News and Events

 

August 2023

 

10th August: Visit of representatives of the University of Jember, Indonesia, to the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Tübingen, Germany

 

On behalf of the Pan Asean Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP), Dr. Dr. Carsten Köhler, Head of the Competence Center and the Focus Group "Global Health”of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, welcomed the delegation from the University of Jember, consisting of the Vice Rector for Finance, Prof. Sri Hernawatim, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ulfa Elvia, the representative of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Public Relations Officer, Endah Puspitasari, and our focal partner for PACE-UP, Dr. Kartika Senjarini from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Tübingen on August 10, 2023. During the meeting the upcoming PACE-UP workshop and hands-on training on “Emerging and re-merging viral diseases and Basic principles of Biosafety”, which will be hosted by the University of Jember in 2024, was discussed.

 

 

July 2023

 

11th July: Prof. Dennis Nurjadi (University of Lübeck) presented the results of an ongoing study on antibiotic resistance, Tübingen
 
Prof. Dennis Nurjadi from the University of Lübeck and expert mentor of the PACE-UP has presented the first results of an ongoing study on antibiotic resistance in resource-limited settings: Vietnam at the colloquium held at Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany.

 

 

07th July: Visit from representatives of the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany to VG-CARE, Hanoi
 
Dr. Michael Aigner, group leader of the research group on T cell Therapy at the University Hospital Erlangen visited VG-CARE to identify potential opportunities for collaboration. Dr. Aigner is working on manufacturing and quality control of CAR T cells under GMP standards.

 

 

05th July: Visit from the Regional Medical Doctor from the Federal Foreign Office, Germany to VG-CARE/PACE-UP and 108 MCH, Hanoi
 
Dr. Sabine Walter, Regional Medical Doctor for Southeast Asia from Federal Foreign Office, Germany visited VG-CARE and the 108 Military Central Hospital (MCH) in Hanoi on July 5, 2023. Dr. Nguyen Trong The, group leader and deputy director of VG-CARE introduced her to the center and PACE-UP activities.

 

 

05 th July: Prof. Nguyen Linh Toan (VMMU) and Prof. Velavan (PACE-UP) at the Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Nguyen
 
Prof. Nguyen Linh Toan and Prof. Velavan from PACE-UP were invited to Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy on 05 July to discuss university partnerships in the ongoing PACE-UP program at VG-CARE. The Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung agreed to participate in our PACE-UP activities and proposed the signing of an MOU between VG-CARE, University of Tübingen and Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

 

 

June 2023

 

28th June: Humboldt Research Hub Roundtable, Berlin
 
PACE-UP, represented by Prof. Velavan and PACE-UP partner Prof. Olusola Ojurongbe from the Bayer- AVH Humboldt Research Hub, representing the Centre for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Nigeria, were invited to a round table discussion with all Research Hub Heads (Humboldt Research Hubs in Africa) to intensify networking between the individual Research Hubs and the German cooperation partners during the Alexander von Humboldt Annual Meeting in Berlin. A possible joint conference in Africa next year was suggested and a joint virtual meeting of the Research Hub Heads was planned to discuss further details.

 

 

16th June: Session on bioinformatics pipeline for the analysis of whole genome sequencing data
 
Dr. Etienne Loire from Cirad, GREASE Network has given a session to introduce a bioinformatics pipeline for the analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data at VG-CARE, Hanoi. PACE-UP students, researchers and medical staff participated in the interactive session to understand how the pipeline can be used for the detection of antimicrobial resistance genes. A follow up hands-on training is planned to be conducted.

 

 

Mai 2023

 

20th May: The Ministry of Defense of Vietnam announces the Certificate of Merit to Prof. Dr. Thiru. P. Velavan

 

The Ministry of Defense of Vietnam announces the Certificate of Merit to Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and the co-director of VG-CARE for his outstanding and excellent achievements in scientific collaboration, establishment, and development of the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, 108 Military Central Hospital. The official award ceremony will take place in December 2023.

 

 

20th May: DAAD Visit to VG-CARE/PACE-UP and 108 MCH, Hanoi

 

On May 20, 2023 Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, President of the DAAD and President of Justus Liebig University Giessen, together with the current head of the DAAD regional office for Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar in Hanoi, Mr Stefan Hase-Bergen, and his successor, Mr Felix Wagenfeld, visited VG-CARE/PACE-UP at the 108 Military Central Hospital (108 MCH) in Hanoi.
 
Since the foundation of the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, the DAAD has been one of the largest funders of the projects carried out or ongoing at the center, which includes the PACE-UP. In the framework of the meeting, the 108 MCH, the work of VG-CARE and the goals and activities of PACE-UP were presented.
 
Prof. Mukherjee emphasized that VG-CARE is an excellent example of successful and sustainable scientific cooperation between two countries in the sense of the DAAD funding principles. Mr Stefan Hase-Bergen highlighted that the approach of mutual added value through cooperation between the University of Tübingen and the 108 MCH contributes significantly to the success of VG-CARE and its projects.
 
