The State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemițanu” will host a regional research center of the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) based in Trieste, Italy. “Moldova will be not only an importer of medicine but can become a producer of medicines in the near future as we have all the possibilities. The scientific researchers and practitioners are today ready to implement and to raise the level of medicine production,” the University’s pro-rector Stanislav Groppa stated in a news conference held on the sidelines of a scientific event entitled “Biotechnology for Economic and Social Development in Southeastern Europe”, IPN reports.
According to the pro-rector, this regional center aims to become a center for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is a network covering 66 countries with several centers in China, India and South Africa “This unity will enable us to take research to another level, to the international level and to this way be able to do research and, what’s more important, to benefit from technology transfer,” said Stanislav Groppa.
ICGEB Director General Lawrence Banks noted that the opening of the new regional center will offer a large spectrum of research and innovation possibilities. It goes to the development of biomedicine and ensuring of access to last-generation research equipment and also to the transfer of therapeutic technology. Also, the highest level of assistance in the educational process will be ensured.
Sergiu Porcescu, ICGEB Representative in Moldova, said the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae Testemițanu” was chosen to house this regional research center because it now has a large number of international and national students with high potential. “The idea is to offer the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and of other countries of the region the possibility of benefitting from modern technologies and of taking part in the working out of this,” stated Sergiu Porcescu, noting that the nominal composition of the center with the activity directions will be approved next May and the University will then launch the implementation stage together with ICGEB.
Emil Ceban, rector of “Nicolae Testemiţanu” University, said that biotechnology is applied to develop therapy for rare diseases many of which are genetic in origin and affect about 20-30 million Europeans and their families. It is estimated that 50% of all the medicines in the near future will be obtained through biotechnologies. The communication process became an integral part of research and is a guarantee for the scientific validity of the achieved results.
Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco said that Moldova has sufficient academic intellectual capacities to be part of any project. The Ministry of Health will further modernize the health system, which means new infrastructure and hospitals, modern equipment, solid laboratories and this can give an impetus to the research system as well.
Minister of Education Anatolie Topală said that research and innovation need well-trained young people and the attraction of the young people to the world of science and innovation and the encouragement of these to follow a scientific carrier are a major preoccupation of the Ministry.
The Republic of Moldova became a full-fledged member of the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on March 6, 2019. Researchers and experts from the member states can use the ICGEB laboratories and equipment and can benefit from the support of highly-qualified specialists and international personnel.
