KOTA SAMARAHAN – The Sarawak government has allocated RM190 million to set up a research centre for infectious and tropical diseases, according to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said today that the establishment of the centre would commence next year at a site next to the Sarawak Heart Centre, here as well as near the site of the new Sarawak Biodiversity Centre.
“These institutions will collaborate with us on infectious and tropical diseases, and we believe this is very important in this part of the world," he told reporters after launching the two-day International Conference on Innovative Sciences and Technologies for Research and Education (InnoSTRE) Special Edition 2020 at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus, here.
He said the centre, the first of its kind in the country to do research on tropical diseases, would collaborate with world renowned institutions including Oxford University, Cambridge University and Imperial College, as well as local universities and scientists.
“We hope that with this collaboration, our pharmaceutical industry including those who are involved in medical research will come and work together with us,” he said. – Bernama, November 25, 2020