On this occasion, the decision of the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam was announced, to award the Certificate of Merit to Prof. Dr. Thiru. P. Velavan, co-founder and co-director Director of VG-CARE, for his outstanding and excellent achievements in scientific collaboration, establishment, and development of the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research.
 
Related Press Release: 108 MCH   

 

 

19th-20th May: DAAD Alumni meeting on Sustainability in Higher Education, Hanoi
 
On May 19, 2023 representatives of the PACE-UP/VG-CARE participated at the DAAD Alumni meeting on Sustainability in Higher Education in Hanoi. The event was aligned with the 20 years anniversary of the DAAD regional office for Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar in Hanoi. Furthermore, the occasion was taken to officially farewell Ms Stefan Hase-Bergen who was in charge of the DAAD office since 2017 and to welcome his successor, Mr Felix Wagenfeld.
 
The event was inaugurated by his Excellency Dr. Guido Hildner, German Ambassador to Hanoi, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, Member of the National Assembly HCMC, Former Member of the Politburo, Former Secretary of the Party Committee HCMC, DAAD-Alumnus, and Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, President of DAAD, President of Justus Liebig University Giessen.
 
A number of lecturers on the ‘Sustainability in Higher Education’ was given during the 1,5 days event. Prof. Dr. Velavan was invited to give a lecture together with A/Prof. Dr. Tran Xuan Chuong, a PACE-UP cooperation partner from the Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, on “Sustainability in Health Education and Research”.

 

 
18th May: A networking meeting was held at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hanoi Office to identify synergies in ongoing activities between CDC and PACE-UP.
 
Dr. Lindsay Kim, Program Director for Global Health Security (Vietnam) at the CDC, outlined opportunities for collaboration on Event-based Surveillance (EBS) and the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), laboratory capacity building, and early reporting on disease outbreaks.
 
Dr. Serena Vinter, Deputy Regional Director of CDC’s Southeast Asia Regional Office, explained CDC’s opportunities to support activities on infection prevention control (IPC) in the ASEAN region through CDC-funded program for ASEAN nationals.
 
The PACE-UP/VG-CARE team was represented by Dr. Bui Tien Sy, Prof. Dr. Velavan, Ms. Olga Hase-Bergen, and Ms. Ms. Thi Anh Mai Pham. Prof. Velavan presented both centers and their activities in Vietnam and ASEAN region.

 

 

18th May: Network hybrid meeting with the University of Lübeck, Germany

 
A hybrid meeting between the University of Lübeck (UoL), Germany, and VG-CARE took place. Prof. Dennis Nurjadi (UoL) presented first results on the topic “Molecular epidemiology of colistin and carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Viet Nam”. This study is part of a collaborative project between the UoL, 108 Military Central Hospital and VG-CARE/PACE-UP in the research area of antimicrobial resistance to investigate resistance, virulence and transmission patterns.

 

 

12-14th May: „Europe Village“ in Hanoi, Vietnam

 
PACE-UP / VG-CARE members have informed about the center‘s activities during the „Europe Village“ event taking place from May 12 to 14, 2023 in Hanoi. Europe village is an annual event held by the European Union Delegation in Vietnam. 15.000 visitors were expected to visit the event.
 
The German Embassy together with German organizations, institutes and foundations in Vietnam are representing Germany and collaborative projects between the two countries.

 

 

03rd-04th May: Second annual Steering Committee Meeting of the Central African clinical research network (CANTAM)
 
PACE-UP was represented and reported on its activities for 2023 during the Central African clinical research network’s (CANTAM) second annual Steering Committee Meeting (Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo) from May 3 to 4, 2023.
 
Prof. Eric Achidi from the University of Buea in Cameroon explained the cooperation with PACE-UP. A full-time PhD student from University of Buea is conducting her PhD study at the University of Tübingen, funded through PACE-UP.
 
Zambia has reported on the internship of their staff in 2022 within the PACE-UP-Internship program.
 
Central African Infectious Disease and Epidemics Research Alliance (CAIDERA), another DAAD Global Health Center also presented its activities within CANTAM. CAIDERA shared joint activities with PACE-UP.

 

 

April 2023

 

25th-27th April: German-Vietnamese Science Day (GVSD) in Da Nang, Vietnam
 
VG-CARE participated together with the PACE-UP cooperation partners in the GVSD – an event jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) as a bilateral dialogue and networking event between science, industry and policy makers from Germany and Vietnam.
 
The aim of the GVSD was to discuss, build and to consolidate potential projects between German-Vietnamese cooperation in the fields of science, technology, innovation, and higher education, and to strengthen networking between German and Vietnamese stakeholders to create a strong framework for sustainable German-Vietnamese cooperation.
 
The event was opened by Mr. Nguyen Van Phan Phuc – Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Dr. Luong Van Thang from the Department of International Cooperation, Europe (MoST), Ms. Kathrin Meyer (BMBF) and Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, Rector of Duy Tan University (DTU).
 
