The Open Day of the Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: A resounding success

The Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB) of the University of Colombo held the second annual open day on Tuesday, the 28th of October 2014. Through the concept of the open day, over one hundred visitors to the institute were able to visit and experience the sophisticated laboratories that support a gamut of molecular life science research activities. Experienced researchers of the IBMBB also highlighted the vast range of modern instruments in use, explaining the working principles as well as the laboratory applications of these instruments. A value addition to the open day was the availability of all IBMBB students and researchers to speak with visiting students and researchers. Thus creating an enabling environment to gain a thorough knowledge of the institute, its educational programmes and research activities. The open day was visited by advanced level students, undergraduate students, current researchers as well as aspiring researchers, who were impressed by the facilities and advanced molecular life science techniques in use at the institute.

The Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular B i o l o g y and Biotechnology of the University of Colombo was inaugurated on the 28th of April 2004. The institute became a reality through the tireless work and dedication of an elite panel of educationists in Sri Lanka and Sweden. The partnership between the two countries were strengthened and resulted in the establishment of this prestigious institute that officially marked the entrance of the sophisticated field of molecular biology in to the Sri Lankan science sphere.

The institute seeks to initiate, promote and facilitate advanced research and human development in the molecular life sciences to achieve national and international development. IBMBB conducts post-graduate study programmes in molecular life sciences and cellular and molecular immunology, while conducting cutting edge research in disciplines within these subject areas. The institute was designed and developed in strong partnership with the Uppsala University of Sweden. The founder director of IBMBB Emeritus Prof. Eric Karunanayake played a vital role in the development of this institute to a world- class research facility within a period of ten years, and is still involved in the further development and maintenance of this sophisticated science facility. The IBMBB recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary by hosting the international conference on the frontiers of molecular life science. The international conference was successful in bringing together leading research scientists and students from Sri Lanka as well as experts from across the globe.

IBMBB is a specialist research institute that conducts post-graduate programmes in the field of molecular life sciences. Currently, the institute offers master’s degree programmes in molecular life sciences, cellular and molecular immunology and bioinformatics as well as PhD programmes. In addition, the IBMBB also offers short term training courses in molecular techniques, immunological techniques and cell culture techniques. These short term courses deliver a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge with hands- on laboratory activities. The speciality of the training courses is the small group size, which assures that each participant gains individual attention. Currently applications are open for training courses taking place in December as well as for the 2015 intake of the Master of Science programmes. Visitors at the IBMBB open day who registered either for the master’s programmes or training courses received a special discount on the registration fees.

Current research activities at the IBMBB include studies in breast cancer, reproductive and developmental biology, plant and microbial molecular biology, metabolite profiling of tea and medicinal plants as well as stem cell and cell culture work. In addition, IBMBB also offers screening for breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1, BRCA2 and p53, DNA sequencing services, as well as a series of analytical services for plant extracts as well human serum. The breast cancer suscepti- bility gene screening is done at a nominal cost for patients of private and local hospitals, this is part of the community outreach programme of the IBMBB.

IBMBB thanks all those who visited the institute on the open day and is honoured to have shared their knowledge and scientific experience will all current and aspiring scientists of Sri Lanka