Ageing and Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Research Thrust

As we are ringing in 2018 with new (some carried forward too!) resolutions, goals, and celebrations with colleagues and friends at work, our Science Cafe 2018 series is lined up with a very interesting agenda for this new year. As years go by and we are ageing (getting wiser too hopefully); the body, mind and soul require continuous rejuvenation and regeneration to stay healthy and happier! Hence, there is no better way to kick start the very first science café of 2018 than by discussing our achievements, on-going initiatives and agenda on Ageing and Regenerative Research at the Faculty of Medicine (FOM).

The ARM Science café was held successfully last Tuesday, 9th of January 2018 at the Cube, FOM titled “Ageing and Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Research Thrust”. Prof. Dr. Tan Maw Pin, the head of ARM Research Thrust, representing research groups under this thrust has broadened the outlook of ageing and regenerative medicine research perspectives, simultaneously capturing the resources, expertise and future plans of various groups affiliated to the thrust.

The sharing session began on a positive note highlighting the achievements of the higher quality and quantity of publications in the field of ageing and regenerative medicine by UM researchers compared to other Malaysian researchers. The ARM Thrust, within FOM Research Strategy, features research activities from various groups including; the Ageing and Age-Associated Disorders Research (AADR) Group, Centre of Excellence for Research in Aids (CERIA), National Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for Research & Learning (NOCERAL), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Group, Parkinson’s disease (PD) Group, Stem Cell Biology Group, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Centre for Proteomics Research (UMCPR), Cancer Research Centre (UMCRC), University of Malaya Research Imaging Centre (UMRIC), Rehabilitation Medicine and Surgery. The scope of the ARM Thrust is designed to be in 4 key areas including; i) Process- Accelerated Ageing, Frailty and Instability, ii) Degeneration- with the focus on osteoarthritis, motor neuron disease, dementia and Parkinson’s disease, iii) Tissue Engineering & Stem Cell Therapy and iv) Rehabilitation– with the focus on cellular therapy, prevention and disease control. A 2-mins sharing by heads/representatives of each of the above mentioned programmes/centres highlighted their current research focus and interest for future collaborations. In a nutshell, the groups are welcoming potential collaborators to share resources, knowledge and data to maximise the research output and collaborate further to achieve the ultimate aim of treating aging associated and degenerative diseases.

The subsequent session on the SWOT analysis highlighted many of our strengths especially the strong linkage between local community and our research groups evidenced through many activities such as community/patients engagement by Ageing in Cancer Survivor group, UM Falls & Frailty Research Groups, and the UM Motor Neurone Disease Research Programme. UM has also been engaged with the ageing population inclusive of all 3 major ethic groups. It is noteworthy that ARM researchers from FOM have been recognised at the international setting and have established an interdisciplinary working culture. This is a much welcomed practice! While opportunities are abundant, the weaknesses and threats need to be considered and evaluated accordingly; hence this was also discussed at the Science café. It is rejuvenating to know the ARM thrust has planned strategies to coordinate their activities through recruitment of unaffiliated clinicians active in research, establishment of infrastructure for Clinical Research (with Cancer thrust), fostering commercialization and financial sustainability. Prof Tan also shared the ARM’s 2020 vision to be more visible through public engagement, commercialisation and private-public partnerships. We urge you to stay tuned for more updates from ARM Trust as they have exciting activities planned including various workshops, seminars, and reserach meetings, with the highlights of 2 conferences in August 2018 - National Geriatrics Conference (in Alor Setar) and 1st Stem Cells & Cancer Symposium (UM). 

It was evident from Prof. Tan’s talk that a multi-component approach is the key to generate outcomes from different points of the 'translational research continuum', not only in ageing and regenerative medicine, but any field of research that ultimately aims to benefit human kind.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller

Contacts:

·         Prof. Dr. Tan Maw Pin

Head of Ageing and Regenerative Medicine Research Thrust, UM Falls, Frailty and Dementia Research Programmes (mptan@ummc.edu.my)

·         Prof. Dr. Norlisah Binti Mohd Ramli

 University of Malaya Research Imaging Centre (UMRIC) (norlisah@ummc.edu.my)

·         Prof. Dr. Nortina Shahrizaila

UM Motor Neurone Disease Research Programme (nortina@ummc.edu.my)

·         Associate Prof. Dr. Lai Siew Mei

Pauline UM Primary Care and Ageing Programme (plai@ummc.edu.my)

·         Dr. Tan Ai Huey

UM Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Research Program (aihuey.tan@gmail.com)

·         Dr. Thamil Selvee Ramasamy

Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (selvee@ummc.edu.my)

·         Prof. Dr. Tunku Kamarul Zaman Bin Tunku Zainol Abidin, Prof Dr Azlina Amir Abbas, Dr Tan Sik Loo

Tissue Engineering Group (tkzrea@um.edu.my, azlinamir@ummc.edu.my, tansikloo@yahoo.com)

·         Associate Prof. Dr. Si Lay Khaing,

O&G Research in stem cell and cancer (silay@ummc.edu.my)

·         Associate Prof. Dr. Farizah Binti Mohd Hairi,

Ageing and Public Health in UM  (farizah@ummc.edu.my)

·         Associate Prof. Dr. Julia Anak Patrick Engkasan,

UM Rehabilitation in Age-Related Disorders (julia@ummc.edu.my)

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Ageing and Regenerative Medicine (ARM) Research Thrust