It was founded in 1937 by the eminent Professor Pedro Kourí. It is an internationally recognized scientific institution, known for the high qualification of its scientific staff and the numerous relevant results and awards obtained by its researchers.

Since 1979, in much larger and more modern facilities, the IPK has been a center of excellence at the national level and the highest authority in the following disciplines: Microbiology, Parasitology, Tropical Medicine, as well as Clinical and Epidemiology of Transmissible Diseases. It has a WHO Collaborating Center for the Study of Dengue and its Vector and a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for the Elimination of Tuberculosis.

Its main mission is to promote and develop scientific research and innovation for the prevention, control, and elimination of infectious diseases, as well as to guarantee specialized and high-tech services for epidemiological surveillance, diagnosis, and medical care, with a view to improving the quality of life of the Cuban population and the international community.

It maintains scientific exchange links in its field of specialty with institutions from other countries, helping Third World countries in the fight against communicable diseases. It contributes to the development of Biomedical Sciences in general and of Microbiology, Parasitology, Epidemiology and Infectology in particular. As a National Clinical Reference Center, it provides highly qualified medical assistance to patients with HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases.