US invites RI researchers
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post | Wed, 04/28/2010 10:40 AM
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih has invited Indonesian
researchers, from both universities and hospitals, to submit proposals
to research neglected infectious diseases as part of a joint
US-Indonesia initiative.
The research and technology cooperation was agreed last month with an MoU signed by American Ambassador Cameron Hume and Researches and Technology Minister Suharna Surapranata.
Endang said she had been following up on the agreement and that American universities were ready to welcome Indonesian researchers.
”I have a dream that, hopefully, Indonesian healthcare workers share that we can reach a level of scientific capability equal to other countries,” she said.
Endang added that she wanted to ensure that research into neglected infectious diseases would be lead to the production of vaccines in Indonesia, and not overseas.
Endang’s appointment as health minister drew controversies due to her past record. Working as a researcher at the Naval Medical Reasearch Unit Two [Namru-2], which has been criticized as being a cover for American intelligence operations, Endang was accused of selling bird flu virus samples overseas.