On the first day of the GVSD, April 26, VG-CARE conducted a thematic workshop entitled “UNITY of PURPOSE: Scientific Partnerships for Innovation and Research,” which aimed to build a consortium of multidisciplinary stakeholders from academia, research, industry, and government. The workshop led to the formation of consortia between VG-CARE, DZIF-Germany, VABIOTECH-Vietnam and IDT Biologika-Germany, involving both ministries, to jointly develop an MVA-based vaccine against an emerging infectious disease in the ASEAN region, with the possibility of technology transfer from IDT Biologika-Germany to VABIOTECH-Vietnam to manufacture GMP-compliant vaccines in Vietnam.
 
On the second day of the event, April 27, the German Ambassador, His Excellency Dr. Guido Hildner, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Bui The Duy, recognized VG-CARE as a successful bilateral initiative in their introductory talks. This was followed by the presentation of the workshop results and panel discussions with the partners of cross dialogue.
 

 

 

25th April: PACE-UP together with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Charité representatives visited the Duy Tan University, Da Nang
 
VG-CARE/PACE-UP, together with representatives of GIZ and Charité, was invited by Duy Tan University (DTU) in Da Nang to discuss cooperation opportunities. DTU was interested in capacity building through cooperation with German institutions. Prof. Velavan, director of VG-CARE and project coordinator of PACE-UP, as well as visiting professor at DTU’s Faculty of Medicine, pointed out the potential opportunities between the two institutions. PD Dr. Eric Hahn, deputy head of the GIZ hospital partnership program provided insights into potential support for integrating mental health into the university curriculum and through GIZ funding opportunities.

 

 

24th April: Representatives of the German Embassy Hanoi, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (AvH) visited the PACE-UP workshops held at Hue University for Pharmacy and Medicine (HUMP).
 
Representatives of the German delegation of the German-Vietnamese Science Day (GVSD) in Da Nang (April 26-27, 2023) visited the PACE-UP hands-on-training workshop on “Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases and Principles of Biosafety” held at the HUMP campus in Hue, Vietnam.
 
The BMBF, represented by Ms. Katrin Meyer and Dr. Ulrike Wolters, the German Embassy in Vietnam, represented by Mr. Jörg Kinnen, Ms. Susanne Kammüller from DAAD Headquarters, Ms. Katja Yang from AvH-Asia head and the Rector of HUMP, Prof. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, were given an insight into the ongoing practical training. This was followed by a demonstration of the functions and utility of PACE-UP’s BSL-2 mobile laboratory with BSC-III cabinet used for outbreak response and preparedness.

 

 

19th-25th April: PACE-UP workshop and course modules in ‘Emerging and re-emerging diseases’ and ‘Hands-on training on Basic principles of Biosafety’, Hue, Vietnam

 
PACE-UP successfully conducted a workshop with two course modules on “Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases”. The course modules on “Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases” were conducted on April 19-21, 2023 and the practical training on biosafety fundamentals was conducted on April 24-25, 2023 at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (HUMP) in Hue, Vietnam.
 
The workshop was inaugurated by Prof. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, Rector of the Hue University on Medicine and Pharmacy (HUMP), and the co-director of the Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research (VG-CARE) and Senior Academic councillor at the University of Tübingen, Germany, Prof. Thirumalaisamy P Velavan.
 
Prof. Huy emphasized the importance of working together to face challenges in preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks. Prof. Velavan highlighted the activities of PACE-UP, a multidisciplinary consortium that supports building and strengthening capacities for pandemic preparedness and prevention, and the importance of collective action in addressing health risks in the region.
 
The workshop was conducted by international experts from Europe, Africa and Vietnam with deep expertise in the field of emerging and re-emerging diseases. More than 160 participants with postgraduate qualifications (MD, MSc, MPH, PhD), including physicians, veterinarians, entomologists, biomedical scientists, health-care staff and epidemiologists from Vietnamese and Indonesian Universities participated at the course and gained insights on infectious diseases epidemiology and outbreak detection, early management, and infection control mechanisms and shared their knowledge on the various emerging and re-emerging viruses. In addition, 49 registered participants from other global health centers in Central America and West Africa participated online.
 
Dr. Tran Duc Khanh from the Vietnamese-German University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – PACE-UP partner institution – conducted a lecture on ‘Artificial Intelligence and early warning systems’ demonstrating the potentials for the infectious disease research within a collaborative interdisciplinary approach of PACE-UP.
 
PACE-UP Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) with Biosafety Cabinet (BSC – III) mobile laboratory was used to train scientists and health-care workers from HUMP in field deployment. The mobile laboratory supports surveillance, diagnostics and early warning of disease outbreaks.
 
The successful participation in the workshop was solemnly confirmed on April 25th by handing over the certificates.
 
