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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider DOST eyes deployment of 17 mobile labs across the country to fight ASF, avian flu

DOST eyes deployment of 17 mobile labs across the country to fight ASF, avian flu

Published Oct 28, 2022 06:20 pm

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is looking to deploy 17 additional mobile laboratories in different parts of the country to fight African Swine Fever (ASF) and avian flu, it announced on Friday, Oct. 28.

(Photo courtesy of the Office of the DOST Undersecretary for R&D)

In a statement, DOST said that BioAssets Corporation CEO and Balik Scientist Dr. Homer Pantua made the announcement during the launch of the first Filipino-made Mobile Biocontainment Laboratory (MBL) at the Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon on Friday (Oct. 28)

DOST lauded CMU for accepting the challenge to lead Mindanao in being capacitated to deploy immediate response to potential outbreaks, learn and apply preventive and control measures, and capacitate our farmers into implementing mitigation strategies.

“We recognize that the transfer of the Mobile Laboratory Unit to CMU will not just conduct research on biodefense and emerging infectious disease agents but will act as the hub which shall be available and prepared to assist national, regional, and local public health efforts in the event of a bioterrorism or infectious disease emergency,” DOST Undersecretary for R&D Dr. Leah J. Buendia said during the Grand Turnover Ceremonies of the MBL.

According to DOST, BioAssets Corporation is a local veterinary research and diagnostics company based in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, is one of the many agencies that help the government in identifying the means to diagnose, treat and eventually control African Swine Fever in the country.

Through the DOST Science for Change (S4C) – Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) Program, BioAssets Corporation was provided with a total of P15.95 million in financial assistance to establish a Mobile Laboratory Unit equipped with state-of-the-art animal health diagnostic technologies to be set-up in resource-limited areas of the country.

According to Dr. Ann Villalobos, a DOST Balik Scientist hosted by the CMU, the Animal Mobile Laboratory Unit (MLU) is unique with state-of-the-art facilities: PCR, spectrophotometer, and other instruments that make MLU a modern-day functional laboratory.

"This would address biosafety with actionable results since animals are treated on site and not taken to the laboratory thus preventing the spread of infectious agents, and problems are addressed in situ. Trainings and workshops in BioAssets laboratories including the instrument support for a modern-day laboratory will also strengthen the collaboration as well as research and capability building initiatives,” she said.

Through the partnership between BioAssets Corporation and CMU and the development of MLU under the S4C- BIST Program, not only the animals and farmers will benefit but the public in general as well.

DOST said that the MLU will bring comfort to the sick animals as they will be treated on-site by expert veterinarians with top-of-the-line instruments of a modern functional laboratory. Second, the cause of the animal diseases like viruses and microbes will be contained preventing the spread to other animals and the public will be protected, with timely diagnosis and treatment.

Local companies may also avail of the DOST-BIST Program in their R&D projects that entail the acquisition of strategic and relevant technologies. The financial assistance, which may be used to purchase high-tech equipment or to secure technology licensing and/or patent rights, will be refunded to DOST at zero percent interest.

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