Although dengue is widespread in eastern Indonesia, there is very little epidemiological information on dengue prevalence. Part of the problem is the lack of a good diagnostic laboratory with capability to conduct research on virus isolates from patients. The dengue virology laboratory at NEHCRI in Makassar has been established to fill this gap. It has partnered with the Faculty of Medicine of the Hasanuddin University and Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital (a 1 000-bed teaching hospital of Hasanuddin University) to conduct a 12-month survey of dengue patients with fevers. This study will be expanded later into a larger Early Dengue Infection and Outcome (EDEN) study, as previously conducted in Singapore (Low et al., Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 2006; 35:783-90).

Dengue research
Within the more established research setting at the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology in Jakarta, the NEHCRI research laboratory will conduct genomic analysis of virus isolates from the clinical laboratory in Makassar. NEHCRI hopes to expand the laboratory to increase capabilities and do more sophisticated studies of gene expression in infected patients. Using the existing facilities and expertise within the Eijkman Institute, the NEHCRI laboratory has initiated a project to develop dengue diagnostic tests. These tests can be used in our research facility, following extensive testing for sensitivity and reliability against a standard serum bank.

The scope of dengue research activities at NEHCRI spans several areas:

• Epidemiology
• Virology
• Diagnostics
• Host response

The NEHCRI laboratories in Makassar and Jakarta are staffed by Indonesian scientists whose experience can be applied in potential collaborations with other research groups. These partnerships could, in turn, lead to better surveillance and contribute to controlling the disease in Indonesia.