Related press Release: TRT online

 

 

18th April: Obituary of Prof. Dr. Christian G. Meyer, Expert Mentor and Vice Director of the Vietnamese. German Center for Medical Research (VG-CARE)
 
The VG-CARE and PACE-UP consortia share the sad news of the death of Prof. Dr. Christian G. Meyer, who passed away in his sleep on the flight from Frankfurt to Hanoi. Prof. Meyer was an extremely wise mentor, a brilliant writer, and a tropical medicine physician with a broad and deep knowledge. As a mentor, Prof. Meyer encouraged and influenced as many medical students and researchers in Asian and African countries with his knowledge and wisdom.  Prof. Meyer remained very active for VG-CARE and its activities in Tübingen, especially in Vietnam, and lived for tropical medicine until his death.
 
Prof. Meyer accomplished much in the field of tropical medicine in Germany during the last 30 years. He was author of more than 200 scientific publications, editor, and sole author of one of the most important German-language textbooks of tropical medicine and editor of the journal “Tropical Medicine and International Health”.

 

 

March 2023

 

08th March: Networking meeting (South-South) in Antananarivo, Madagascar
 
PACE-UP had strategic meetings with new stakeholders, the Madagascar Institute of Vaccine Research (MIVR) in Antananarivo, which is collaborating with the PACE-UP collaborator International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Seoul, Korea. The exchange of African scientists working for the IVI in Madagascar to Germany/Asia for Internship was consolidated. A legal MOU between the institutes within the framework of PACE-UP is envisaged.
 
 The general meeting with all stakeholders of the VASA consortia took place on 08 and 09 March 2023.

 

 

February 2023

 

23rd February: Network online meeting with the University of Copenhagen, Denmark
 
An online meeting between the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and VG-CARE took place on February 23, 2023, to evaluate and to discuss the possible collaboration between both institutions. Dr. Gildas Hounmanou, University of Copenhagen, presented an I-CRECT sub-project “Onsite hospital sewage treatment to reduce down-flow of CREs”. The project hypothesis states that onsite hospital wastewater treatment will decrease antimicrobial resistance genes levels and the number of multi-drug resistant pathogens entering aquatic recipients and thereby reduce the risk of human exposure and transmission downstream. Based on that the project aims to assess the effectiveness of existing wastewater treatment systems at selected hospitals in reducing discharged AMR pathogens and genes and proposes optimum treatment method(s) providing the best reduction rate as an intervention to scale-up. A possibility of cooperation between the University of Copenhagen, 108 Military Central Hospital and VG-CARE was evaluated and agreed upon.

 

 

21st-22nd February: Strategic meeting between PACE-UP/VG-CARE and HUMP, Hue

 
A strategic meeting between the Hue University for Medicine and Pharmacy (HUMP) and PACE-UP/VG-CARE took place in Hue from February 21st to 22nd, 2023. Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan and Dr. Nhat My Truong met Prof. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, Rector of the university, the Rector Board, the member staff of the International Relation office, of the Institute of Biomedicine and of the Departments of Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis, Parasitology and Microbiology.
 
In different sessions the upcoming PACE-UP workshop and hands-on training “Emerging and re-merging viral diseases and Basic principles of Biosafety”, hosted by HUMP from April 18 to 25, 2023, and further plans and activities of the PACE-UP consortia were discussed.

 

 

13th-14th February: Project Team Meeting Global Health and Climate Centers 2023, Bonn

 
 PAN ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP) participated in the DAAD Project Team Meeting in Bonn. The meeting aimed to get new insights into the activities and topics of the DAAD Global Health and Climate Centers, to gain a deeper understanding of common interests and to identify overlapping areas of interest to collaborate in 2023 and beyond.

 

 

January 2023

 

29 January: Meeting with Malaysian Minister of Health YB Dr. Zaliha Mustafa and the Director General of Health Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, London

 
PACE-UP, represented by Prof. Dr. Velavan, was invited to London for a networking meeting with the Malaysian Minister of Health YB Dr. Zaliha Mustafa and the Director General of Health in Malaysia Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah. The meeting shall contribute to the strengthening of ASEAN-wide capacity in clinical research.

 

 

14 January: Tet New Years celebrations at the Embassy of Vietnam, Berlin

 
The Vietnamese Ambassador, Mr. Vũ Quang Minh, invited Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan and members from VG-CARE to the traditional Tết New Years celebrations at the Embassy of Vietnam in Berlin. The programme was filled with a New Year's speech from Mr. Vũ Quang Minh, honour's speech, award ceremonies and other cultural activities. The visit strengthened the collaboration with the Embassy of Vietnam in Berlin and VG-CARE.

 

 

December 2022

 

01-03 December: Training on the mobile laboratory, Hanoi

 
Dale Parker, the Global Field Service Manager, and the Site Superintendent of Germfree Inc USA trained the user groups how best to work in a safe working environment and explained the correct operational and management procedures and protocols for the sustainable use of the Sprinter van equipped with a BSL/2 laboratory with BSC III cabinet.
 
Mechanical and electrical engineers as well as scientists from 108 Military Central Hospital and VG-CARE were trained in all aspects of the fabrication of the mobile van, and the scientists benefited from this laboratory training prior to field deployment.
 

