UMS to have better research facilities to study infectious disease, medicine

 By Olivia Miwil - June 11, 2021 @ 10:54am

Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre will see its laboratory to be upgraded further for more studies. - Pictures courtesy of UMS

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is upgrading its medical research facility to study more possible disease outbreaks.

The varsity Medical and Health Sciences faculty dean professor Dr Mohammad Saffree Jeffree said its Borneo Medical and Health Research Centre would be upgraded into a Level 2 biosafety laboratory.

"Through this upgrade, it enhances the research and scientific capabilities to address disease threats and public health challenges," he said in a statement.

Since 2018, the centre has been studying infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, cholera, diarrhea-related diseases, malaria, leptospirosis and Japanese Encephalitis among others.

He said at the same time, the centre was also doing investigation on ongoing outbreak to identify the source and solutions.

Apart from that, the centre is also working with Zunyi Medical University to explore traditional medicine by exploring natural products to treat infectious diseases.

Mohammad Saffree said Sabah was blessed with rich natural resources, which the scientists could use as medicine.

The centre director Professor Dr Kamrudin Ahmed said its mission is to solve tropical health problems through transdisciplinary and collaboration with national and international bodies.

Apart from Zunyi Medical University, the centre had worked with Nagasaki University, Oita University, National University of Singapore, Tottori Nursing College, Adtec Corporation and EcoHealth Alliance.

It has also collaborated with the Health Ministry, Sabah Health department, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and Kota Kinabalu City Hall.

The centre had also published 33 high-impact research articles and awarded national grants worth RM598,000 and international grants RM980,000.