| Malaysia Taps ICGEB To Train Biotech Scientists |
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By P.Vijian
NEW DELHI, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is initiating deeper alliance with the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to train more local scientists in the area of treating tropical diseases.
The Italy-based ICGEB, of which Malaysia is a member, is a premier research center, where more than 200 international scientists from over 30 countries, study ways to apply modern biotechnology to address pressing problems facing the developing world.
"We need to link up more with ICGEB because they are doing plenty of research in key areas from molecular biology, developing vaccines for tropical diseases to agriculture biotech.
"These are important areas for us, we can train more of our scientists and Malaysia can assume a strategic role, since only Malaysia is an active Asean member in ICGEB," Prof Dr Rofina Yasmin, under-secretary at the National Biotechnology division of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovative told Bernama on Saturday.
She was in Delhi to attend the two-day 16th session of the ICGEB Board of Governors meeting.
Under its wing, ICGEB has three leading research institutions based in Trieste, Italy, where the main focus is on biomedical and in New Delhi, Indian scientists research on mammalian and plant biology.
While in Cape Town, South Africa, works are largely concentrated on infectious, chronic diseases and plant biotechnology.
Malaysia unveiled its own ambitious National Biotechnology Policy in 2005 aimed at shaping the sector as a major engine of growth in the economy.
-- BERNAMA
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