In a major boost to practical biomedical education and research training, the Genomic and Infectious Diseases Laboratory (GIDL), a specialized research laboratory within the Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has officially donated a modern slightly used but fully functional PCR Safety Hood (CleanPrep Station) to the Department of Medical Diagnostics. The handover presentation was led by the Head of GIDL, Dr. Michael Owusu, alongside team members.

 

Elevating Hands-on Student Experience

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques remain at the core of contemporary molecular diagnostics, genomic research, and infectious disease surveillance. The donated workstation provides a contamination-free environment essential for precise reagent preparation, master mix setup, and diagnostic assay workflows.

 

Speaking during the presentation, Dr. Michael Owusu emphasized GIDL’s commitment to bridging the gap between specialized research capabilities and undergraduate/postgraduate training: "Practical exposure to high-standard molecular workflows is vital for preparing our diagnostics students for the global health workforce. By equipping our teaching laboratories with dedicated PCR safety stations, we ensure our students build confidence in sterile technique and quality control early in their academic journey."

 

This donation underscores GIDL’s ongoing dedication not only to cutting-edge research in genomic and infectious diseases but also to reinvesting back into the department to cultivate the next generation of medical laboratory scientists, molecular diagnosticians, and researchers.