Research Institutes, Centres and Units
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2010 Research Institutes, P r o s p e c t u s Centres and Units 0 1 0 2 s u t c e p s o r P w w w . u s m . m y S T R I E N S E U A R D C A N H , I N S E S T I T U T E S , C E N T R Research Institutes, Centres and Units Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) offers excellent opportunities for research, innovation and education to both local and foreign undergraduates and post-graduates. The University’s core competencies remain unchanged in its 40 years of establishment: teaching, research and consultancies, which relate directly to the advancement of human resource development and capacity building, knowledge and industrial competitiveness. USM, which was granted the APEX status in 2008 has now made it a priority to steer its research capabilities towards reaching out and impacting the community. Research at USM aims to touch base with the need of the poor and vulnerable. Above and beyond that, the University wants to be at the forefront of providing local solutions for global problems. At present, USM continues to address a wider range of problems in order to benefit society at large, besides striving to exercise open mindedness in its research work at the theoretical level. The University has been actively developing broad-based research infrastructure involving the acquisition of a wide range of equipment, laboratory facilities and library holdings. It has also established new research institutes, centres and units, which are mostly located at USM’s rapidly developing Science and Arts Innovation Space, or better known as sains@usm. At the core of these research entities is one of academic excellence and through these entities, research talent and expertise are mobilised from different disciplines and segments of the University in line with its efforts in promoting trans-disciplinary research. Research at USM is managed by its Research Management and Creativity Office (RCMO), in charge of overseeing matters pertaining to research information, grants, university facilities, equipment and human resources. The office was set up to be the bridge between USM researchers, grants financiers and the industry. There is also an Innovation Office, tasked with bringing the products, innovations, services and knowledge created by its researchers to the marketplace and end-users in an efficient manner. USM’s research strengths are split into four categories, namely in the fields of Science, Medical Health, Engineering and Arts. The 25 Schools spread out on three campuses each have its own niche area of research. Its research strengths include environmental science, aquaculture, biomedical and pharmaceutical studies, information technology, food technology, polymer science, biotechnology, distance education, materials science, surface chemistry and robotic vision. To tie up all of the University’s research efforts, seven research platforms have been identified – Biomedical and Health Sciences, Fundamental Sciences, Social Transformation, Life Sciences, Engineering Science and Technology, ICT and Clinical Sciences. Recognising that its manpower is its main asset, researchers at the USM are duly honoured at the Sanggar Sanjung Awards night which is held annually. USM’s research personnel have made the University proud in bringing home awards and accolades won at various local and international exhibitions including the Malaysian Technology Expo, International Exhibition of Invention New Techniques & Products (Geneva), International Invention, Innovation, Industrial Design & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) and PECIPTA. USM has also become an importance resource centre for the industry with university-industry links established via its holding company USAINS Holding Sdn. Bhd. which provide services such as consultancy, contract research, joint research and development initiatives, professional upgrading, rental of R&D spaces, as well as access to research equipment and laboratory facilities. Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI) The Malaysian cabinet ministers in its meeting on the 16th October, 2002 formally approved the memorandum(Memorandum No. 650/2343/2002) from the Ministry of Education (MOE) to set up The Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI). The memorandum also mentioned that the AMDI would be situated in Bertam, Kepala Batas, Penang and the building and the operating of this institute would be put under the care of Universiti Sains Malaysia(USM) on this memorable day in history. AMDI have three main activities namely clinical services, collaborative research and post-graduate degree programmes. A Clinical Trial Centre has been set up with clinical expertise and research laboratories to equip the needs of clinical services. It was officially opened in September, 2004 inside 3 lots of double storey shop-houses inTaman Bertam Indah, Kepala Batas. Among the services offered are Healthy Women’s Clinic, Specialist Medical Clinic, Specialist Dental Clinic, Clinical Research Clinic and Advanced Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory. Other than clinical services offered, AMDI also offers post graduate academic programmes (Masters inScience/Masters in Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy). Among the courses offered are Masters in Medicine (TransfusionMedicine), Masters in Medicine (Nuclear Medicine), Masters in Science (Transfusion Science) and Masters inScience (Medical Research). It is hoped that AMDI can produce clinical specialists and local scientists together with locally sourced commercialized medicines and treatments products through the courses offered. The first successful students intake process was conducted on June 2004 and the pioneer batch of AMDI students graduated in August 2005. In the year 2006, AMDI created history again when it became the first institution in the country to offer The Masters in Medical Transfusion programme. A group of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) students registered in May 2006 and is currently following the programme. The latest courses offered by AMDI are Masters inScience (Oral Science) and Masters in Science (Health Toxicology). Research activities are an important component of AMDI after its academic programmes. Realising this importance, AMDI has fully equipped a research environment in the field of medicine and dentistry. The main activity of AMDI isfocus on advanced research elements to train and to develop individuals that excel in the fields of medicine and dentistry. It is hoped that these individuals will become the pioneers and new technologies developers in these two fields and will also contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economical development. In order to achieve these goals, AMDI is building the latest and most advance research facilities to help mold these individuals. These top notch facilities includes a main laboratory for the field of selomic, proteomic, therapeutic, animal laboratory and clinical research centre. For research utilising animals, AMDI is in the process of developing avivarium to place the various types of laboratory animals to be tested with newly developed treatment products andmedicines. These new treatment products and medicines are developed by AMDI and USM research. AMDI has thelofty goal of making itself the first and the sole animal research centre in Malaysia to be accreditated by world accreditation quality bodies like the Association for Assessment and Accreditation for Laboratory Animal Care(AAALAC) through the development of the vivarium and the quality of animal care during research. This is in line with the vision of AMDI to lead the world in producing newly develop treatments and medicines. AMDI is also in the process of developing a main facility to focus on the work of translational research which is aresearch to develop a basic form of treatment that can be applied to the patient. Other than research work, this laboratory facility can be use to develop therapeutic and diagnostic products for industrial usage. Thus, every patient that comes to AMDI will contribute to the collection of information to create a patients’ disease database for detailed research to be done. Every staff and students of AMDI will also be absorbed with this research mentality to fulfill the entrepreneurship, training and research mission of AMDI. Specific clusters have been set up by AMDI to thrust forward the research activities and to produce more scientists and medical specialists in the fields such as Oncology, Cardiovascular, Integrative medicine, Infectious disease, Mental Science and Behavioural Science, Immunology, Oral Science, Transfusion medicine, Nuclear medicine,Toxicology and Healthy Living. The set up of these clusters will hopefully increase the production of new valuable invention to be used for the well-being of the general public and society at large. In terms of infrastructure, AMDI is fast tracking the building of the Clinical Trial Centre (CTC) and the Animal Houseon a 112 acres piece of land in the district of Bertam, Kepala Batas. AMDI’s development projects have been listed under the 9th Malaysia Plan with the total cost of RM199 million and in the 10th Malaysia Plan, AMDI has applied forthe additional allocation to add an extra 200 beds for patients. CTC will also be equipped with medical research laboratories, operational theatres and the latest and most sophisticated medical tools in line with the rapid development of technologies in the field of patient treatment. This exciting ongoing project is expected to be completed by December 2010. AMDI had just celebrated its seventh birthday and has contributed largely to the increment of the local community’s