Leishmania Division is involved in research in Leishmaniasis which includes disease surveillance and epidemiological studies with the goal of identifying new foci of leishmaniasis transmission. This involves sand fly trapping, dissections and utilizing molecular techniques for sand fly and parasite identification and mapping of endemic areas so as to control disease transmission.

The division is also involved in the evaluation of the anti-leishmanial activity of plant extracts and novel compounds in the mouse model and in vitro. Sandflies are reared in Leishmania Division, where they are utilized for insecticidal research involving plant extracts and novel compounds. Other studies undertaken in the Division include anti-leishmaniasis vaccine studies, use of aptamers in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis and cytokine profiling of BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania parasites.