INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ESTABLISHES RESEARCH CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASES (RCID)
On the morning of November 20th, 2021, VNU-HCM officially decided to establish the Research Center for Infectious Diseases (RCID) under the International University (VNU-HCM). The birth of RCID responds to the urgent situation of the current epidemic situation in Vietnam generally and Ho Chi Minh City particularly, especially since the end of 2019, the whole world has witnessed the emergence of a global pandemic– COVID-19. Also this morning, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia – Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department – also visited International University and the RCID Center.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Tien Khoa – Rector of International University – welcomed Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia – Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department – to visit International University and RCID Center.
The establishment of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases – RCID will contribute to calling many researchers as well as many in-depth research topics on infectious diseases to help this research field grow stronger. RCID will become one of the leading Research Centers for Infectious Diseases in Vietnam, contributing to the development of high-quality human resources for the locality and the whole country. In the long term, the Center for Infectious Diseases Research in Southeast Asia is capable of creating and providing technological solutions and services to respond to epidemics for society. The Center’s mission is to improve the quality of basic research along with applied research and technology transfer to meet the needs of society in responding to infectious diseases. Also, this would enhance the position and affirm the pioneering role of VNU-HCM in general and VNU in particular in research and community service.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia – Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department – also visited the International University and the RCID Center.
In the future, RCID aims to become a strong research unit from an organic foundation as well as attract domestic and international multidisciplinary cooperation on infectious diseases in humans and animals, to carry out research on human and animal diseases, epidemiological data management research, basic research oriented application of disease mechanism, applied research, mastery and development of diagnostic kit technology, development of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, antiretroviral drugs deal with epidemics such as Covid-19, dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, parasites… in the present and future. The center will also become a leader in experimental research in cell and animal models, with laboratory facilities to meet the requirements of research on dangerous pathogens. The Center will also be a prestigious unit in technology transfer for infectious disease control, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, effectively meeting the needs of society. In addition, the center will become a leader in training, disseminating core technological knowledge in infectious disease research and response, and improving the professional capacity of staff working in the field.
In addition, with the goal of being an open center in research, other researchers and other research centers in Ho Chi Minh City and the region will always be welcome to jointly develop research topics and share. resources and facilities to create the most useful research results.
With the spirit of service to society, the Center will cooperate with educational institutions, healthcare, businesses, start-ups, media, state agencies, and provide training to raise awareness about infectious diseases, dissemination of knowledge as well as technology transfer and improve the ability to respond to current and future epidemics. Workshops that can be conducted in the first 5 years include: Biosafety in the laboratory; Applied bioinformatics in infectious disease research; Application of mass spectrometry techniques in research; Mouse model of infection and manipulation on mice; Using diagnostic kits Domestic cooperation is especially important to help improve the research potential of the center and at the same time help the studies follow reality and have results that can be applied in practice. With the characteristics of infectious disease research, especially important partners of the center are medical facilities and research facilities under the Ministry of Health.
In addition, with the goal of being an open center in research, other researchers, research centers in Ho Chi Minh City and the region will always be welcome to jointly develop research topics and share resources and facilities to create the most useful research results. International cooperation Infectious disease research is a common concern of many international experts and these studies also have great global impacts, so it is open to cooperation to carry out projects. A large, multi-national project with large funding that requires the participation of many experts is very important to help the Center achieve its mission of becoming a center of regional stature. In addition, inviting experts in the field to give seminars, organize research exchange seminars, or organize workshops – training is a very good way to rapidly improve the research capacity of the center and create new research collaborations.
The establishment of the Research Center for Infectious Diseases – RCID will contribute to calling many researchers as well as many in-depth research topics on infectious diseases to help this research field grow stronger.
RCID will be assigned to use the facilities of the International University with an area of : 540 m2, including: Laboratory: BSL-2, SHPT Laboratory, Ancillary Office, Construction of farming area animals, Clean room for pilot production…. Total estimated value of investment and research assets for the Center in the period of 2021-2026 is: 145 billion VND from the funding source of VNU-HCM and the counterpart of International University (37 billion VND).