IDEA Lab

Strengthening Molecular Diagnostic Capacity in Colombo North Teaching Hospital - Ragama

On 3rd November 2025, the IDEA Laboratory, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo, organized a comprehensive refresher session on PCR and RT-PCR diagnostics at the Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Ragama.

The session was conducted by Prof. Andreas Nitsche with the support of the IDEAnet Sri Lankan team leader, Prof. Inoka Perera, the session covered essential aspects of molecular diagnostics, including primer orientation, contamination control, qPCR interpretation, diagnostic controls, assay validation, and the Good Laboratory Practices required for accurate and reliable PCR-based testing.

We were pleased to engage with Medical Officers, Medical Laboratory Technologists, and the Consultant Microbiologist at the CNTH. Enhancing diagnostic literacy and strengthening technical capacity remain central to IDEAnet’s mission to support national laboratory excellence.

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by IFHAM NIZAM of THE ISLAND newspaper
https://island.lk/flying-foxes-take-flight/

Flying Foxes take flight … Sri Lankan scientists Map Bat Highways to Stop Future Pandemics In the twilight skies over Colombo, a dark silhouette of giant wings flits between treetops, its shadow briefly blotting out the last streaks of evening light. This is the flying fox, Sri Lanka’s largest bat, revered by some for i...

Sri Lankan Scientists Tracking Flying Fox Bats to Prevent Disease Outbreaks

In a first-of-its-kind study in Sri Lanka, scientists of IDEA lab have attached GPS collars to flying fox bats to track their mysterious nighttime journeys and assess the risk of dangerous virus outbreak that could threaten human health.

Media cover by SAVANI SHESHADI of MAWBIMA newspaper
https://mawbima.lk/2025/09/07/%e0%b6%9a%e0%b7%9c%e0%b7%85%e0%b6%b9-%e0%b6%91%e0%b6%bd%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%bd%e0%b7%94%e0%b6%ab%e0%b7%94-%e0%b7%80%e0%b7%80%e0%b7%94%e0%b6%bd%e0%b6%b1%e0%b7%8a%e0%b6%a7-%e0%b6%9a%e0%b7%9c%e0%b6%bd/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAM0zn5jbGNrAzTOYmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeDuay66FkExt5dI1gN5FvWo-Icvb2782QZnWtdYvNG-QKGXCP6lEPXWEdbmA_aem__j7NqFX_ZaLcHUsB4VriZQ