NAN-HG-3
Donation
By Yashim Katurak Rebecca
Abuja, Sept. 28, 2016 (NAN) Prof. Karniyu Gamaniel, the Director-General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), on Wednesday, said the Institute had received two world class research equipment from Merck, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company.
Gamaniel said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He said that the equipment would assist the Institute in a wide range of research activities in order to improve the production of drugs.
Gamaniel had said during an earlier interview that the lack of modern and world class equipment was affecting the level of research
carried out by the Institute.
He told NAN that most of the equipment in the Institute were no longer effective in carrying out research, noting that most of the equipment
were in use for 10 years and were now dilapidated and outdated.
The director-general said that with the new equipment, the Institute would be able to carry out research more efficiently and conveniently.
“The strength of any research institute is in the quality and capacity of the laboratories and equipment available to carry out research. Equipment
is the life wire of any research institution.
“Bio Ventures for Global Health, a non-profit organisation, has brokered a relationship between the Institute and Merck in the U.S. We have received two high grade and high performance equipment and they are currently being installed in the institute.
“These machines will help in research; they are very key instruments when it comes to preparation of molecules and their identification as well.
“For us in the Institute, it is a good development as the equipment will also serve us and our clients who come to the institute in need of equipment to carry out some analysis.
“These equipment and others received from the Japanese Government, will help in quality analysis and evaluation, testing the quality of drugs, analysis of drug development, plant material and analysis at the level of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology,” Gamaniel said.
He commended international donor agencies that have assisted the institute with equipment and other materials to aid research and production of drugs.
He called for more assistance from individuals, local and international organisations. (NAN)
KRY/HS/HA
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(Edited by Halima Sheji/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)