission and performing experiments to evaluate immunogenicity and efficacy of the Sh28GST vaccine. The facilities of the CERMES include laboratories for bacteriologic and clinical testing, for experimental and clinical trials of vaccines, for studying the parasitological features and mode of transmission of schistosomiasis, for assessment of the results of epidemiological studies and prevention campaigns, and for processing geographic and remote sensing data. The CERMES is also called on for consultancy services and provides a full range of training courses in laboratory and management techniques for countries in the OCCGE.