Molecular biology and biotechnology building block of medicine of the future

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology has been described as the backbone of evidence-based medicine.
Speaking at a workshop by the Division of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Ed B. Attah said that molecular biology and biotechnology is the building block of medicine of the future.

This according to him is because it seeks to understand biological processes at the molecular level. And by so doing, disease can be attacked at source by altering the chemical reactions at the molecular level.

Director General, NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah stated that molecular biology also enables diagnosis and evaluation of the prognosis or remission of other diseases such as down syndrome, Tuberculosis, malaria, helicobacter, pylori etc.
In addition he said, some blood borne pathologenes which cannot be really and reliably identified by traditional culture techniques could also be diagnosed using molecular biology technique.

Head of Division of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, NIMR, Dr Sarah Smith stated that the theme of the workshop is focused on the fact that molecular biology also enables disease diagnosis and evaluates prognosis or remission of diseases. Such diseases she said include cancer.

In his speech, Chairman, NIMR Board, Prof. Ed. B. Attah, said, “Molecular Biology and Biotechnology is the building block of medicine of the future because it seeks to understand biological processes at the molecular level. By so doing diseases can be attacked at source by altering the chemical reactions at the molecular level.

“Molecular Biology is being applied to resolve paternity disputes by DNA analysis, prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disease by analyzing blood of the for his in harvested chorionic villi, identifying the causative agent in peptic ulcer in Helicobacter pylori etc,” he said.
Contributing, Director-General, NIMR, Prof. Innocent Ujah stated, “the theme of this year’s workshop- “Molecular biology: the backbone of evidence based medicine” is captivating and very imperative based on the current trend of evidence-based medicine all over the world. Molecular biology encompasses many areas of scientific and medical knowledge and research. It is at molecular level that researchers may study the genetic components associated with a cancer such as cancer of the breast, cervix and lungs.

“Through such research findings, it is possible to introduce new genes that could fight cancer, or create new cells to replace the ones that are known to cause cancer. It therefore means the molecular biologist may simultaneously, be finding both the cause and cure of cancer. If and when such research outcomes can overcome such dreaded pathology, then the world will have a sigh of relief following such feat in human technology.

Molecular biology also enables diagnosis and evaluation of the prognosis or remission of other diseases such as, down syndrome, TB, malaria, helicobacter pylori etc. additionally, some blood borne pathogens which cannot be readily and reliably identified by traditional culture techniques could also be diagnosed using molecular biology techniques,” he said.

In her speech, Head of Division of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, NIMR, Dr Sarah Smith, stated, “The theme of the workshop is focussed on the fact that Molecular biology enables disease diagnosis, evaluates prognosis or remission of diseases. Such diseases include cancer. The techniques used offer faster and efficient methods of diagnosis and in the long run could be cheaper. Molecular biology also enables diagnosis of microorganisms that are hitherto difficult to culture (slow growing or fastidiuos) or unculturable e.g. Helicobacter pylori, M. Tuberculosis and early diagnosis of genetically inherited diseases.
“It might interest you to note that as a fall out of last year’s workshop we have one of the participants’ husband obtaining the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt fellowship (Germany) of which I am a recipient and the couple are right now in Germany, with the husband doing a one year post doc. In addition, about 32 BSc, 6 MSc and 6 PhD students been to our lab for various projects since the workshop. Last year, of the 48 participants 22 comprised lecturers, 10 medical doctors and the remaining pre and post graduate students.

“The participants this year include two Profs., six doctors (from Research Institute), eight lecturers, three Med Lab Scientists, 16 PhD and lecturer Graduate Assistants. All participants have represented the 6 geo-political zones in the country.

“Our lecturers and practical sessions are aimed at broadening our knowledge, improving our research skills and equipping our participants with modern day technology in evidenced-based medicine using molecular biology which I believe will contribute to good healthcare delivery and reduce the challenges of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for the people of Nigeria,” she said.