KIT Biomedical Research
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KIT Royal Tropical Institute/Dept. KIT Biomedical Research Employees in Amsterdam: 35 |
Company Profile
KIT Biomedical Research is a unique not-for-profit centre where science, product development and policy formulation are brought together to improve the detection of infectious diseases that threaten public health in low- and middle-income countries.
At KIT Biomedical Research we identify, design, develop, evaluate and implement such tools and develop guidelines and contribute to policy development for their rational use. The outcomes of this research regularly lead to out-sourcing of our expertise and materials in both public and private partnerships.
Our department is a multicultural environment, where approximately 35 people with professional backgrounds in immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, epidemiology, public health and quality assurance work together. This diversity has also led KIT Biomedical Research into other areas of expertise related to diagnostics, such as laboratory systems strengthening and advisory services.
It is the combination of basic science, diagnostic product development and implementation which allows us to address public health issues in a characteristic and comprehensive way that appeals to public and private partners in the fields of research, diagnostics, capacity building and advisory services.
Science and Technologies or Services
In the fight against infectious diseases, the improvement of diagnostic tests is dearly needed to fulfill needs of accessibility, affordability and better performance.
KIT Biomedical Research has a significant track record in test development in collaboration with industrial partners. We have developed several diagnostic tests, some of which are now considered worldwide as the gold standard (e.g. LeptoTek DriDot for leptospirosis). Hundreds of thousands of our tests have already found their way to developing countries. The simplicity and robustness of these tests make them especially suitable to be used as point-of-care tests outside the specialized laboratory.
We work closely together with partners in developing countries in many aspects of the diagnostic pipeline like need assessment, biomarker identification, test development and evaluation, and implementation. Partnerships with industrial partners who are able and willing to manufacture, market and distribute the tests are essential.
As the requirements for diagnostic tests are increasing, the technology enabling diagnostics is also improving. KIT Biomedical Research is proud to be amongst those at the scientific and technological forefront of diagnostics development; for several new tests and methods of testing we are using novel technologies, such as nanotechnology and sensor technology. Diagnostics based on these technologies have the potential to become very simple methods with high performance.
We also perform contract research for companies, provided the activities are within the scope of our mission.
Alliances
At KIT Biomedical Research we firmly believe that active partnerships are key in the fight against infectious diseases. As a result, we have an extensive global network of collaborations with laboratories, institutes, organisations and industrial partners in developing and industrialised countries. In Amsterdam we are partner in the Centre for Poverty-related Communicable Diseases (CPCD) in which AMC, PharmAccess, IATEC and KNCV work together.
Even closer to home, interdepartmental collaboration within the Institute, in particular with KIT Development Policy and Practice, is an added value to our work.
Keywords
- Essential diagnostics
- Diagnostic development
- Diagnostics evaluation
- Infectious diseases
- Public health
