Shanghai, 1 September 2010 - The importance of innovation and technology in solving the problems of infectious diseases of poverty has been noted by the World Health Assembly, and in the strategies of the Millennium Development Goals.
In response to these challenges, the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has established a Thematic Reference Group (TRG) on Innovation and Technology Platforms for Infectious Diseases of Poverty. The reference group is charged to obtain, evaluate and synthesize scientific information on global research activities, challenges and needs in research on innovation and technology to combat infectious diseases of poverty.
Thailand’s National Centre hosts the TRG for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) in Bangkok in collaboration with the WHO Representative Office in Thailand.The first meeting of the TRG on Innovation and Technology Platforms for Infectious Diseases of Poverty was held May 14-15, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.
A second meeting was held on August 31-September 1 2010 in Shanghai, Republic of China. Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohamed Isa AbdMajid, Director-General of IPharm, was appointed as a WHO temporary advisor for this organization.
This second meeting of the TRG was followed by a stakeholder consultation on September 2, 2010. The stakeholder consultation brought together members of the TRG with national stakeholders and regional representatives of international agencies. The main objective of the consultation was to provide an overview of the scope, workplan and research needs and priorities identified by the TRG by highlighting current issues and public health challenges in innovation and technology for infectious diseases of poverty and to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the framework of the TRG's planned activities and outputs.
| IPharm - Agilent MOU Signing to Boost Biotech Sector
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Penang, 6 August 2010 - On 2nd of August, IPharm entered into a MOU with Agilent Technologies in its bid to emerge as a global testing leader in halal pharmaceutical and nutraceutical and to promote and develop cooperation in biotechnology as a new engine of growth for Malaysia. The signing ceremony was held at Agilent Technologies in Penang where both parties agree towards the establishment of a IPharm-Agilent Global Reference Research Laboratory as well as the joint development of human capital in biotechnology.
During the ceremony, Dato’ Dr. Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad, the Deputy Secretary General of Ministry of Science, Technology and Inovation (MOSTI) , witnessed the signing ceremony together with Mr Gooi Soon Chai, President of Agilent Technologies Malaysia and Singapore and Dr. Nick Roelofs, President of Agilent's Life Sciences Group.
Under the terms of the MoU, the strategic alliance will focus on the establishment of the IPHARM-Agilent Global Reference Research Lab and the development of human capital in the emerging field of biotechnology. The lab will develop global Halal testing standards in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. It also will provide access to state-of-the-art analytical tools and expertise to develop the local industry and small and medium enterprise (SME) ecosystem in their commercialization efforts.
IPHARM brings its domain expertise in bioactive compounds research and analysis to the partnership while leveraging Malaysia's inherited strength in biodiversity and its aspiration to be a global Halal testing leader in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.
Agilent Technologies, as a leading provider of bioanalytical instruments and the world's premier company in electronic measurement, will provide specialized technical expertise to set up the lab and leading-edge analytical and application solutions to jointly develop the global Halal testing standards with IPHARM. Agilent also will transfer its deep base of biotechnology knowledge to Malaysia to build and develop indigenous capabilities through an ecosystem of local knowledge partners.
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