The Philippines embarks on genomics through the Philippine Genome Center (PGC). On infectious diseases (ID), genomic technology has emerged as a way to perform surveillance, rapidly identify resistance development pathogens, and assist ID control measures. The Philippines, however, has shortage in the capacity to utilize and deploy the technology. This Newton workshop has addressed this new need by combining the ID expertise at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) with the PGC and provided understanding of genome interpretation and analysis, applied to emerging ID and drug-resistant pathogens. The workshop briefed, through lectures, 119 researchers and trained 40 participants out of the 119 on analytical and operational capacity in the use of genomics, applied in particular to surveillance, control and management of ID. It also improved the capacity of our in-house genomicists and bioinformaticians in terms of the specific application of the learned technology on ID.
It has improved the capacity of our in-house and local genomicists and bioinformaticians in terms of the specific application of the learned technology on infectious diseases. As for me, the collaboration opens up many more opportunities for partnerships with LSHTM and among our local scientists. On continuing the collaboration, LSHTM has another approved Newton project with similar nature; this is an off-shoot of the first collaboration.