 

November 2022

 

30 November: Handover ceremony of the PACE-UP mobile laboratory, Hanoi

 
PACE-UP received a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) mobile laboratory with Biosafety Level 3 (BSC-III) safety cabinet from DAAD/AA funds. The handover ceremony took place at 108 Military Central Hospital (MCH). The mobile BSL-2/BSC-III laboratory was handed over to Prof. Mai Hong Bang, Director of 108 Military Central Hospital and the directors of VG-CARE by Mr. Simon Kreye, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, Head of the DAAD Regional Office for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
 
The BSL-2/BSC-III mobile laboratory will be used for infectious disease research, surveillance and mapping hotspots for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. It will also be used to train medical staff for use in emergencies or disease outbreaks. The mobile laboratory is equipped with advanced molecular diagnostic instruments including PCR, real-time cyclers, haemocytometers, next generation sequencers, freezers and refrigerators, autoclave and allied instruments for the use of a laboratory.
 
The mobile lab provides quick access to remote locations and is easy to manoeuvre in urban areas. This compact mobile laboratory can accommodate a small team of staff, allowing them to respond to incidents very quickly and safely. Proximity and speed are critical for early detection of a potential outbreak as part of an effective disease surveillance program. The BSL-2 Sprinter van laboratory is ideal for bringing diagnostic capabilities combined with point-of-care testing to hard-to-reach areas, from urban centres to remote locations.
 
Related press releases here: German Embassy, DAAD Vietnam

 

 

 

29- 30 November: PACE-UP Expert seminar on GCP/GCLP

 

PACE-UP has conducted an international Expert seminar on GCP/GCLP (29.-30.11.2022). The seminar was carried out by Dr. Diane Egger-Adam, from the University of Tübingen, Germany and Dr. Nguyen Trong The shared his working experience on clinical trials in Africa and Vietnam.
 
More than 20 researchers from Indonesia, Hue (Vietnam) and VG-CARE (Hanoi/Vietnam) were trained / could refresh their knowledge and skills on rights, safety, and well-being of clinical trial subjects. All individuals has taken up a test for receiving the international certification from Global Health Network. The next Expert seminar on GCP/GCLP will be conducted in 2024.
 
Related press releases here: Jember University in Indonesia

 

 

September 2022

 

22 September: DAAD Alumni Talk at Goethe-Institute, Hanoi

 

On 22 September, Dr. Nguyen Trong The and Prof. Dr. Velavan were invited to a DAAD alumni event organised by the DAAD office, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy.  The Deputy Director of VG-CARE, Dr Nguyen Trong The, gave a lecture on "Dengue Fever" and Prof. Dr. Velavan gave a lecture on "COVID-19: an update".

 

Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, Head of the DAAD Office, moderated the event. The event was also chaired by Mr. Jörg Kinnen, Head of the Department of Culture, Press and Science of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Related Press Release DAAD Hanoi, click here.

 

Picture Courtesy and Copyright: DAAD-Vietnam

 

 

19-23 September: Workshop "Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases".

 

The Pan ASEAN coalition for epidemic and outbreak preparedness (PACEUP), the only Global Health Centre based at the Vietnamese German Centre for Medical Research (VG-CARE) 108 Military Hospital, organised the workshop "Emerging and Re-emerging Viral Diseases". The workshop was opened by the German Ambassador, His Excellency Dr Guido Hildner. The workshop, which was attended by 42 scientists, PhD students, undergraduate students and others from Vietnam, Germany, Indonesia, Europe and Africa, was organised by the DAAD Global Health Centre, also known as PACE -UP, Global Health Centre in Asia, which is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the DAAD.

 

Related Press Releases from Embassy Click here for German; Click here for Vietnamese; from 108 Hospital Click here for English, from Jember University Click here for Indonesian

 

 

06-07 September: International scientific collaboration for tomorrow's world: Global Centres for Health and Climate, Berlin, Germany

 

The Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) hosted the inaugural meeting with all stakeholders of the eight interdisciplinary 'Global Centres' addressing global health and climate challenges around the world. The Pan ASEAN coalition for epidemic and outbreak preparedness (PACEUP), the only global health centre for Asia hosted by VG-CARE, was well represented at this event on international scientific collaboration for tomorrow's world: Global Centres for Health and Climate, which took place in Berlin on 6-7 September. 

 

 

May 2022

 

Prof. Dr. Velavan from VG-CARE has been elected to the Steering Committee (2022-2024) for Biomedicine of the German alliance of Global health Research (GLORHA). For more information, visit GLORHA website.

 

 

May 2022

 

Delegates from the Naval Medicine Research Unit-2 (NAMRU-2 Unit, USA) visited VG-CARE to initiate a clinical trial of tafenoquine as a malaria chemoprophylaxis. 

 

 

March 2022

 

Prof. Dr Thirumalaisamy P Velavan of VG-CARE has been appointed by the State of Baden Württemberg to the civil service for life as Akademischer Oberrat at the University Hospital Tübingen, Germany.

