FULLY BOOKED
Transport
Shuttle service will depart from and return to the Kigali Convention Centre (Forum venue).
About the research centre
Established in 2002 under the Ministry of Health, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) has been instrumental in enhancing the national diagnostic services and biomedical research. In 2011, with the aim of improving operational efficiency, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre was established, incorporating the NRL to support disease control programs by streamlining national diagnostic services, surveillance, and conducting research. The NRL includes six units and is actively involved in diagnostic validation and clinical trials, facilitates surveillance for outbreak detection, and supports the national diagnostic laboratory network in quality assurance. Notably, the laboratory has built a state-of-the-art genomic facility that was pivotal in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mpox and the recent Marburg Virus outbreak. This genomic facility continues to play key roles in surveillance and supports a wide range of research initiatives. Its contributions are essential for early detection of re-/emerging threats and advancing scientific understanding.
Site visit theme
Advanced diagnostics and research infrastructure
Site visit highlights
- National Laboratory System in Rwanda
- Genomic Sequencing facility: Innovations in integrated wastewater and pathogen genomic surveillance.
- Biobank: A resource supporting clinical research and disease monitoring.
- Specialised Diagnostic Services: Laboratories equipped to diagnose and monitor infectious diseases like HIV, TB, Malaria, and emerging pathogens.