The project for 4 billion pesos will be destined to the Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology of the University of Cauca and to the Laboratory of the Departmental Health Secretariat, to attend different types of infectious pathologies in the Department.

 

The Collegiate Body for Administration and Decision OCAD of the Science, Technology and Innovation Fund approved 4 billion pesos for a project presented by the University of Cauca in alliance with the Government of Cauca that seeks to strengthen the Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Laboratory of the Departmental Health Secretariat, which attend to problems associated with high risk biological agents for human health.

 

Héctor Samuel Villada Castillo, Vice-Rector of Research, highlighted the effort made by the formulating team and described the event as an important achievement for the department of Cauca, since after the approval of the project, not only will cases of COVID-19 be addressed, but it is expected to cover different types of infectious pathologies.

 

“The Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology of the University of Cauca and the Laboratory of Departmental Public Health are facing the situation we are experiencing; But what is sought is not only to address the pandemic problem, but also other types of infectious diseases. The idea is to implement protocols for the identification, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases such as malaria and dengue; in addition to strengthening that relationship between University and Government with a view to having both institutions strengthened to cope with these difficulties we are experiencing, "said the Vice Chancellor.

 

According to the university director, it is expected that the resources will arrive at the end of June to be destined to modern technology equipment, hiring of personnel, acquisition of reagents and other elements necessary to meet the demand in terms of taking and analyzing samples against the different pathologies.

 

The project will be executed by the University of Cauca, as the proposing entity, and which has extensive experience in the administration of this type of resources, under the accompaniment of the Cauca Government, an allied entity, explained Rosa Amalia Dueñas Cuellar teacher of the Department of Pathology, attached to the Medicine and Research program of the project.

 

The teacher and researcher of the project stated that, by having two laboratories with installed capacity to carry out clinical diagnostic tests, the generation of reliable and timely results is guaranteed, which will support the surveillance of events of interest in public health, and the entire population of the department of Cauca is favored, who will be able to access these services free of charge, when needed.

 

"Each laboratory will be specifically impacted, in the case of the Departmental Health Secretariat, it will be able to position itself at the national level by fulfilling its missionary functions, guaranteeing the surveillance of the quality of the infectious diseases diagnosis of the Departmental Network; in our case, the Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, will be able to provide services to the community and also enhance its investigative capacity with the execution of projects in Science Technology and Innovation in different areas of knowledge, with all that this entails in terms of support from other research groups, training of human talent, generation of scientific knowledge, among others ”added Professor Dueñas.

 

The Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology of the University of Cauca and the Departmental Public Health Laboratory are part of the 88 laboratories in the country benefited with resources from the Science, Technology and Innovation Fund of the General System of Royalties, which will face and be prepared for the coronavirus pandemic and other pathologies.

 

"This means a step towards the future, the technological and human talent acquisitions that the Immunology and Molecular Biology laboratory will have will serve so that various research groups of the University can materialize their research ideas, as well as teaching support, and providing our students with state-of-the-art knowledge live and not through videos of things being done elsewhere, this is exciting for me. In addition, the University will be ready to support any epidemiological emergency in the department, which is very important for us, since supporting the community is also part of our mission,”said the teacher.

 

Finally, the teacher, described as invaluable the support provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research, since its staff manages the administrative and legal part, something that in this type of call plays a transcendental role in obtaining a well-structured and winning project.

 

In this way, the Alma Mater of the “Caucanos” reiterates its commitment to the region and society and consolidates itself as a strengthened Institution in the field of research as it has specialized and trained personnel to face this type of challenge.

 

More Info:

 

Vice-Rectory for Research

Email: vri@unicauca.edu.co