 

 

December 2021

 

VG-CARE reports the first OMRICON SARS-CoV-2 varaint identified in a Vietnamese patient. VG-CARE continues to contribute to genomic surveillance of SARS-C0V-2. VG-CARE has deposited more than 1000 SARS-COV-2 genomes in the global GISAID database. For more information  from Ministry of Health, GISAID, press release.

 

 

November 2021

 

VG-CARE along with Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany has been chosen to deliver a project together with Sweden, France, Denmark partners working together in Vietnam. The project is funded by EU- Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance- “HARISSA”: One HeAlth InteRventIon and TransmiSSion in AMR for thr project titled:Interventions to decrease CRE colonization and transmission between hospitals, households, communities, and domesticated animals (I-CRECT). for more information please, click here.

 

October 2021

 

With the support of ongoing DAAD funded projects, the Vietnamese German Center for Medical Research, together with experts from the University of Tübingen, successfully completed a two week training course on whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 variants using MinIon Nanopore technology. This capacity is being sustained and a number of sequences are currently being deposited in the global databases by VG-CARE and associated partner institutes of the Pan ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP).

 

 

June 2021

 

The German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health e.V. (DTG) has conferred 'Award for Tropical Medicine 2021’ to Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan for outstanding scientific achievements in the field of tropical medicine or international health sciences. For details please Click here.

 

May 2021

 

Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research (VGCARE) has received a grant 'PAN ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and OUtbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP)' from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). VG-CARE will serve as one of the four Global health and Pandemic prevention hub, in particular for the ASEAN region for next five years.


The well-established and successful North-South and South-South collaborative networks bring to the PACE-UP a consortium of 28 partner institutions drawn from 5 Asian, 4 European and 11 African countries, with multidisciplinary expertise aimed at strengthening regional and ASEAN-wide capacity to respond rapidly and effectively to infectious diseases with epidemic potential occurring in the region or imported from overseas.  For additional information please Click here.

 

March 2021

 

The Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research (VGCARE) has successfully completed a study from hospitalized patients and outpatients including the health care workers, to understand the factual burden of COVID-19 in the Vietnamese high-risk population. The study is now published in Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific. Thanks to DAAD for the support for the conduct of the study. For additional information please Click here.

 

November 2020

 

On November 02, Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan, along with members of the NeoART-V team in Hanoi, visited the Nghe An Oncology Hospital in Vinh for study monitoring. The visit is intended to strengthen intramural collaboration and to accelerate the patient recruitment for the ongoing clinical trial "Phase II Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Neoadjuvant Artesunate in Stage II/III Colorectal Cancer (NeoART-V) in Vietnamese Patients". ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03093129; For additional information please click here

 

 

October 2020

 

On October 27, Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P Velavan was invited to a DAAD alumni event organized by the DAAD office, the Goethe-Institut and the German Embassy. Prof. Velavan gave a lecture on "Our journey with COVID-19: The pandemic". The event was chaired by honorable Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Vietnam Dr. Guido Hildner. Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, the head of the DAAD office, moderated the event. Related Press release from DAAD Hanoi Click here for German; Click here for Vietnamese.

 

 

March 2020

 

The rapidly spreading COVID-19 clearly shows that infectious diseases are among the greatest threats. During this crisis sitaution depletion of resources from supply chains in Germany is acknowledged. VG-CARE has sent 6000 Oropharyngeal swabs to Germany for a clinical study to treat COVID-19 patients with Hydroxychloroquine. This was possible with the support of the German Embassy in Hanoi and from Ministry of Health (BMG) Germany. We value your support. The swabs were received on 30 March 2020. Related Press release from German Embassy Hanoi Click here for German; Click here for Vietnamese; Click here for English language.

 

 

February 2020

 

The International Bureau (IB) of The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany has hosted VG-EXCEL to be a successful project in the BMBF Funding Programme to establish joint research centres with partners in the Asia-Pacific Research Area (APRA). Detailed information can be accessed in the BMBF online portal. Click here for English; Click here for German language.

 

December 2019

 

On 13th December, Dr. The Trong Nguyen, MD has succesfully completed his PhD in Experimental Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. Hearty Congratulations !

 

November 2019

 

On 27th November, Dr. Mai Thanh Binh, MD has succesfully completed his PhD in Experimental Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. Hearty Congratulations !

 

 

On 12-13th November, Prof. Dr. Velavan representing Universitätsklinikum Tübingen and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Linh Toan, representing Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) took part in the DAAD - ASIA Network conference held in Yangon, Myanmar. New collaborative projects are foreseen with other ASEAN and Asian partners.

 

 

On 06th November, the President and the Rector of the Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) Prof. Dr. Do Quyet has conferred Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan and Prof. Dr. Christian G. Meyer, representing Universitätsklinikum Tübingen with the prestigious title of Visiting Professorship for their academic contribution in the field of infectious diseases between the two institutes.

 

 

On 06th November, VG-CARE along with Universitätsklinikum Tübingen and Vietnam Military Medical University has successfully conducetd DAAD-PAGEL Expert Seminar on 'Parasitology and Cancer' at the campus of Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi.

