Australian High Commissioner Visit PNGIMR Headquaters | PNGIMR getting ready for 40th Anniversary | PNGIMR recieves K35M for research | Professor Siba meets with IRB of UHC MC in USA | Professor Siba meets visits PNGIMR Madang | First EHP HIV/AIDS Stakeholders meeting | 18 graduate as HIV counselors | The Flame of HIV/AIDS-Speech by Gerald Saleu | This quater in Pictures | Grace attends workshop in Melbourne | Mr Tavul attends workshop in Cambodia | PNGIMR celebrates openday with DWU | PNGIMR joins DWU to celebrate open day in picture |Staff graduate from UPNG |Visitors |Staff going Finish |New Staff |Community Service

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NEW STAFF

DR MOSES LAMAN

Dr Moses Laman comes from East Sepik province and is a new study clinician in the PNGIMR Severe Malaria GEN Project based at the Modilon General Hospital.

Dr Laman coordinates the project.

He started working with the project in January (2007) and before coming to Madang he lived in Port Moresby with his wife and son and worked at the Port Moresby General Hospital for two years where he also completed his residency.

During his student years Dr Laman had done an extra degree in research bachelor of Medical Science under the supervision of Professor John Vince who is the head of Pediatrics in UPNG.

Because the Severe Malaria GEN project is a pediatrics research project Dr Laman is the best candidate to carry out and coordinate the project.

Whilst working in the three year project, Dr Laman is currently pursuing his masters.

Dr Laman said that for whoever has interest in research or academic things, PNGIMR is the place to be.

Dr Inoni Betuela comes from Ialai village in Milne Bay Province and is a Specialist Physician trained at UPNG and Oxford with an interest in field research.

He is now the new Clinical Research Fellow in PNGIMR based in Goroka and working with the Vector Borne Diseases Unit.

Dr Betuela is not new to PNGIMR as he was involved in the first field trials of Combination B, a blood-stage malaria vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum in the Wosera, East Sepik province.

He has been involved with the PNGIMR since 1996 in Madang, Maprik and Goroka in various capacities but now he is back on fulltime basis to assist the PNGIMR in areas of clinical research and field intervention trials.

Dr Betuela stresses that malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in PNG and elsewhere in the world and PNGIMR is part of the global team trying to develop a vaccine and better treatment options to reduce the burden of illness from malaria.

“In the past few years I was involved in setting up rural clinics and helping communities in preventative aspects of medicine in Goroka,” said Dr Betuela.

He said PNGIMR is known and recognised overseas for its contribution towards medical research and science and that he hopes to carry on the good work to uphold the reputation of the Institute and encourage more Papua New Guineans to become independent Scientists.