Cayetano Heredia hosted the international workshop «Malaria Molecular Surveillance with the AmpliSeq assays»

In a firm commitment to scientific innovation and international cooperation, the international workshop «Malaria Molecular Surveillance with AmpliSeq Assays» was inaugurated on May 19th at the Cayetano Heredia University of Peru. This initiative was organized by the Molecular Epidemiology Unit of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT-AvH).

The event was funded by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and supported by the Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD) and the National Academy of Sciences of Peru. Its objective was to strengthen technical capacity to apply AmpliSeq assays in the genetic monitoring of the malaria parasite, enabling the detection of transmission patterns, the presence of genes associated with drug resistance, and alterations that compromise the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests.

The event was inaugurated with welcoming remarks by Dr. Coralith García, Director of the IMT-AvH, and Dr. Dionicia Gamboa, professor at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and member of the National Academy of Sciences. Both emphasized the importance of molecular surveillance as a key tool in the fight against this endemic disease.

During the first day, significant advances that are shaping new directions in malaria diagnosis and control were presented. Dr. Sudha Rao (Genotypic Technology Pvt Ltd) introduced next-generation sequencing platforms, while Prof. Asif Mohammed (ICGEB) discussed new therapeutic targets derived from the parasite’s organelles. Additionally, Dr. Anna Rosanas-Urgell (Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp – ITMA) highlighted the strategic value of these technologies for anticipating and containing outbreaks. In the afternoon, Dr. Eline Kattenberg (ITMA) explained the principles behind the AmpliSeq technology, and Dr. Luis Cabrera (UPCH) led a hands-on session on DNA preparation and amplification.

The workshop will continue until Friday, May 23, and will include the symposium «Future of Malaria Molecular Surveillance (MMS) in Latin America (LATAM)», where regional perspectives will be discussed and implementation experiences will be shared.

With initiatives like this, Cayetano Heredia reaffirms its commitment to research excellence and its leadership in global health, in service of the country and the region.

View the full event program: Click here