The Philippine Genomics Center (PGC) has trained 101 biologists and healthcare professionals on bioinformatics to boost the country’s pool of computational biology experts.
Named Internship Program for Increased Local Bioinformatics Utility and Expertise (IMBUE), the training program was conducted in six weeks and covered topics on general bioinformatics and computational biology.
Bioinformatics has been vital in understanding the composition of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease, the PCIEERD news release said.
It collects and analyzes complex biological data of the virus from its basic composition to mutation.
It was held in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD).
PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit expressed high expectations the IMBUE trained experts on bioinformatics will bolster the country’s response to future health scares, the council said in a news release.
“We hope that with the training is a shot in the arm for our scientific community as it imputes a new skill into our pool of experts,” he said.
Of the 101 trained bioinformatics, 22 professionals are from Central Luzon State University, UP Manila National Institutes of Health, and PGC Mindanao Satellite Facility.
They focused on viral metagenomics, or the study of bacterial genetic materials, and protein structure analysis.
“We believe that the key to understanding and dealing with the Sars-CoV-2 relies on research and development. Thus, we want to increase our critical mass of experts in Bioinformatics who can conduct such studies and hopefully result to drug discovery and development; and in other means that will harness the power of bioinformatics” Paringit said in the news release.