Molecular Biology Laboratory - Research Institute for Tropical Medicine

National Reference Laboratory for Special Pathogens; Core Facility for Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics of the Department of Health Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (DOH-RITM) Even some undergraduate and graduate students from various universities in the Philippines and other countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom have performed part of their thesis projects at MBL. Staff in MB

L themselves are also involved with and even initiate their own investigative projects. MBL also serves as a training facility for nucleic acid extraction, conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It has hosted and/or conducted training events for bacterial meningitis and Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 testing. MBL has also conducted Training Workshops for the use of PCR on the diagnosis of infectious diseases. MBL conducts molecular-biology-based research and surveillance of various infectious diseases, through support and collaboration with local and foreign funding agencies and institutions. Also, MBL assists in rapid outbreak response to public health emergencies through the use of molecular detection tools. In fact, MBL was able to develop and acquire methods for the detection of various pathogens. These methods have been used in outbreak investigations/response and preparedness within the Philippines including:
*the 2003 SARS-CoV epidemic
*the 2009 Influenza H1N1 Pandemic
*the 2009 Ebola-Reston outbreak in Central Luzon *the 2011 Dengue nationwide outbreak
*the 2012 Leptospira outbreak in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City
*the 2014 and 2015 MERS-CoV Preparedness
*the 2014 Ebola-Zaire Virus Preparedness
*the 2014 Detection of Henipa-like Virus in the Southern Philippines

MBL also provides assistance to National Reference Laboratories at RITM in optimizing the use of PCR-based detection tools. The Laboratory also provides nucleic acid testing as part of RITM's range of hospital laboratory services.