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Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin (Photo: News Room)
And Professor Mohamed-Martin pointed out that with the laboratory, the university will be able to engage in the special type of testing, known as genomic sequencing, to test for COVID-19 variants and other infectious diseases.
This is particularly important since Guyana has been unable to explicitly identify the variants of the novel coronavirus that causes the disease, COVID-19. Instead, Guyana has been sending small amounts of COVID samples to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
“In terms of some of the capacities that are needed for some of the sophisticated testing, we have not had that and we are building that out,” Professor Mohamed-Martin said. And, she highlighted that the laboratory should be ready by June next year.
Importantly, too, this focus on genomics will be part of a much wider focus on infectious diseases, with the university positioning itself to lead local research efforts. As such, an infectious disease unit should be established too.
“(It will) really will help to respond a little quicker than we have in the past,” she noted.
With this GGI grant, the Vice-Chancellor also pointed out that the university will be able to expand other scientific capabilities to study genomics in other such sectors including agriculture and forestry.
