Research

On August 22nd, DTU held a seminar on “Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases. Two leading German scientists from the University of Tubingen, Professor Christian Meyer, M.D. and Associate Professor Velavan, local doctors, lecturers and students attended.  

  

 

Associate Professor Nguyen Ngoc Minh, DTU Vice-Provost, said: “DTU is honored to welcome these two professors from the University of Tubingen in Germany to the “Molecular Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases” seminar, organized by the DTU Center for Medical, Biological and Pharmacology training. This is an excellent opportunity for our researchers to gain a deeper understanding of infectious diseases and molecular biology. On behalf of DTU Board of Provosts, I would like to show our gratitude to Professor Meyer and Associate Professor Velavan for your interesting presentations. We hope that our partnerships with German universities will broaden, especially in the fields of Medicine, Biology and Pharmacology.”  

 

Professor Meyer talked about “The Ebola and Zika viruses and their Molecular Diagnosis” and “Trematodes and Nematodes”. Associate Professor Velavan gave a talk on “Molecular Diagnosis”, and "methods that are widely used, accurate and easy to use”.

 

  

Over many years of joint research, Associate Professor Velavan and Dr. Nguyen Minh Hung, Director of the DTU Center for Molecular Biology, have collaborated on several projects and published their results in respected ISI-listed journals. They have reported on the Fast-Track Diagnostics (FTD) of Tropical Fever Core (using Multiplex Real-time PCR, to detect the Dengue Virus, the Chikungunya Virus, Salmonella spp., the West Nile Virus, Plasmodium spp., Rickettsia spp. and Leptospira spp. They have presented papers on the prevalence of infectious diseases in Vietnam and worldwide, giving the latest information and explaining modern testing techniques used to detect current infectious diseases. 

 

Associate Professor Velavan said: “I have been in Vietnam many times before but this is the first time I have visited Danang. I am attracted by the charm and beauty of your city and the hospitality of the people. Thanks to the organizers for providing us with this great opportunity to present our most recent research into infectious diseases and the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, located at the Institute of Clinical Infectious Diseases at the 108 Military Central Hospital. We now will be able to expand our research with the DTU Center for Medical, Biological and Pharmacology training. The Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research conducts basic and applied clinical research on infectious diseases in Vietnam, to broaden and strengthen the competency in the local health care systems, by establishing sustained training programs. The Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research welcomes joint projects to conduct clinical, basic and applied research on infectious diseases. This is the purpose of today‘s seminar at DTU.”

  

 

In addition to presenting modern techniques in diagnosing and testing for infectious diseases, such as Ebola and Zika, researchers have conducted several other experiments at DTU. Associate Professor Velavan and Dr. Nguyen Minh Hung, Director of the Center, explained a number of molecular biology techniques that are used in diagnosing infectious diseases: 1) Fast DNA extraction from different blood samples, using microwaves; 2) Testing with Alere Determine™ HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo and 3) Molecular diagnosis of Hepatitis B, D, and E.

The seminar was much appreciated by researchers, doctors and lecturers from the 108 Military Central Hospital, the C Hospital in Danang, the Danang General Hospital, the Hanoi Vinmec Hospital, the Danang Center for Medical Prevention and others. The objective was to improve the application of molecular biology in the diagnosis infectious diseases in the Central region and throughout Vietnam, and improve the abilities of those involved in research, diagnosis and the curing infectious diseases.