biotechnology research laboratory
1 December 2006
South Africa has won the bid to host a major international research
laboratory, thereby expanding the country's access to very high enabling
technologies aimed at finding solutions to both medical and agricultural
challenges across the continent.
The government of South Africa, through its Department of Science and
Technology, submitted its bid proposal towards the establishment of the third
component centre of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB) during May 2006. There are currently only two ICGEB
components in the world in laboratories in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India.
South Africa's successful bid will now see the establishment of the third
international component centre in the world and the first of its kind in
Africa.
The ICGEB places major emphasis on health related research as well as on
projects towards the sustainable application of biotechnology in agriculture.
The main focus is currently on HIV and AIDS, hepatitis, rotavirus, human
papilloma virus, malaria, tuberculosis and more recently, dongue.
The ICGEB's research is expected to help scientists across the globe
determine the mechanisms related to infections and the insurgence of diseases
at the molecular level. This type of research is leading to important
breakthroughs in the understanding of these diseases and possibility to the
identification of diagnostic and specific drugs, if not vaccines.
The African component centre will be hosted by the Institute for Infectious
Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM) at the University of Cape Town.
The UCT established the Institute in 2001 in order to consolidate and expand
on major existing efforts to combat the most serious threats to health and
overall prosperity in the region, including infectious diseases such as HIV and
AIDS, TB and non-communicable diseases, as well as locally prevalent cancers
and genetic disorders.
The Department of Science and Technology has dedicated funds in the order of
R40 million over the next four years in support of its establishment of the
ICGEB component centre.
In its report to the Board of Governors, the ICGEB selection committee
expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure and organisation of scientific
research conducted at the IIDMM. According to the report "the possibility of
carrying out "good" science by the IIDMM is enhanced by the number of research
bodies located near UCT, such as the Medical Research Council (MRC)."
South Africa's Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena, officially
announced the status of the country's bid at a press conference in Pretoria on
1 December 2006. This followed the announcement at the ICGEB Board of Governors
meeting held in New Delhi, India late yesterday afternoon.
In a statement to the media the Minister said that "we will now use the
opportunity to host the African component of the ICGEB to enhance our efforts
towards the development of an African biotechnology hub. This will enable us to
address among other things, the disease burden of the developing world; the
agricultural challenges of poor yields, producing in difficult climatic
conditions and enhancing our post-harvest capacities; as well as the use of
biotechnology to further develop our manufacturing and industrial sectors
toward the enhancement of the quality of life of all our people."
South Africa submitted its bid alongside Tanzania and Nigeria. Commenting on
the African bid process, the Minister said that "We have been very proud as
South Africa to learn about the very high quality of the other African bids.
What I am even more proud of is the collegial manner in which Africa has
managed this bid race, using this as a mechanism to further unite and jointly
develop the continent's science and technology capacity."
Regarding the component's importance for the country, Minister Mangena added
that this would boost South Africa's profile as the preferred destination for
global science and technology initiatives. "It will in fact assist in making
South Africa a major international Biotechnology Hub. It will also strengthen
the country's role in driving Africa's development not only from a political
and economic perspective but also in terms of innovation and technology" said
Minister Mangena.
He added the component would also contribute to the global effort to meet
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to halt and reverse the spread of HIV
and AIDS, malaria and other diseases by 2015.
Established in 1987 by the United Nations (UN) Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO), the ICGEB is an inter-governmental organisation that
operates in close contact with the UN Common System as a centre for excellence
for research and training in biotechnology and genetic engineering with special
attention to the developing world's needs.
Enquiries:
Kristin Klose
Director Communication
Cell: (082) 902 9503
E-mail: kristin.klose@dst.gov.za
Nelvis Qekema
Ministerial Liaison
Cell: (082) 571 2571
E-mail nelvis.qekema@dst.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
1 December 2006
Source: SAPA
