500,000 bananas. 213,333 soccer balls (or footballs for our international friends). Twenty elephants. Seven buses. Forty-five shipments of Instrumental Access equipment.
What do these have in common? They all weigh 100 tons.
Seeding Labs' Instrumental Access program has surpassed 100 tons of donated scientific equipment sent to researchers around the world!
This milestone shipment—Seeding Labs' 45th—just arrived at Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Doubly exciting: It's the non-profit's first shipment to a 2016 Instrumental Access university.
Related Article: Helping Scientists, Helping the World
The equipment will allow UNIBE to expand research on infectious diseases like Zika and HIV in their newly-created Institute for Tropical Medicine and Global Health.
The Institute will be led by Dr. Robert Paulino-Ramirez (picture below, far right), who is joined here by colleagues from the UNIBE School of Medicine whose research and teaching will benefit from the equipment:
UNIBE students, staff, and faculty.Photo courtesy of Seeding Labs
"This opportunity will serve as seed to develop a major project that will allow us to design current responses to global health issues," says Dr. Paulino-Ramirez.
UNIBE's equipment filled a 20-foot container and included instruments from 24 equipment donors.
UNIBE plans to expand on-site capabilities in molecular biology research and add hands-on opportunities for medical students taking courses in biochemistry.
Learn more about UNIBE's plans for Instrumental Access equipment.
Together, Seeding Labs has equipped scientists at 40 institutions in 26 developing countries with more than $3.5 million of surplus lab equipment and supplies.
“I’m tremendously proud of this milestone!" said Nina Dudnik, PhD, Seeding Labs founder and CEO. "It demonstrates the depth of our corporate donors’ generosity and the breadth of scientific talent we’ve been able to support and catalyze around the world.”
UNIBE’s Instrumental Access equipment being readied for shipment at the Seeding Labs warehouse.Photo courtesy of Seeding LabsMore about Seeding Labs
The Instrumental Access program has given thousands of students the opportunity to get hands-on scientific training in their home countries. It’s opened up new avenues of research for faculty, who are looking for solutions to issues of global importance like Zika and HIV.
There is no “one size fits all” delivery. Each shipment of Instrumental Access equipment is unique, hand-picked by Seeding Labs' partner scientists to suit their specific research and teaching needs. This tailored approach helps ensure the highest and best use of donated equipment.
Could your university use lab equipment for research and teaching? Seeding Labs is accepting applications through July 29, 2016. Learn more here!
Do you have lab equipment to donate to Seeding Labs? Learn more about how to donate.
