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The virtual MOA Ceremonial Signing took place at 2 p.m. on June 27th between two parties: National Defense Medical Center (NDMC) representing the Research Center for Pandemic Prevention Science, and the Industrial Technology Development Institute in the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ITDI) in Philippines. The signing representatives on both side were General Tai-Lung Cha, School President of NDMC and Dr. Annabelle V. Briones, Director of DOST-ITDI. The Taiwanese attendees who joined virtually at this ceremonial signing include: Minn-Gan Chow, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Philippines, Dr. Tai-Horng, Young, Director General of the Department of Life Sciences in NSTC. Additionally, the NDMC parties gathered physically at a venue, including General Tai-Lung Cha, (School President), Captain Chia-Chao Wu (Executive Dean), Chia-Chun Wu (Director of IPM), Cheng-Cheung Chen (Chief of EID Group in IPM), Meng-Hung Tsai (Director of the Department of R&D in IPM), Jehng-Kang Wang (Director of the Office of International Affairs) and Wen-Sheng Cheng, (Research Instructor of the Department of R&D). Likewise, the Philippine DOST parties who joined virtually include Silvestre H. Bello III (Chairman and Resident Representative of Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO)), Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr. (Secretary of the DOST), Dr. Leah J. Buendia (Undersecretary of R&D of the DOST) and Dr. Annabelle V. Briones (Director of the DOST-ITDI) as well as other DOST fellow members in the meeting. 

During the TECO-MECO Pre-Joint Science and Technology Commission Meeting in Manila, Philippines last December, both Taiwan and Philippines have reached a consensus on enhancing bilateral scientific research cooperation and talent training in the fields of medicine, health and agriculture. The Philippine side also proposed sending personnel to reinforce their skills in the operation and management of BSL-3 laboratories. In response to this request, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) decided to involve the Institute of Preventive Medicine team under the Research Center for Pandemic Prevention Science of NDMC because they have demonstrated outstanding contributions and expertise in areas such as high-containment biological laboratory management and training. Their involvement will reinforce the personnel training on BSL-3 laboratories for the DOST Virology and Vaccine Institute in Philippines.

Therefore, the program (Training on Basic BSL-3 User and Core Facility of the Lab-to-Lab Training Program) will focus on sharing experience in personnel training in high-containment laboratories, imparting biosafety and biosecurity knowledge and providing on-site operational training and personnel evaluation. The objective aims to assist the Philippine researchers in effectively reducing the risk of exposure to infectious pathogens, toxins, and other biohazards when conducting relevant experiments in BSL-3 laboratories.

The event was co-hosted by the Office of International Affairs in NDMC and the Institute of Preventive Medicine(IPM) with committed efforts and dedication. Our school president feels honored to receive recognition from NSTC for the expertise in personnel training skills on BSL-3 laboratories in the Research Center for Pandemic Prevention Science, specifically IPM. In addition, Dr. Annabelle (the Philippine signing representative) expressed confidence in the program and expects both parties to jointly combat emerging infectious diseases that may potentially cause future biological disasters, thereby achieving the objective of collaborative efforts in fighting against epidemics and scientific research cooperation.

The ceremony reached an excellent conclusion with a closing remark delivered by the Chief of EID Group in IPM (Cheng-Cheung Chen) which also signals the initiation of the program, Training on Basic BSL-3 User and Core Facility of the Lab-to-Lab Training Program. It is expected that a five-day training course will be held in September this year at NDMC and the BSL-3 laboratory at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The program will make tangible contributions to talent exchange and research cooperation between the two parties, as well as enhancing the visibility of international epidemic prevention.

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