KUCHING: The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has formalised partnerships through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and memorandum of agreement (MoA) with various international collaborators to initiate research and human capital development programmes in communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Key partners included the Australian National Phenome Centre (ANPC); AMILI Singapore; Monash University Malaysia (MUM); Pacific Biosciences USA (PacBio); Numares AG (Germany); and Agilent Technologies Malaysia (USA).
SIDC CEO Ivan Yap said the partnerships would enable SIDC to leverage on the facilities and capabilities of its collaborators for capacity building in both research programmes and human capital training.
“This is in preparation for the eventual completion and operation of our facility by December 2025.
“We need to ensure smooth and effective transition of operation by 2025, hence the significance of this event goes beyond just building linkages but more importantly addressing our state of preparedness sustainably,” he said in a statement today.
The MoU signing was witnessed by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg earlier today.
The strategic partnerships will enable SIDC to establish capabilities in phenomics, disease diagnostics and theragnostic, vaccine and therapeutic discoveries, sustainable nutrition and data analytics.
At the same time, the partnership will contribute to building expertise in these critical areas.
“The event is timely, following SIDC’s recent MOU with the National Institute of Health Malaysia to collaborate in research and human capital development in medical science particularly in disease epidemiology and surveillance.
“This event marks the starting point for Sarawak to establish a biomedical science ecosystem and position Sarawak as a major contributor in the region.
“With a consistent policy in place by the Sarawak government, the SIDC will strategically put Sarawak on the global map of medical discovery and advancement,” Yap added.
Among those present at the event were Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and Permanent Secretary Azmi Bujang; State Financial Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; SIDC board of Ddrectors member Datuk Andrew Kiyu and Dr Alan Fong; and Sarawak Research and Development Council general manager Dr Peter Nissom.
Also present were ANPC director Jeremy Nicholson and head of Operations Dr Bong Sze How; AMILI Singapore founder and CEO Jeremy Lim; MUM CEO Datuk Adeeba Kamarulzaman; Agilent Technologies Malaysia representatives Dr Robin Philp and Yan Kah Leng; Pacific Biosciences USA representative Lim Jee Hian; and Numares Germany representative Dr Lutz Niggl.
