SHAH ALAM, Oct 19 — The Institute for Medical Research (IMR), established in 1900, has become a hallmark of excellence in medicine and medical science in Malaysia.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said since its establishment, the institute has been a leader in research shaping the future health of the people in this country.
“In 2022, IMR conducted 183 research projects, presented 373 research findings, and published 148 works, with 135 of them being international publications,” she said at today’s IMR Open Day 2023 opening ceremony.
The IMR Open Day 2023, in conjunction with the institute’s 123rd anniversary, was graced by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, at the National Institute of Health in Setia Alam.
Besides research, IMR conducts about 300,000 diagnostic tests annually to identify diseases or health conditions through suitable tests, screenings, and procedures.
Dr Zaliha also highlighted that research on Wolbachia, led by IMR’s Medical Entomology expert Dr Nazni Wasi Ahmad, is recognised by the World Health Organisation, making IMR a key player in addressing Aedes issues globally.
In addition, IMR conducted approximately 1.3 million PCR tests from January 2020 to May 2022 to identify Covid-19 infection cases and led research in developing two vaccine types, namely inactivated and mRNA vaccines.
Meanwhile, she said the IMR Open Day, held every five years, is an initiative to enhance the institute’s visibility among the public, in line with the Increase Visibility pillar of the IMR Strategic Plan 2019-2030.
“I also hope this programme can help foster awareness of the importance of research, especially in the biomedical field, among the people to create a human capital that focuses on research and development to address the challenges posed by the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” Dr Zaliha said.
— Bernama
