THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines-Mindanao and Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao has inaugurated recently the Police Regional Office Covid19 Testing Laboratory in Davao City.

The PRO-11 Covid19 laboratory expands the university’s network, which includes facilities in Tagum City and Davao de Oro Province.

“It can be an extension laboratory of the UP Philippine Genome Center for research and development collaboration to study and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases in the Southern Philippines,” UPM said.

UPM Chancellor Larry Digal and PGC-M Director Lyre Anni Murao graced the event along with Philippine National Police Chief General Debold Sinas and PRO-11 Director Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal.

The university, through PGC experts, will train the laboratory personnel in biosafety and molecular diagnostics and prepare them for proficiency testing by the Department of Health−Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

UPM will also assist in the development of a laboratory operations manual and provide consultancy services for technical issues that may arise.

“These roles were set forth in the memorandum of agreement which UP Mindanao signed with the PRO-11 on September 16, 2020,” the university said.

The service is part of UPM’s Mindanao Health Initiatives which includes a medical education program, a center for infectious diseases, and a hospital in partnership with the Davao City local government unit.