 

 

On 01st November, the German ambassador to Vietnam, His Excellency Dr. Guido Hildner had made an official visit to VG-CARE and was received by the 108 Hospital Board of directors and colleagues from VG-CARE. All ongoing activities related to individual, institutional and infrastructural capacity building were demonstrated. Also present was Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, the Head of the DAAD regional office Hanoi for Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmmar and Laos.

 

 

October 2019

 

On 30th October, the 3rd German Science day 2019 in Hanoi was organized: VG-CARE was represented for distinct BMBF, DAAD-PAGEL, BMBF-MOST bilateral projects. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in cooperation with the German Embassy in Hanoi has organized this event. The event marks a large variety of presentations, and a unique chance to network with representatives of leading German Universities, research institutions and funding organizations.

 

 

On 29th October, the delegation from Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), led by Ms. Katharin Meyer and the team from PT-DLR Büro, along with the Vietnam-German University President Dr. Thomas Benz made an official visit to VG-CARE. The delegation was briefed with all our ongoing activities in the field of research, teaching-training and patient-care. Further possibilities on collaborative initiatives in the ASEAN region and among EU countries were discussed.

 

 

August 2019

 

VG-CARE has been selected for the consolidation phase in the BMBF-APRA project and will receive financial support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for next three years (August 2019- July 2022) for the continuation of distinct projects, including clinical trials and basic research.

 

July 2019

 

In the context of an ongoing 'Phase II Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial of Neoadjuvant Artesunate in stage II/III Colorectal Cancer (NeoART-V) in Vietnamese patients', the members of NeoART-v team had undergone ICH-GCP/GCLP training after second year. Additionally, members involved in this clinical trial were trained and monitored for the use of the REDCAP database. Study and data safety monitoring subsequently took place this July 2019. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03093129; For additional information please Click here.

 

 

May 2019

 

Vietnam Science and Technology award 2018

 

Associate Prof. Dr. Le Huu Song, Director of the VG-CARE along with the VG CARE team members Dr. Ngo Tat Trung and Ms. Dao Thanh Quyen received the 'World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) prize', as well as 'Vietnam Science and Technology (VIFOTEC) prize of the year 2018' for developing diagnostic kits to detect antibiotic resistance genes. The award was presented by the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology on 14th May 2019. Associate Prof. Dr. Le Huu Song also received a 'Certificate of Merit' from the Vietnamese Prime Minister Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

 

 

Workshop on 'Scientific Writing and Publishing'

 

With support from DAAD regional office in Hanoi, VG-CARE has succesfully organized and completed a workshop on ''Scientific Writing and Publishing' held on May 09th. The event was inagurated by Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, the Head of the DAAD regional office Hanoi for Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmmar and Laos. Prof. Dr. Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan and Prof. Christian G. Meyer conducted this course 'Communicating Science' which provided a general guide to partcipants on how to write a scientific article and the process of publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

 

DAAD -PAGEL  Summer school on Parasitology

 

With support from DAAD-PAGEL program, VG-CARE has succesfully organized and completed the Summer school on Parasitology from May 06th until May 08th. The event was inagurated by our German Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Christian Berger. The event was aimed to strengthen and build capacities in the field of parasitology, which was seldom studied or investigated in the clinical routine among many Vietnamese hospitals. The target group comprised of 38 participants who were mainly physicians, clinical researchers and laboratory staff.

 

 

April 2019

 

On 01st April 2019, the directors Profs. Dr. Le Huu Song and Thirumalaisamy P Velavan presented ongoing clinical research in VG-CARE at the first joint committee meeting between Vietnam and Germany on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. This inter-ministerial meeting between the Federal ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) took place in Berlin.

 

 

March 2019

 

On 18 March 2019, the founding director of VG-CARE PD Dr. T.P. Velavan received apl. Profesorship from Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany.

 

January 2019

 

The Vietnamese-German Center for Medical research received a project grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) DAAD-PAGEL program (5744019) for years 2019-2022, with a vision to establish a parasitology reference laboratory in Hanoi. In next four years, a team of next generation parasitologists from VGCARE will be trained. This program offer educational units accessible for physicians, biologists and medical students and comprise not only of theoretical units, but also of practical instruction in diagnostic techniques. A South- South (Africa- Asia) exchange cooperation, with North- South (Germany- Asia) coordination foreseen.

 

November 2018

 

The directors from VG-CARE have met the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and the Minister of Women, Family and Community on November 1st 2018 in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. This successful network meeting with partners from St. George's Hospital, University London UK provides an excellent opportunity to synergize our efforts in ASEAN region and with European Union.

 

 

October 2018

 

The directors Dr. Le Huu Song and Dr. Thirumalaisamy P Velavan representing VG-CARE visited World Health Organization Regional Office and discussed on potential collaborations on Hepatitis E vaccination clinical studies with Dr. Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline, Head of Mission at Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

 

 

 

July 2018

 

Team VG-CARE has presented a series of presentations on distinct aspects of infectious diseases at the 8th ASEAN Conference of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (ACTMP) 2018 held in Nha Trang, 26th – 29th July 2018.

