NMIMR Quality Week 2023 (2023-03-03)

The maiden Quality Week was held with the support of the Noguchi QMS project from February 27 to March 3, 2023. The Institute had been working on improving the quality of its laboratories by establishing a quality unit in the laboratories and this campaign was aimed to promote understanding and participation of staff and to create awareness about quality activities.

A ceremony was held to celebrate the kick-off of this campaign in December 2022, and since then, QMS support personnel from each department, called Quality Coordinators, formed teams to coordinate and plan for the main event, NMINR Quality Week.

The one-week campaign included lectures on the significance of quality activities and safety management in research. Sessions were also held for group discussions on quality improvement activities. There was a capacity building session on the new ISO standard, as well as a summary of the QMS efforts of each department.

In addition, there was a day set aside for cleaning, were the departments and units cleaned and organized all labs and offices in the Institute.

In the exciting inter-departmental QMS quiz competition, the Animal Experimentation Department put up a stellar performance that exceeded expectations to clinch victory. The quiz was an opportunity to think about what quality is and what safety is, as well as to take an interest in the history and achievements of Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

The Institute also nominated, voted, and recognized the first-ever Face of Quality (Quality Ambassador) in the person of Ms. Nana Aba Ennuson, from the Epidemiology Department. Together with the Quality Office, she is expected to play an active role as an ambassador for quality activities within the Institute.