(VOVworld) – Cao Thi Van Diem is the former director of the Institute of Medical Equipment and Construction Design. She has received the 2013 KOVA award for her research on safe surgical adhesives. KOVA awards are given to poor but brilliant students, people who are actively involved in social, humanitarian and charitable activities and scientists whose research has made a practical contribution to socio-economic development.

Diem graduated from the University of Technology in 1979 and worked at the Ministry of Culture where she conducted her first research on photographic paper. She managed to produce a new kind of X-ray film a year later. In 1983 Diem began to work at the Institute of Medical Equipment and Construction Design under the Ministry of Health as a researcher of medical equipment. Diem says: “In 1983 I began my first research on sutures, which was put into production 3 years later. It was quite helpful as Vietnam faced many difficulties during the period from 1986 to 2006. This product has been used for quite a long time.”

Diem said it was very difficult to find appropriate materials to produce sutures. Everyday, Diem had to wake up at 2 or 3AM to go to wholesale markets to buy pig and cow intestines as material for her research. Diem’s painstaking efforts finally paid off and her research succeeded beyond expectations.

Diem has been involved in 14 scientific research projects and the research on surgical adhesives has won her a KOVA award. Diem says: “We have experimented on rats, rabbits, dogs, and finally humans. This product was piloted in Viet Duc and Thanh Nhan hospitals from 2008 to 2010. We found the optimal utility of this product.”

Diem’s products such as biological membranes and sutures are able to compete with imported products. She says:

“Our sutures have been used in hospitals nationwide. I’m happy to use my knowledge to contribute to society. My success is thanks to the cooperation and support of my colleagues and friends.”

Although Diem has retired, she continues her medical equipment research. Nguyen Trong Quynh, Director of the Institute of Medical Equipment and Construction Design worked with Diem for many years. He says: “Diem began research when she was a student. She has been a pioneer in medical equipment research and design in Vietnam.”