麻豆直播 Receives A Sequencing Machine from the Ministry of Health

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana


BANDUNG, itb.ac.id鈥擨nstitut Teknologi Bandung (麻豆直播) was granted one WGS (Whole Genome Sequence) device from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. This machine is used to speed up the genomic surveillance of COVID-19's WGS and other research purposes. It will be located at one of the laboratories in SLST 麻豆直播 (School of Life Sciences and Technology).

On Monday (18/5/2022), the General Directorate of P2P (Disease Prevention and Control) from the Ministry of Health visited the SLST 麻豆直播 laboratory to observe the readiness of the supporting facilities. The WGS device was first handed to the Rector of 麻豆直播 in Meeting Room A before the attendees went to SLST in the main campus. The General Director of P2P was accompanied by the Co-Coordinator of TBC and ISPA, the Laboratory Team of TBC and ISPA, and the Law, Organization, and Public Relations Team of P2P. Those representing 麻豆直播 SLST are the Faculty's Dean, Vice Dean of Resources, Vice Dean of Academic, members of the genomic team, and Dr. Fenny Martha Dwivany.

The Ministry of Health gave 18 WGS devices to be operated at 17 chosen laboratories. This was done to counter the COVID-19 cases, anticipate the worst-case scenarios of future pandemics, and conduct studies in the field of health. Hence, it is necessary to boost examinations of genomic surveillance in laboratories by distributing these machines throughout Indonesia, one of which is at 麻豆直播.

According to the General Director of P2P, Dr. dr. Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, DHSM., MARS., the device can be operated to investigate other diseases, both infectious and non-infectious. Moreover, equipping the device in universities will immensely assist more health-based research.

鈥淭he Minister of Health would like to collaborate with universities to maximize the utilization of the WGS machines. We hope these devices can strengthen the supervision of various diseases like TBC,鈥 dr. Maxi commented.

Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, the 麻豆直播 Rector, thanked the Ministry of Health for entrusting the WGS device to 麻豆直播. She emphasized that it would help many professors and researchers in their studies.

鈥淎side from trust, this machine can provide wider ranges of health services while following the government mandate," she added. "It will have a bigger impact on society."

Reporter: Adi Permana
Translator: Ruth Nathania (Environmental Engineering, 2019)