Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center

Founded as the Geneeskundig Laboratorium, or Medical Laboratory, at Jalan Diponegoro No. 69 in Central Jakarta in 1888, Christiaan Eijkman was stationed there as its first director. During his time there, he discovered that Beriberi, which was commonly believed to be caused by external forces, was caused by a lack of thiamine in the human body. This led to a Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for Eijkman in 1929. In 1938, the laboratory was renamed the Eijkman Instituut (Eijkman Institute) in honor of Eijkman.[1][2]

During World War II, Japanese occupiers accused the center's first Indonesian director, Achmad Mochtar, of poisoning a batch of vaccine that was to be delivered to slave laborers. After Mochtar and his researchers were tortured and interrogated, he made a deal with the Japanese that he would plead guilty if his researchers were released. He was then executed and buried in an unmarked grave.[1] It is possible that Mochtar was a scapegoat for a failed Japanese experiment designed to validate a conjured tetanus toxoid vaccine for their troops.[3]

During the 1960s, the institute closed due to upheaval in the country and was absorbed into the Cipto Mangunkusomo Hospital. It remained closed for the next thirty years until 1992, when B.J. Habibie, the Minister of Research and Technology, decided to reopen the institute. The institute opened formally by Ministry of Research and Technology Decree No. 475/M/Kp/VII/1992. By 1993, it was fully operational, but ran into further troubles in 1998 due to the Asian financial crisis.[1][2][4]

In 2004, the institute identified the suicide bomber who blew himself up in front of the Australian Embassy, which drew recognition to the practical benefits of molecular biology. Today, the institute houses one of the few Biosafety Level 3 laboratories in the country, which is equipped with a gas decontamination chamber.[1]

For long time since its re-formation in 1992, Eijkman Institute was subordinate of Ministry of Research and Technology. Since 22 September 2021, Eijkman Institute officially become subordinate of National Research and Innovation Agency rather the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.[5][6] The name of Eijkman Institute changed to Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center, under the Life Sciences Research Organization of National Research and Innovation Agency.[7]

From the outside, the building has been described as looking like a museum, although the inside has not been renovated in an attempt to keep the building looking as it did when Eijkman was working there. This includes a visitor's lounge which is still furnished with wood and rattan chairs and other furnishings that have not been changed since the opening of the building.[1]

Currently, Eijkman Molecular Research Center is as follows:[8][9]

1. Office of the Head of Eijkman Molecular Research Center
2. Deputy of Fundamental Research
3. Deputy of Translational Research
4. Deputy of Human Genetics
5. Deputy of Infectious Diseases
6. Deputy of Genetic Biodiversity
7. Research Units
   1. Dengue Research Unit
   2. Hepatitis Laboratory
   3. Genome Diversity and Diseases Laboratory
   4. Malaria Pathogenesis Laboratory
   5. Malaria and Vector Resistance Laboratory
   6. Mitochondria and Infectious Diseases Laboratory
   7. Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory
   8. Red Blood Cell Disorders Laboratory
   9. Red Blood Cells Membrane and Enzyme Disorders
   10. Stem Cell Unit
8. Supporting Units
   1. Bioinformatics Laboratory
   2. Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory
   3. DNA Sequencing Laboratory
   4. Histopathology and TEM Laboratory
   5. Library
9. Public Service Units
   1. Cytogenetics Laboratory
   2. DNA Forensics Unit
   3. Genetic Counselling Unit
   4. National Genome Center
10. International Research Collaboration Units
    1. Eijkman Oxford Clinical Research Unit
    2. Emerging Virus Research Unit (EVRU)

Aside of these laboratories, Eijkman Molecular Research Center has more than 200 surveillance units divided into 31 regions across 34 provinces in Indonesia.[8]

• Official website