The Department of Virology was founded in March 10, 1985 according to the Decree № 822 of the USSR Ministry of Health, as part of Kyiv Institute of Advanced Medical Studies. The founder and the first head of the Department of Virology was Vitaliy M. Gyrin (1934-2002), MD, Dr. Sc., Full Professor, Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Higher School of Ukraine, Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Rector of the Institute, which then became Kyiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (KMAPE), and at a later date Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine.

Full Professor V. M. Gyrin was the follower of Kyiv scientific school of microbiologists and virologists, one of the founders of the new Ukrainian actual scientific field i.e. sanitary microbiology and virology.

Since 2002 the Department has been headed by his disciple, Honored Doctor of Ukraine, MD, Dr. Sc., Full Professor Iryna V. Dzyublyk - a leading expert on the problems of rotavirus infections, HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy and chemoprophylaxis of viral infections, interferonotherapy and interferon inductors. I. V. Dzyublyk is the author of over 350 scientific works, 12 invention certificates and patents, the author and co-author of 20 textbooks and manuals on virology. She is a member of the Commission for monitoring the rational use of antibacterial and antiviral agents in Ukraine of the Ministry of Health and the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, a member of the Coordinating Council on the issues of counteracting the highly pathogenic avian influenza and preventing the pandemic flu, a member of the Specialized Scientific Council D26.003.01 at O. O.  Bogomolets National Medical University, a member of the editorial boards of many scientific journals.