Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center

Last updated

Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology
Pusat Riset Biologi Molekuler Eijkman
Logo of Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology.png
Logo of Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center. The logo had not changed since 31 December 1938 when the institute still named as Eijkman Institute
Agency overview
Formed15 January 1888
31 July 1992 (current form)
Preceding agencies
  • Geneeskundig Laboratorium
  • Eijkman Instituut
  • Lembaga Eijkman
  • Lembaga Biologi Molekuler Eijkman
Dissolved1 January 2022 (special status stripped)
Superseding agencies
  • Eijkman Center for Molecular Biology
  • Deputy IV of National Research and Innovation Agency
Jurisdiction Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Agency executive
Parent agency Research Organization for Health
Website
The institute in 2011 Eijkmaninst.jpg
The institute in 2011
The institute in 1939 COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het Eijkman Instituut in Weltevreden Batavia TMnr 60038173.jpg
The institute in 1939

The Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center, formerly Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology is a laboratory in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is most known for the discovery by Christiaan Eijkman that Beriberi was caused by a lack of thiamine in the human body.

Contents

History

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. [5] [6] However, Eijkman Institute somewhat enjoyed unique status within the ministry. The most important was, despite being a government-run institute, their recruitment of their human resources mostly by contract similar to a private company recruitment. As result, the Eijkman Institute researchers and staffs having unusual status in Indonesia government employment system and cannot be categorized as one, they are not a government civil servant but having their salary paid by government. Not only that they do not have proper career track as Indonesian government scientists and government staffs. [7] [8] [9]

Demotion, strippage, and institutional split

Since 22 September 2021, Eijkman Institute officially become subordinate of National Research and Innovation Agency (Indonesian: Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, BRIN) 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. [10] After get captured by National Research and Innovation Agency, Eijkman Institute stripped from its unique status, demoted into a research center, and placed into BRIN supervision for its unusual practice in recruiting researchers and staffs. [9]

Controversy on Liquidation

On 1 January 2022, there is information that BRIN started the termination of most of Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center researchers. The information confirmed to be true. BRIN offered them to become government scientists of BRIN thru available government civil servant selection processes, although BRIN returned the choice to the terminated Eijkman researchers and staffs. [8] About 113 Eijkman staffs terminated, with 71 researchers and 42 non-researcher staffs affected by this rationalization. [9] [11] [12] At the same day, it is announced that current Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center split into several parts, the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center itself, one part to Deputy IV (Research and Innovation Infrastructure) of BRIN, and rest will be relinquished to Ministry of Health. [13]

The move criticized strongly by both ruling coalition [14] [15] and opposition. [16] [17] [18] People's Representative Council, officially requested BRIN for information and explanation for the Eijkman staff's termination in response of the issues. [19] [20]

The Ministry of State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform confirmed the BRIN's move as legal move. Tjahjo Kumolo, the minister, further broke down that from 71 terminated researchers, 68 are research assistants with bachelor's and master's degree, 2 junior researchers (below 40) with PhD degree, and 1 senior researcher (over 40) with PhD degree. He revealed, either BRIN liquidated it or not, the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center eventually will be reformed by government due the past mismanagement of personnel and other irregularities when the institution still existed as Eijkman Institute. [21]

Building

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] The building will be relinquished to Ministry of Health and will be replaced to a new building at Cibinong. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesian Institute of Sciences</span> Former Indonesian science and research organization

The Indonesian Institute of Sciences was the governmental authority for science and research in Indonesia. It consisted of 47 research centers in the fields ranging from social to natural sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Research and Technology</span> Indonesian ministry

Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia was a government ministry that has the task of conducting affairs in the field of research, science and technology to assist the President of Indonesia in carrying out state. The ministry was formerly known as the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laksana Tri Handoko</span> Indonesian physicist

Laksana Tri Handoko is an Indonesian scientist and public official specializing in theoretical and particle physics. He formerly served as the deputy head of science and technology for the Indonesian Institute of Sciences from 2014 to 2018. In 2018, he replaced Bambang Subiyanto as the acting chairman of the institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology</span> Indonesian ministry

