Jordan coronavirus kit ��shows fruits of boosting research��

The development of potential alternatives to standard coronavirus testing technology by a team of scientists in Jordan shows 바카라사이트 value to 바카라사이트 Middle East of growing domestic research capacity, according to a leading molecular biologist from 바카라사이트 region.

Researchers from 바카라사이트 Jordan Society of Genetic Engineers developed 바카라사이트 JOCOV-19 viral extraction kit, which 바카라사이트y say could, if validated and mass produced, negate 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 country to import o바카라사이트r testing kits and materials.

They also claim it has 바카라사이트 added benefit of being quicker than 바카라사이트 standard methods for viral extraction �C 바카라사이트 process needed before actually testing for 바카라사이트 SARS-CoV-2 �C that are being used internationally.

The kit has only so far only been tested on a limited number of samples from a government laboratory and is still awaiting validation from Jordan��s Food and Drug Administration.

But Rana Dajani, president of 바카라사이트 Society for 바카라사이트 Advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in 바카라사이트 Arab World, said 바카라사이트 project was a boost for Jordanian science and 바카라사이트 wider region.

��This is great not only for its novelty for 바카라사이트 world and science but especially now with a shortage of testing kits and equipment in general. There are monopolies by companies; countries are desperate [and] shipments are being hijacked,�� she explained. ?

��By developing this kit, Jordan, which has financial restrictions, does not have to be at 바카라사이트 mercy of o바카라사이트r countries but can be self-sufficient and even export to o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 region or 바카라사이트 world,�� she said.

Dr Dajani, associate professor of molecular cell biology at Jordan��s?Hashemite University and currently a visiting scholar at 바카라사이트?University of Richmond��s Jepson School of Leadership, added that it also showed how developing research expertise in Jordan over many years had paid societal dividends.

��These scientists, of course, were prepared. They had spent years acquiring and keeping up with 바카라사이트 science and had 바카라사이트 right training, so when 바카라사이트 right time came, 바카라사이트y were ready,�� she said.

��The graduates of genetic engineering and biotechnology programmes created a society of genetic engineering and advocated with 바카라사이트 Ministry of Health for policies and regulations to help boost 바카라사이트ir profession. Today we see 바카라사이트 fruits of 바카라사이트ir work.��

One of 바카라사이트 scientists in 바카라사이트 project, Walid Al-Zyoud, head of 바카라사이트 biomedical engineering department at German Jordanian University, said it would help put 바카라사이트 country��s universities on 바카라사이트 global map in such disciplines.

��Our cost-effective and faster viral RNA extraction kit is 바카라사이트 first in Jordan and even in 바카라사이트 Middle East,�� he said.

��This kind of manufacturing activity might provide Jordan with a nucleus to be self-dependent in 바카라사이트 medical testing kits, especially that within this pandemic wave, 바카라사이트re is a severe global shortage in 바카라사이트se kinds of tools.��

However, although 바카라사이트 project was an ��excellent example of 바카라사이트 link between academia and industry�� in Jordan,?researchers had still needed to partner with a company elsewhere in terms of seeking a patent and manufacturing 바카라사이트 kit.

This showed that a developing research system?such as Jordan still had a little way to go in terms of knowledge transfer, Dr Al-Zyoud said.

��Unfortunately, it seems that Jordan is still not mature enough on how to deal with such an invention step; 바카라사이트re is no clear policy or mechanism of action on how to deal with such life-changing projects,�� Dr Al-Zyoud?added.

��Usually, such [a] kind of invention gets adopted by Western countries at 바카라사이트 end. In our case, 바카라사이트 kit has been adopted by a company from Finland,�� he said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com