 

 

July 2018

 

The Swiss-Vietnamese Medical Association presented ‘Alexander Yersin Prize 2017’, to encourage medical researchers in Vietnam to make significant contributions to medical literature and will recognize outstanding research achievements.

 

Dr. Ngo Tat Trung from VG-CARE was one among the four winners for the year 2017 who received the prize sum of VND30 million on 26th July 2018 in Ho Chi Minh City. For related press releases, click here.

 

 

January 2018

 

The recruitment of study participants started on 09th January for the 'Phase II Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial of Neoadjuvant Artesunate in stage II/III Colorectal Cancer (NeoART-V) in Vietnamese patients'

 

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03093129; For additional information please Click here.

 

In this context, members of VG-CARE had undergone ICH-GCP/GCLP training. Additionally, members involved in this clinical trial were trained for the use of the REDCAP database.

 

 

January 2018

 

The official inaugural of Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research (VG-CARE) as a independent legal entity took place on 16th January 2018, at 108 Military Central hospital, Hanoi.

 

The event was felicitated by the German and Vietnamese delegation, Ministries of Science and Technology (MoST), Ministry of Defence (MoD), Vietnam and DAAD, Germany and well wishers from our HANOI NETWORK- HANNET

For press releases from Vietnam, please Click here (Vietnamese); Click here (English); Click here (Spanish).

 

For the official press releases from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), please Click here (Vietnamese) and here (Vietnamese).

 

 

December 2017

 

Dr. Nghiem Xuan Hoan, MD has successfully completed his PhD in Experimental Medizin at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. Hearty Congratulations !

 

 

August 2017

 

VG-CARE received substantial financial support from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for next five years to establish a well-equipped site and subsequently for the conduct of clinical trials.

 

April 2017

 

With support from DAAD-PAGEL program, VG-CARE has succesfully organized and completed the Summer school on Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology.

 

 

August 2016:

 

Members of VG-CARE, Prof. Dr. Christian G Meyer and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Velavan together have conduced a seminar series on infectious diseases and a workshop on 'Advanced Molecular diagnostics of Infectious diseases' between 22- 23 August 2016, at Duy Tan University, Da Nang.

 

Click here for related news coverage

 

June 2016:

 

On 28 June 2016, one of the founding director of VG-CARE Dr. Velavan was habilitated as 'Privatdozent' (Associate Professor) from Faculty of Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany in the field of Human Parasitology.

 

May 2016:

 

The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious diseases (ESCMID) along with VG-CARE, DAAD and the 108 Military Central Hospital co-organized a course on emerging drug resistances and anti-microbial stewardship, between 11- 13 May 2016, at the 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi.

 

Click here for related news coverage (in Vietnamese)

 

Download
Summer School on Emerging drug resistances and anti-microbial stewardship
Hanoi_ESCMID_course_Final_28042016.pdf
PDF-Dokument [215.1 KB]

 

November 2015:

 

Hepatitis E virus superinfection and clinical progression in hepatitis B patients

 

Research scientists from the Institute of Tropical Medicine Tübingen and the Robert Koch Institute in cooperation with Vietnamese scientists, have published a study on the burden of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the EBioMedicine Journal. The study team discovered that the rate of HEV infection is higher in HBV patients than in the healthy population. The study also reports that hepatitis B patients with a HEV infection, develop progressive HBV-related liver diseases faster including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

 

Click here for related news coverage

 

 

DAAD Workshop, Summer school and Expert seminars in 2015

 

With generous support from the DAAD through DAAD-PAGEL program, VG-CARE has succesfully organized and completed hands on training workshops on '' Advanced molecular diagnostics of infectious diseases'' (in April 2015), followed by a Summer school on Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology (in July 2015), and two expert seminars (in January and September 2015).

 

Click here for related news coverage

 

 

January 2015:

 

Inaguration of the Vietnamese-German Centre for Medical Research (VG-CARE) in January 2015, at 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.

 

Click here for related news coverage

 

 

June 2014:

 

A delegation from ''Vietnamese National Main Science Research Council For Medical And Pharmaceutical Programme'' Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), visited Tübingen.

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to intensify cooperations in the field of infectious diseases research was signed by the Rector of the Eberhard-Karls University Tübingen, Professor Dr. Bernd Engler and the Vice-Dean and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Faculty, Professor Dr. Diethelm Wallwiener, with Dr. Pham Gia Khanh and Mr. Do Xuan Cuong.

 

 

June 2013:

 

Professor Dr. Bamberg, Managing Medical Director and CEO of the University Hospital Tübingen, received the head of delegation Dr. Vu Quoc Binh, Major General of the Vietnam People's Army Department of Military Medicine. Increased cooperation in the field of infectious diseases has been agreed upon with the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard-Karl Univesity, Tübingen.

 

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