The Unitech Biotechnology Centre (UBC) was established by the Council of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) University of Technology (PNGUT) in 1997 in recognition of the immense role that modern biotechnology could play in contributing to national development. The UBC became an independent entity as a Centre of the PNGUT on the 29^th of November 2013. Administratively, the UBC is managed by a Director, who reports directly to the Deputy Vice Chancellor. The focus of the UBC is on modern biotechnology, which is a powerful enabling technology, with applications that have the potential to revolutionise many industrial sectors including agriculture, forestry, fishery, pharmaceuticals and health, chemicals, textiles, food processing, environmental industries, energy and mining.

MISSION STATEMENT

FACILITIES AT UBC

Plant tissue culture laboratory space

Microbiology laboratory space

Portable growth chambers (needs to be checked)

Containment-1 molecular biology laboratory with capacity to undertake basic nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) assays involved in genotyping, disease diagnosis, paternity testing, gene transformation (gene technology) and gene expression analysis.

The Fresh Produce Development Agency donated K5,000.00 in 2014 for laboratory assistance in maintaining their potato and sweetpotato cultures in vitro;

Ok Tedi Development Agency – The collaborative research & development of eaglewood has been approved for a total funding of K150,000. An initial amount of K20,000 was recent transferred for isolation and identification of local endogenous fungal species infecting eaglewood.

Department of Public Enterprise – An initial funding of K30,000 was made following the submission of a proposal for the funding of equipments valued at K294,000. 

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

FACILITY RENOVATION AT UBC

Materials were purchased for renovation of the Sir Julius Chan building to shift office space to the front of the building, and also building of shelves on walls and benches to provide workspaces for researchers. The renovation work is managed by the PNGUT Project Office. A private contractor has begun work this month, and will hopefully complete the work in November 2015. The scope of the renovation included:

Improvement of the new wing to ensure biosafety and improve user friendliness;

New Office space near the entrance; and

Improvement of the lavatory and walkway to ensure a biosafe working laboratory.

The BioRad Gel Documentation System (GelDoc) purchased by the OHE funds is now being used by the researchers – its computer donated by the office of Vice Chancellor.

An additional thermocycler also purchased by the OHE funds is now being used to complement the old one to meet the increased demand by postgraduate students. 

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

CURRENT BIOTECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES

The current and proposed research opportunities for the UBC and potential commercial opportunities cover plant disease diagnostics, pathogen-tested plant production, and assessment of biodiversity, clonal forestry and gene technology (Refer to road Map 2015).

CHALLENGES FACED IN 2014-2015 PERIOD

The immediate challenges facing the UBC include;

No recurrent funding allocated and seed money to initiate pilot projects,

Financial management of on-going research projects – streamlining to increase efficiency, user pay policy, bench fees, etc.;

Accreditation of the laboratory pending the acquisition of the biosafety cabinet and the autoclave machine,

Lack of staff (Research and technical) in certain fields of biotechnology;

Lack of staff positions for UBC

Development of research proposals and training programs. 

These challenges are themselves milestones that need to be achieved in 2015 onwards to fully equip the laboratory and develop it into an enabling Centre for PNGUT and PNG.

COLLABORATIONS ON CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

The numerous researchers from various academic departments of PNGUT and other collaborating institutions are involved in the several identified research areas (Refer to road Map 2015). Such institutions include:

Agriculture Department, PNGUT;

Applied Sciences Department;

Forestry Department, PNGUT;

Mining Engineering Department, PNGUT;

National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI);

Fresh Produce Development Agency;

Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF); and

PNG Cocoa Coconut Research Institute (PNGCCI).D)   DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES< >Renovation will hopefully be completed by November 2015.

Acquisition of essential equipments to facilitate accreditation.

Continue R&D efforts with collaborators and stakeholders.

Submission of new proposals:

Eaglewood R&D – East Sepik Provincial Government

Improving the efficiency of the seed potato scheme - FPDA

Establish new links with other research institutions – PNGIMR, etc. 

PARTICIPATION AT THE NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

Alternate Focal Point for Genetic Modified Organisms (GMO) Issues for PNG through the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to the Food and Agriculture Organisation – T. Okpul

Table 1: Isolated fungal isolates taken from 8 days-old cultures on PDA medium.

Isolate	EF 8 (Is1)	KBr (Is2)	KBa (Is3)	KGA (Is4)
Top side
Reverse side

The UBC has basic facilities for carrying out work in tissue culture, molecular biology and disease diagnosis. The UBC has successfully utilized these facilities and staff to support student teaching, student and staff research, collaborative research with reputable national regional and international research, training and consultancy activities in agricultural biotechnology, participation in local exhibitions and shows, as well as other community services. The UBC provides training to students from a tertiary institutions and business organizations in tissue culture and molecular biology and is able to carry out contract work in these areas as well. Detailed activities of the UBC are described in the annual report.

For further details please contact:

 

Dr. Tom Okpul

Acting Director,

The PNG University of Technology

Biotechnology Centre (UBC),

C/o Department of Agriculture,

Private Mail Bag,

Lae, MP411.

Morobe Province

 

Phone: (675) 473 4451/4454/4477

Fax: (675) 473 4477

Email: tokpul@ag.unitech.ac.pg