Alliance Biosciences to provide engineering and biosafety guidance for Nyumbani's HIV/TB diagnostic facility

Feb 24 2010

Alliance Biosciences reached an agreement with the Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya to provide engineering and biosafety guidance to Nyumbani's planned HIV/TB diagnostic facility. This project will provide a state-of-the-art facility for the Nyumbani orphanage to conduct better diagnostics for HIV and TB patients at the Children's Home, and in the surrounding Kenyan community.

"It's not often that a private firm like Alliance Biosciences has opportunities to provide expertise for the design and operation of biocontainment laboratories, and assist an institution like Nyumbani," said Dr. Burnette. "I can't think of a better project, or a more noble entity than Nyumbani Children's Home."

Near Nairobi, Kenya, the Nyumbani Children's Home is an orphanage with just over 100 abandoned HIV+ infants and children. Nyumbani provides housing, antiretroviral therapy, spiritual guidance and education to the children as well as to the surrounding community. Nyumbani currently operates HIV diagnostic facilities, but needs the new laboratory for improved HIV, and additional tuberculosis, diagnostics. The ravages of tuberculosis have long been felt in Africa, pressing institutions like Nyumbani to possess diagnostics for both epidemics. Dr. Burnette will visit Nyumbani Children's Home in March, following his presentation on practical engineering applications for biocontainment labs in developing regions at the African Biosafety Association conference in Nairobi.

"The opportunity to receive consultancy from Alliance Biosciences in the design, building and operation of our new Diagnostic Laboratory is a tremendous opportunity," said Sister Mary Owens, Executive Director of Nyumbani. "Not only will it mean that our laboratory will be of international standard, but it will open up the world of high-containment laboratories more widely in Africa. We are very grateful to have been introduced to them."

"Working with local architects and contractors on this effort will promote knowledge of biocontainment facilities to a region that is hungry for expertise," said Dr. Burnette. "At the heart of the matter, this facility will improve diagnostics HIV+ orphans and the community in Kenya. This is social responsibility on many levels, and Alliance Biosciences is proud to be involved in this project."