PRTC, the first Institute of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), started its journey in 2008. The vision of PRTC is better-institutionalized supports in research, training and laboratory services for safer and increased livestock products in Bangladesh. Focused activities to achieve the objectives include conducting of quality research in collaboration with internal and e
xternal partners; need-based training and communication of new knowledge to the ultimate users; introducing quality laboratory testing services to support animal disease diagnosis and production of safer foods of animal origin, and facilitating hands-on learning and research for undergraduate and graduate students. Supported from DANIDA (Danish International Development Agency), PRTC was initially involved in training. Later, two laboratories namely, Animal Disease Diagnosis Laboratory (ADDL) and Feed Analysis & Food Safety Laboratory (FAFSL) were established at PRTC with the help of a DANIDA-supported programme. Support from the Emerging Pandemic Threat Plus (EPT+) Programme through Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was also helpful for PRTC to strengthen its laboratory capacity. Due to cater the emerging needs in different livestock-related fields of the country, the services of PRTC are now being provided under the authorization of four specialized laboratories: Animal Disease & Diagnostic Laboratory, Food Safety Laboratory, Feed Analysis Laboratory and Zoonotic Disease Research Laboratory; the latter two are still in a phase of development with the envision of having the necessary equipment, such as LSMS/MS, MALDI-TOF and NGS in the near future. Trained and dedicated human resources committed to their respective duties are behind the success of PRTC. PRTC is currently involved with the laboratory activities of several nationally important projects, such as One Health Poultry Hub (funded by UKRI, UK), Active Surveillance of HPAI in Bangladesh – Live Bird Markets Sink Surveillance (funded by FAO), Increasing livestock production in the Hills through better husbandry, health service and improving market access through value and supply chain management (funded by KGF, Bangladesh), and some others. It has been selected as one of the three sentinel laboratories in the animal health sector in the country for developing National AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) Surveillance under the Fleming Fund Country Grant for Bangladesh (UK-funded). Ensuring quality in research, training and laboratory services is prime importance for PRTC. All its activities are regulated and governed by the decision of the Board of Governors (BOG) comprised of members from the University, poultry industry, and representations from NGOs, Department of Livestock Services and Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, formed under the statute for PRTC of CVASU. The Vice-Chancellor of CVASU is the Chairman of the BOG. PRTC has already built its reputation by providing quality laboratory services and training, but is still in the pursuit of having more and more state-of-the-art facilities to meet the future challenges in food safety and emerging zoonotic diseases. Due to its commitment, it remains open even in COVID-19 pandemic time to provide its laboratory services to support the livestock sector in the country. It also supported the COVID-19 laboratory set at CVASU financially and technically to provide COVID-19 diagnostic services. This promising institute needs supports from all concerned to be developed further to achieve the goal for which it was supported from DANIDA.
