Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Karachi in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan and Merck Pakistan organised a Seminar on “Clinical Trails & Pharmacovigilance – Awareness and Current Trends in Pakistan” followed by a MoU Signing Ceremony between International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi and DUHS to create a road map for productive Research today at Arag Auditorium of Dow Medical College, Karachi.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked by Vice Chancellor-DUHS, Prof. Masood Hameed Khan and Director ICCBS, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary. The principle objective of the MoU is to jointly work toward the establishment of research programs in ICCBS and DUHS, devoted to Biomedical Research. The cooperative activities to be cover by this MoU includes joint clinical trials, faculty and other research staff exchanges, exchanges of Ph.D, student and post-doctoral scholars, collaborative research programs, exchange of sample for bioassay evaluation as well as conducting seminar, workshop and other public programs.
Sharing his views on the “Roadmap to Research & Development” Muhammad Arshad Khan, Drugs Controller (R&D) Ministry of Health, Islamabad said that there is need to increase pool of knowledge and idea. Public Private Partnership between Public Health & Academia and Industry is very important.
There is need for enabling environment that encourages and expedites creation of knowledge; dissemination of knowledge and discoveries of public benefit is very. Universities and Industries linkages improve the access to the wealth of technological information and knowledge.
Prof. Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, Director ICCBS in his address said that Research provides scientific information and theories for the explanation of the nature and the properties of the world around us. There is need to create of road which enable the different university, pharmaceuticals industry to perform productive research.
Prof Dr. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences in his address said that Research represents a more curious, more in-depth way of thinking about a problem, and it is a way of thinking that can help you throughout your medical career. A Research Department has been established in the DUHS where funding is available for research activities. This Department of Research is providing both academic related activities as well as research related activities.
DUHS Research Department alongwith the review board supervises PhD program and promotes research amongst students and faculty. During last five years more than 400 research articles have been published by DUHS faculty. 10 scholars have been sent for PhD at high ranking overseas universities with the help of HEC. Ministry of Health will soon establish Clinical Trials Unit in various institutions of Pakistan.
Dr. Nehal Masood speaking on “Basic Principles of Clinical trials: Current status & updates” informed that Clinical trials should be designed, conducted and analysed according to sound scientific principles to achieve their objectives; and should be reported appropriately. Since a global clinical trial, different from a domestic clinical trial, is performed across different regions and ethnicities, it is necessary to take ethnic factors into account when planning clinical trial.
Speaking on “Bioequivalence Studies: Introduction & importance” Dr. S. Khaqan Hasan said that The FDA has defined bioequivalence as, “the absence of a significant difference in the rate and extent to which the active ingredient or active moiety in pharmaceutical equivalents or pharmaceutical alternatives becomes available at the site of drug action when administered at the same molar dose under similar conditions in an appropriately designed study.”
Talking about Safety issues (pharmacovigilance) in using Medicinal products” Prof. Dr.Anwar ul Hasan Gilani has said that the national pharmacovigilance centres have become a significant influence on the drug regulatory authorities, at a time when drug safety concerns have become increasingly important in public health and clinical practice. Pharmacovigilance is now firmly based on sound scientific principles and is integral to effective clinical practice. The discipline needs to develop further to meet public expectations and the demands of modern public health.
Other who spoke on the occasion, Dr. M. Talat Mehmood, Sheikh Faqeer Mohammad, Dr. Syed Zahid Azam & Mr. Christan of Merck Pakistan. The seminar concluded with the question-answers session and shield distribution.