KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) Board of Directors, led by its chairman, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, visited the SIDC construction site next to the Sarawak Heart Centre here Tuesday to assess the progress of works.
Joining him were Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) general manager Dr Peter M Nissom, Sarawak Finance Secretary Datuk Sri Wan Lizozman, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) consultant epidemiologist Prof Datu Dr Andrew Kiyu, Clinical Research Centre Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) director Dr Alan Fong Yean Yip and Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang.
The delegation was briefed by SIDC chief executive officer Dr Ivan K. S. Yap and his team on the construction of the facility, which is expected to serve as a regional hub for infectious disease research and preparedness.
A subsidiary of SRDC, the SIDC is tasked with strengthening Sarawak’s capabilities in vaccine, diagnostics and therapeutics development, as well as enhancing the state’s ability to detect, diagnose and predict potential outbreaks.
Since its operations commenced in January 2024, the centre has built active partnerships in vaccine development, including membership in the UK-SEA Vaccine Hub (UK-SEA Vax Hub) and collaborations with Häleman Laboratories (Singapore), Biotec (Thailand), and the University of Sheffield (UK).
These collaborations focus on technology transfer, vaccine platform development and regional staff exchange to facilitate future vaccine manufacturing and distribution.
In diagnostics, SIDC is working with Bloneer (South Korea) on portable qPCR-based diagnostic tools for malaria and tuberculosis, alongside local partners for testing diagnostic kits relevant to Sarawak such as tuberculosis and filariasis.
SIDC is also investing in human capital development through the SIDC-Murdoch University Joint Research and Training Centre, supported by a AUD300,000 Australia Awards Fellowship from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
This initiative will see 10 staff members undergo specialised training at Murdoch University in Perth next year.
Also, its partnership with the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, has enabled staff to gain international exposure in epidemiology and veterinary biomedical sciences, with one officer selected for a one-month training in Edinburgh funded by the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
With these initiatives, SIDC aims to attract global biomedical companies and expertise to Sarawak while providing opportunities for Sarawakians to contribute to the state’s preparedness against future health challenges.
