Latest news with #SarawakInfectiousDiseaseCentre
Borneo Post
04-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Dr Sim: High-tech collagen factory to strengthen Sarawak's role in wound care innovation, medical research
Dr Sim (front third right) joins other guests to pop balloons to officially open the conference. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 4): A high-tech collagen factory will be set up in Sarawak as part of broader efforts to strengthen the state's role in wound care innovation and medical research, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. The Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government said the facility will be established by a United States-based company specialising in wound management and regenerative medicine. 'They have seen the Premier, they visited me, and they will start a factory in Sarawak for all this very high-tech collagen,' he told reporters after opening the 5th International Burn and Wound Conference 2025 here today. While the project timeline has not been finalised, Dr Sim disclosed that Sarawak was selected over Selangor as the preferred location. 'The initial amount, if I'm not wrong, is either US$20 million (RM84.4 million) or US$40 million (RM168.8 million). That's one, but they also have associate industries — because once one moves, others will follow from the US,' he said. According to him, the wound care sector in Sarawak continues to grow in importance due to the high prevalence of diabetes-related complications, including amputations. 'At Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), almost every week someone has a leg amputated due to a diabetic ulcer that cannot heal. That's why wound healing is not only about service, but also about research,' he said. Dr Sim said collagen-based regenerative treatments are a key component of modern wound care and the planned factory would cater to both local and global demand. 'We don't want to be reactive. If you're constructive, you plan ahead,' he said. He also emphasised the state's long-term goal of building a complete medical ecosystem encompassing healthcare services, research, and manufacturing. He noted Sarawak's growing reputation in clinical research, especially in 'first-in-human' trials — the highest level of medical testing. 'Last year, there were five first-in-human research projects in Malaysia. Four were done in Sarawak. This year, there are four again — all in Sarawak,' he said. He credited SGH's Clinical Research Centre and the oncology team for advancing the state's position in medical research. Over the past decade, Sarawak's research sector has generated RM1 billion in clinical trial-related business, he said. 'This is very sustainable. You can't keep building Pan Borneo highways, but you can keep developing new drugs and therapies. That's why this ecosystem is important,' he explained. Dr Sim added the upcoming Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre is also part of the state's broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for medical innovation. collagen factory Dr Sim Kui Hian lead medical research wound care
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Sagah: Disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop out to boost health preparedness in Sarawak
Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 27): The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has begun a disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak's efforts in strengthening its health preparedness and response mechanisms. In this regard, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn hailed the Ulu Undop move as the first of several planned initiatives under SIDC, with two additional sites in Kuching expected to be launched later this year. 'This is part of our broader strategy to enhance early detection and response, especially in rural and vulnerable areas,' he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday. It is also informed that in tandem with its surveillance efforts, SIDC is also piloting latent tuberculosis diagnosis in high-risk areas as a precursor to the Sarawak Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). Adding on, Sagah said construction of the SIDC facility in Samarahan, which kicked off in March last year, was progressing on schedule. On the international front, he said the SIDC had signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on May 6 with the University of Edinburgh, the ROSE Foundation (based at Universiti Malaya), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and other global partners to advance research in diagnostics, 'One Health', human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, and also potential vaccine development. 'SIDC also launched the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University,' said the Tarat assemblyman, adding that 10 SIDC staff members wold undergo training in Australia, with four Murdoch researchers currently being based in Sarawak. 'Two PhD slots have also been allocated to SIDC under this partnership, with Murdoch supporting the Centre's AI-enabled ICT design.' Sagah also highlighted SIDC's collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services to deploy portable genome sequencing to monitor African Swine Fever Virus and also to bolster biosecurity in the pork industry. 'These strategic partnerships, both local and international, reaffirm Sarawak's commitment to being at the forefront of infectious disease research and public health innovation,' he pointed out. healthcare Roland Sagah Wee Inn Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
'Disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop out to boost health preparedness in Sarawak'
Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 27): The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) has begun a disease surveillance programme in Ulu Undop, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak's efforts in strengthening its health preparedness and response mechanisms. In this regard, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn hailed the Ulu Undop move as the first of several planned initiatives under SIDC, with two additional sites in Kuching expected to be launched later this year. 'This is part of our broader strategy to enhance early detection and response, especially in rural and vulnerable areas,' he said in his winding-up speech at the DUN sitting yesterday. It is also informed that in tandem with its surveillance efforts, SIDC is also piloting latent tuberculosis diagnosis in high-risk areas as a precursor to the Sarawak Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (STEP). Adding on, Sagah said construction of the SIDC facility in Samarahan, which kicked off in March last year, was progressing on schedule. On the international front, he said the SIDC had signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on May 6 with the University of Edinburgh, the ROSE Foundation (based at Universiti Malaya), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and other global partners to advance research in diagnostics, 'One Health', human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling, and also potential vaccine development. 'SIDC also launched the Ali Wallace Joint Research and Training Centre with Murdoch University,' said the Tarat assemblyman, adding that 10 SIDC staff members wold undergo training in Australia, with four Murdoch researchers currently being based in Sarawak. 'Two PhD slots have also been allocated to SIDC under this partnership, with Murdoch supporting the Centre's AI-enabled ICT design.' Sagah also highlighted SIDC's collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services to deploy portable genome sequencing to monitor African Swine Fever Virus and also to bolster biosecurity in the pork industry. 'These strategic partnerships, both local and international, reaffirm Sarawak's commitment to being at the forefront of infectious disease research and public health innovation,' he pointed out. healthcare Roland Sagah Wee Inn Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
