NHCR initiative

Collaborating to defeat tropical diseases

A joint research initiative expands the capabilities of the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases to conduct research into dengue, tuberculosis and malaria. Known as NHCR (the NITD - Hasanuddin University Clinical Research), the research work is located at the Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, Indonesia.

The NHCR laboratory in Makassar is staffed by Indonesian scientists whose experience can be applied in potential collaborations with other research groups. These partnerships, in turn, could lead to better surveillance and contribute to controlling the disease in Indonesia.

Dengue

Tuberculosis

Although dengue is widespread in eastern Indonesia, there is very little epidemiological information on dengue prevalence. Part of the problem is the lack of a good diagnostic laboratory with capability to conduct research on virus isolates from patients. The dengue virology laboratory at NHCR has been established to fill this gap.

Dengue research
NHCR dengue laboratory has partnered with the Faculty of Medicine of the Hasanuddin University and Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital (a 1000-bed teaching hospital of Hasanuddin University) to conduct a 12-month survey of dengue patients with fevers. This study will be expanded later into a larger Early Dengue Infection and Outcome (EDEN) study, as previously conducted in Singapore (Low et al., Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 2006; 35:783-90).

The NHCR dengue laboratory will conduct genomic analysis of virus isolates collected in Makassar. NHCR hopes to expand the laboratory to increase capabilities and do more sophisticated studies of gene expression in infected patients. In addition, the NHCR laboratory has initiated a project to develop dengue diagnostic tests. These tests can be used in our research facility, following extensive testing for sensitivity and reliability against a standard serum bank.

The scope of dengue research activities at NHCR spans several areas: