|
|
Permanent Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo Tours AiBST |
 |
 |
 |
|
 “The completion of the human genome project in 2003 has ushered humanity into a new era of genomic medicine. AiBST cannot afford to lag behind in this exciting scientific adventure” Fredrick Mandizvidza (Managing Director, AiBST)
Fredrick Mandizvidza (left) presenting the certificate of honour to Perma-nent Secretary Dr Washington (right)
AiBST was honoured by a visit from the Permanent Secre-tary of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and his team on the 23rd of March 2009. The Managing Director of AiBST, Mr Fredrick Mandizvidza and Mr Jus-ten Manasa led the team around the institute with Mr Manasa ex-plaining the activities undertaken in the laboratory.
Dr Mbizvo was very impressed with the work that is being carried out at AiBST and promised to provide support to the institute through the Zimbabwe Develop-ment Fund (ZIMDEF). With all the achievements made by the insti-tute, the Permanent Secretary was surprised that the institute did not get any government funding to-wards the building of a sophisti-cated technological platform for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring and evolution of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria patients. He couldn’t hide his joy upon interacting with the team of young scientists who con-tinue to steadily make strides never experienced before in this country in the area of drug discovery, develop-ment, deployment and their safe use among African populations.
We hope that he will also fulfil his promise of ensuring that AiBST will get scholarships to China in its quest to strengthen its human capacity for effec-tive technology transfer from developed countries to Zimbabwe
|
|
|
Japan - Zimbabwe strengthen genomic R&D ties through RIKEN - AiBST Collaboration |
|
|
|
|
 
Minister of Science & Technology Development (MSTD), Prof Heneri Dzinotyiwei paid a visit to RIKEN Yokohama Institute to assess how the collaboration between that institute and AiBST is progressing. He also explored possibilities of further strengthening this relationship through technology transfer for AiBST to become the hub for Genomic Medicine in Africa. RIKEN developed several automated high speed SNP analysers that can analyse whole blood for SNPs in 45 minutes and they have already donated some of this equipment to Thailand hospitals.
This machine also does DNA fingerprinting for identifying people in accidents where physical identification is not possible. RIKEN is ready to transfer this technology to AiBST and to assist AiBST to acquire its own sequencer. RIKEN extended a gesture of goodwill by accepting 5 students/researchers from AiBST beginning 2010 a development which ties in very well with our next intake of MSc students in Biomedical Sciences in terms of its recently acquired associate status with the University of Zimbabwe’s School of Medicine.
 
Photo 1) At RIKEN are from left: Ambassador Cumberbach, Minister Prof Dzinotyiwei, Dr Milimo and Prof Nakamura
Photo 2) The Zimbabwean delegation pause for a photo at RIKEN Yokohama Institute in Japan. Prof Nakamura (extreme right). Second from left is Mrs Karimanzira, a Director with MSTD.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