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is a government ministry of the Indonesian government responsible for education, cultural, research, and technology affairs. Its formation resulted from the merger of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Research and Technology in April 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Research and Innovation Agency</span> Indonesian research superagency

The National Research and Innovation Agency is a cabinet-level government agency formed by the Indonesian government in 2019. Originally a new agency attached to the Ministry of Research and Technology, which became the Ministry of Research and Technology/National Research and Innovation Agency, the agency was controversially separated and established as a new non-ministerial government agency directly under the President of Indonesia on 28 April 2021. On 24 August 2021, the agency gained cabinet-level status through enactment of Presidential Decree No. 78/2021. Under the new presidential regulation, the agency became the sole national research agency of Indonesia.

The Engineering Science Research Organization was one of original 7 Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021. The organization was transformation of Deputy III of Indonesian Institute of Sciences after the liquidation of LIPI into BRIN.

The Research Organization for Earth Sciences and Maritime is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021 as Research Organization for Earth Sciences, transformation of Deputy I of Indonesian Institute of Sciences after the liquidation of LIPI into BRIN.

The Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021 as the Research Organization for Life Sciences transformation of Deputy II of Indonesian Institute of Sciences after the liquidation of LIPI into BRIN.

The Research Organization for Social Sciences and Humanities, but goes by name Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities-BRIN or ISSH-BRIN, is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021 as transformation of Deputy IV of Indonesian Institute of Sciences after the liquidation of LIPI into BRIN.

The Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021 as transformation of National Institute of Aeronautics and Space after the liquidation of LAPAN into BRIN.

The Assessment and Application of Technology Research Organization-BPPT was one of original 7 Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021 as transformation of Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology after the liquidation of BPPT into BRIN.

The Research Organization for Nuclear Energy is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. It was founded on 1 September 2021. The organization is the transformation of the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia after the liquidation of BATAN into BRIN.

Iman Hidayat is an Indonesian scientist and public official specialized in mycology, microbiology, and plant pathology. Prior his appointment as Acting Head of the Life Sciences Research Organization, he was a researcher at Research Center for Biomaterial, Indonesian Institutes of Sciences since 1 December 2002. He completed his bachelor degree in Biology at Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Padjadjaran University in 2002, and his doctoral degree in Plant Pathology at Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University in 2009. During his time as researcher, he completed various courses on ascomycetes taxonomy, plant pathological microorganisms, and molecular phylogenetics.

The Research Organization for Health is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. The organization is transformation of National Institute of Health Research and Development of Ministry of Health.

The Research Organization for Agriculture and Food is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. The organization is transformation of Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development of Ministry of Agriculture. On 24 January 2022, it is announced that the organization expected to be formed on 1 February 2022. ORPP formation is finalized on 1 March 2022 and is functional since 4 March 2022 with inauguration of its first head, Puji Lestari.

The Research Organization for Governance, Economy, and Public Welfare is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. On 24 January 2022, the formation of the agency is announced and expected to be formed on 1 February 2022. The agency is resulted from amalgamation of various research and development agencies.

The Research Organization for Archaeology, Language, and Letters is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. On 24 January 2022, the formation of the agency is announced and to be formed on 1 February 2022. The agency is resulted from amalgamation of National Archaeology Research Institute, former Agency for Research and Development and Book Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Culture, part of Research, Development, Education, and Training Agency of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Bureau for Checking Copies of the Quran of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The Research Organization for Electronics and Informatics is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. On 24 January 2022, the formation of the agency is announced and to be formed on 1 February 2022. The organization is resulted from restructuration of Assessment and Application of Technology Research Organization-BPPT and Engineering Science Research Organization, with addition of Human Resources Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. OREI formation is finalized on 1 March 2022 and is functional since 4 March 2022 with inauguration of its first head, Budi Prawara.

