The Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) was founded in 1995 with the goal of studying diseases important in the region. The Institute’s founding member and its first director, Prof. Dr. Jane Cardosa, was instrumental in building up a world-class laboratory with modern facilities with highly trained staff, to facilitate top-notch research capacity in the land of Hornbills. Today, the institute is home to a team of talented researchers dedicated to investigating the causes and diagnosis of viral diseases of public health importance in the region. Most importantly, we have created and continue to strengthen links within our community and have contributed significantly to health issues relevant to the people of Sarawak.