Three laboratories of Universitas Indonesia (UI), namely Bioanalysis Laboratory of Universitas Indonesia-Daewoong Foundation (UI-DF), Integrated Laboratory Research Center (ILRC), and Indonesian Medical Education and Research Institute (IMERI) Laboratory established by Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Indonesia (FKUI), are trusted by Ministry of Health of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI) to be part of the network laboratory of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Center of Excellence (CoE) on Vaccine and Biotechnology Products. The launch of the OIC-CoE network laboratory was held simultaneously with the COMSTECH-OIC Fellowship Program at Siwabessy Hall, Prof. Sujudi Building, Ministry of Health, Kuningan, Jakarta, on Thursday (15/09).
“Let’s collaborate with each other, I believe this meeting and collaboration with OIC is a good start to conduct joint research with good results. I hope this opportunity will further improve the world’s health system for future generations,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
Indonesian Ministry of Health launched OIC CoE network laboratory in order to support the achievement of the goal of independence in the production of vaccines and biotechnology products for the needs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries. Previously, Indonesia was designated as Organization of Islamic Cooperation – Center of Excellence (OIC – CoE) on Vaccine and Biotechnology Products in the Resolutions of the 6th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM) in 2017. At the conference, the terms of reference for the OIC research center in the development of vaccines and biotechnology products in Indonesia were approved and are expected to be established soon.
In 2018 OIC CoE was officially launched in Jakarta by Ministry of Health with PT Biofarma as the OIC CoE Laboratory. To increase cooperation and capacity of researchers in OIC member countries, the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the OIC (COMSTECH) held a Fellowship Program for Research and Advance Training in Virology and Vaccine Technologies. Through this program, Indonesian Ministry of Health provided opportunities for four researchers from Egypt and Pakistan to do the internship in Indonesia.
At the launch of OIC CoE network laboratory, the Director of Research and Development of UI Munawar Khalil, S.Si., M.Eng was present. PhD.; the Head of Sub-Directorate for Planning and Development of UI Research Dr. Andriansjah, M. Biomed; the Director of IMERI FKUI Prof. dr. Badriul Hegar, Ph.D, Sp.A(K)); and the Head of IMERI FKUI convergence research dr. Tommy Dharmawan, SpBTKV, Ph.D. Also present at this meeting were Indonesian Ministry of Health, Food and Drug Supervisory Agency, Ministry of State Owned Enterprises, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representatives of OIC Member States, OIC CoE Network Laboratory, the Pharmaceutical Industry, and Participants of the COMTECH-OIC Fellowship Program.