The Research Organization for Nanotechnology and Material is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. On 24 January 2022, the formation of the agency is announced and to be formed on 1 February 2022. The organization is resulted from restructuration of Assessment and Application of Technology Research Organization-BPPT and Engineering Science Research Organization. ORNM formation is finalized on 1 March 2022 and is functional since 4 March 2022 with inauguration of its first head, Ratno Nuryadi.

The Research Organization for Energy and Manufacture is one of Research Organizations under the umbrella of the National Research and Innovation Agency. On 24 January 2022, the formation of the agency is announced and to be formed on 1 February 2022. The organization is resulted from restructuration of Assessment and Application of Technology Research Organization-BPPT and Engineering Science Research Organization.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Saptura, Antonny (4 September 2012). "Jakarta: The Eijkman Institute". Jakarta Globe . Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 "History". Eijkman Institute. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Kevin Baird, "War Crimes in Japan-Occupied Indonesia: Unraveling the Persecution of Achmad Mochtar", The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 14, Issue 1, No. 3, January 1, 2016.
  4. ↑ Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (2 August 2021). "SIARAN PERS BADAN RISET DAN INOVASI NASIONAL Nomor : 95/SP/HM/BKKP/VIII/2021 Kepala BRIN Sampaikan Selamat Ulang Tahun Ke-29 Kepada LBM Eijkman". Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 CNN Indonesia (22 September 2021). "BRIN Kini Jadi Bos Baru Lembaga Biologi Molekuler Eijkman". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. 1 2 CNN Indonesia (22 September 2021). "Peneliti LIPI Gantikan Amin Soebandrio Jadi Kepala Eijkman". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ↑ Nurhadi, M (2 January 2022). "Sejarah Lembaga Eijkman: Rumah Jutaan Riset di Tengah Isu Pemberhentian Tak Layak Peneliti". suara.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  8. 1 2 Wisnuwardani, Dyah Puspita (2 January 2022). "Terintegrasi, BRIN Beri 5 Opsi Perekrutan untuk Periset LBM Eijkman". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Aditya, Nicholas Ryan (2 January 2022). "Penjelasan BRIN soal Kabar Ilmuwan Eijkman Diberhentikan Tanpa Pesangon". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  10. ↑ CNN Indonesia (24 September 2021). "BRIN Ungkap Nasib Vaksin Merah Putih Usai Comot Eijkman-LIPI". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ Aditya, Nicholas Ryan (2 January 2022). "Efek Eijkman Dilebur ke BRIN, 71 Orang Peneliti Diberhentikan". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  12. ↑ Ray (3 January 2022). "Eijkman Dilebur ke BRIN, Nasib 113 Tenaga Honorer Dipertanyakan". Asumsi. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  13. 1 2 Aida, Nur Rohmi (1 January 2022). "Sejarah Lembaga Eijkman yang Kini Dilebur dengan BRIN". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Andayani, Dwi (3 January 2022). "PPP: Jangan Sia-siakan Para Peneliti Eijkman". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Andayani, Dwi (3 January 2022). "Legislator Golkar soal Eijkman: Jangan Sampai Riset Vaksin Terpengaruh". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Safitri, Eva (2 January 2022). "Eijkman Dilebur ke BRIN, Legislator PD Singgung Memori Publik soal TWK KPK". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Safitri, Eva (2 January 2022). "Eijkman Dilebur ke BRIN, PKS Khawatir Riset Vaksin Merah Putih Mandeg". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Safitri, Eva (2 January 2022). "PAN Wanti-wanti Peleburan ke BRIN Jangan Kebiri Riset Eijkman". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Murpratomo, Irfan (3 January 2022). "Eijkman Dilebur ke BRIN, Dasco Minta Hak Pegawai dan Peneliti Tak Dilupakan". Kedai Pena (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Mikrefin, Nuhansa (3 January 2022). "DPR Minta Penjelasan BRIN soal Pemberhentian Peneliti Eijkman - Nasional Katadata.co.id". katadata.co.id (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Maharani, Tsarina (3 January 2022). "Menteri PAN-RB: Integrasi atau Tidak, Penataan LBM Eijkman Harus Dilakukan Halaman all". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.