RITM inaugurates three new laboratories
Posted on  by Communication & Engagement Office


In photo: The new laboratories boast of brand-new equipment and roomier interiors.

New laboratories of the Medical Entomology Department, the Special Pathogens Laboratoryof the Veterinary Research Department (VRD-SPL), and the Molecular Biology Laboratory (MBL) were inaugurated last May 23, 2019.

An inaugural mass attended by the staff of the aforementioned departments preceded the blessing of the new research laboratories. The new laboratories are part of the efforts to forward the mandates of RITM, specifically its thrust in research.

“By improving and expanding the laboratories of MBL and SPL, we are expecting to improve the Institute’s resiliency in responding to outbreaks. The renovation of Entomology laboratories will enhance their capability to support their existing and upcoming researches. We aim to augment facilities that can be engaged when there are surges in specimens referred to RITM. This is part of our commitment to public health,” says Laboratory Research Division (LRD) Chief Dr. Amado Tandoc III.

The construction and renovation of these laboratories and their respective laboratory furniture and equipment was supported by the ASEAN-Canada Global Partnership Program (GPP); the United States of America (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grant for Global Health Security project of the Philippine National Influenza Center; and the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

LRD is home to several National Reference Laboratories and World Health Organization (WHO)-recognized laboratories focused on conducting laboratory research, performing surveillance and reference laboratory confirmatory testing, and responding to outbreaks and pandemics.

by Eunice Brito, Project Matyag, Research Assistant