Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases is located in Jining City, "the hometown of Confucius and Mencius, the capital of the Grand Canal", affiliated to Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences). It was established in 1960 by the combination of the "General Institute of Kala-azar Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, East China Military and Political Committee" (founded in 1950 and renamed "Shandong Institute of Leishmaniasis Prevention and Control" in 1953) and the "Shandong Institute of Filariasis Prevention and Control" (founded in 1955). After 70 years of development, it has evolved into the only provincial professional institution in Shandong Province that integrates the prevention and treatment, scientific research, clinical care, and talent cultivation of parasitic diseases and digestive system diseases. It serves as the World Health Organization (WHO) lymphatic filariasis and tapeworm/cystis infection cooperation center, Shandong cysticercosis treatment center, Shandong digestive system disease prevention and control center, a unit for doctoral and master's graduate training, and publishes the "Chinese Journal of Pathogenic Biology", ranking second in the Chinese core journals of Peking University basic medicine. The field of medical entomology, parasitic disease prevention and control are provincial key disciplines of medicine and health, Parasitic molecular immunology is a key discipline at provincial academy of medical sciences. Gastroenterology is a clinical key specialty at the provincial medical academy. The Vector Biology Lboratory is the provincial key laboratory of medicine and health. The Institute focuses on parasitic pathogenic biology and immune diagnostics. It conducts research on the species, distribution, ecological habits, disease transmission, prevention strategies of major disease vectors in Shandong Province, as well as biological control of medical insects, molecular mechanisms of vector mosquito resistance, etc.

The Institute has 214 employees, including 46 people with senior technical titles, 10 people with doctor's degree and 65 people with master's degree, forming a professional and technical team mainly with master's degree and doctoral degree. Among them are 1 Taishan Scholars Distinguished Expert, 2 Taishan Scholars Young Experts, 1 Health and Healthcare Outstanding Young Talents in Qilu, and 2 experts enjoying the State Council allowance. It is the first batch of units with master training qualification in China, undertaking the prevention and control, scientific research and pathogenic biology of parasitic diseases, vector insects and digestive system related diseases, internal medicine (gastroenterology) professional postgraduate education and training work. At present, there are 1 doctoral supervisors, 13 master supervisors, a total of 112 graduate students enrolled and trained. Currently, the provincial Institute of Parasitic Diseases has a business room of 35,000 square meters, and fixed assets worth 110 million yuan. It has strong comprehensive abilities in scientific research, prevention and treatment, clinical medical care, postgraduate training and professional technical personnel training.

12 experts have successively served as deputy directors, expert group leaders and members of the National Health Commission Expert Advisory Committee on Parasitic Diseases, 8 experts have served as standing directors and directors of national academic institutions, 4 experts have been recognized with outstanding contributions, and 8 experts enjoy special government allowances. More than 450 national, provincial, ministerial and departmental scientific research projects have been undertaken and completed, and more than 110 scientific and technological achievements have been awarded at all levels, including 5 first, second and third prizes of national science and technology progress awards, 2 national science conference awards, and 37 provincial and ministerial awards. More than 60 monographs on parasitic diseases have been edited or contributed, and more than 1100 papers have been published. The Affiliated Digestive Disease Hospital of Shandong First Medical University has famous experts in the diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases, holding a leading position in the diagnosis and treatment of parasitic diseases. Actively engaging in foreign scientific and technological cooperation and technical exchanges, they have undertaken and completed 12 cooperation projects with the World Health Organization, and have won 3 national achievement awards and 16 provincial and ministerial awards. The hospital has hosted a total of 54 batches of 164 WHO officials, foreign experts and visiting scholars. Eight batches of experts have been sent to Seychelles to carry out foreign aid missions, and a team of malaria experts has been sent to Africa for foreign aid missions, which have won honors for the country.

Over the past 70 years, generations of Shandong professionals, represented by the famous kala-azar expert Dr. Wang Zhaojun, the famous filariasis expert Dr. Zhong Chonghuo, and the famous malaria expert Dr. Cheng Yiliang, have vigorously carried out prevention and treatment work against parasitic diseases and digestive system diseases that seriously endanger people's health. Through unremitting efforts, a set of successful prevention and treatment experience has been summarized, maintaining a leading position in the domestic industry in terms of prevention and treatment strategies, prevention and treatment technologies, prevention and treatment methods, disease monitoring, and effect evaluation. In 1958, 1983, and 1988, Shandong took the lead in basically eliminating kala-azar, filariasis, and malaria, respectively, and achieved the "triple crown" of the national parasitic disease prevention and treatment work. No cases of kala-azar have been found since 1971. In 2004, the province eliminated filariasis. Since 2012, there has been no local malaria case reported in Shandong Province. In 2019, the goal of malaria elimination has been achieved through the assessment of malaria elimination organized by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Shandong Province took the lead in basically eliminating three major parasitic diseases in China, which has made a great contribution to the protection of the health of the whole province and the promotion of Shandong's economic and social development. It has provided successful experiences for the global prevention and control of parasitic diseases.

Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases has a provincial digestive disease and parasitic disease treatment hospital - The Affiliated Digestive Disease Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. After more than 70 years of wind and rain, it has developed into a provincial digestive disease specialist hospital integrating medical treatment, scientific research, teaching, prevention and treatment, rehabilitation, and is a designated hospital for provincial and municipal medical insurance. The hospital comprises over 20 clinical medical departments, including gastroenterology, general surgery, anorectal surgery, parasitology, and liver disease center. It can provide diagnosis and treatment services for digestive disease, surgery, parasitic disease, liver disease, oral disease and other diseases. Among them, the department of gastroenterology is a characteristic specialty, which has built a perfect service system of gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic and digestive endoscopy subspecialties, and has reached a high level in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases. The digestive endoscopy center has high-definition gastrointestinal endoscopy, ultrasound endoscopy, capsule endoscopy produced in Israel, electronic enteroscopy, duodenoscopy and other endoscopic equipment. It is a medical unit with the most comprehensive endoscopic equipment in Shandong Province, and has treated patients from more than 20 provinces (cities, autonomous regions) as well as South Korea, India and other countries. Adhering to the motto of "innovation, morality, perseverance, and salvation", the Institute focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases including digestive system diseases, aiming to enhance the service capacity of the hospital, and striving to build a provincial-level famous specialized hospital that satisfies patients and the society.

No pain, no gain. Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases has been awarded the honorary titles such as "National Advanced Health Collective", "National Advanced Filariasis Collective", "Provincial Advanced Health Collective", "Provincial Advanced Filariasis Collective", "Provincial Civilized Unit" by the former Ministry of Health, Provincial Department of Health and Provincial Culture and Civilization Commission. In 2020, due to its outstanding contributions in the fight against COVID-19, the Institute was awarded the honorary title of "Shandong Advanced Collective in Fighting COVID-19" by the Organization Department of Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security, and Shandong Provincial Health Commission. In addition, 16 people have been elected as national, provincial, and municipal People's Congress representatives and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and 6 people have been selected as national, provincial and municipal labor models.

"Riding the wind and breaking the waves will come at times, sailing straight across the vast sea of clouds." With the continuous deepening of reform and integration of science and education, Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases will, under the leadership of the Party Committee of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences), inherit and carry forward the spirit of "firm belief, dedication to duties, courage to explore, overcoming challenges, hard work, selfless dedication, unity and cooperation, and safeguarding health" for parasitic disease control in Shandong. The Institute will forge ahead with determination, diligence, and innovation, striving to create new brilliance in its career.