THE Sarawak Infectious Diseases Centre (SIDC) has become a member of the UK-SEA Vaccine Hub to actively work together with Hilleman Laboratories (Singapore), Biotec (Thailand), and the University of Sheffield (UK) for its vaccine development programme.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the collaboration involves the transfer of crucial knowledge and vaccine platform technology to Sarawak, facilitating future vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
He said SIDC established partnerships with local agencies and international entities such as Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPHI), Bioneer and SD Biosensors South Korea to enhance diagnostics and diseases surveillance for targeted diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, rabies and African swine fever virus (ASFV).
He said SIDC, through the ministry is collaborating with Murdoch University, Perth through initiatives such as SIDC-Murdoch University Joint Research and Training Centre in developing skilled biomedical workforce.
“Supported by Australia Awards Fellowship (worth AUD$300,000) from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this initiative allows 10 SIDC staff members to undertake specialised training at Murdoch University, starting February of next year.
“To support these strategic areas, SIDC has successfully secured extramural funding totalling RM1.2 million for field testing tools and researcher capacity building,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech today.
