The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines announced that it has submitted a proposal for a creation of virology institute in the Philippines. The institute will be called Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines (VIP).
The institute is envisioned to be the premier research institute in the field of virology encompassing all areas in viruses and viral diseases in humans, plants, and animals. Its primary goal is the development of diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. In addition, the virology institute will conduct innovative scientific research on viral agents, requiring high or maximum containment (biosafety level-2 to biosafety level-4) following the World Health Organization (WHO)’s guidelines on the establishment of a virology laboratory in developing countries.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has approved the proposal of the DOST for possible legislation of the virology institute.
Following the approval of the IATF-EID, the executive office said that President Rodrigo Duterte will study the proposals from DOST to reactivate the pharmaceutical development unit at DOST-ITDI (Industrial Technology Development Institute) and establish a virology institute in the country.
(Sources: The Philippine Star; BusinessWorld; Philippine News Agency)
