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Epidemiological
and Social Behavioural Research
Research in this area aims at promoting good health among
the nation’s citizens through solving problems pertaining to drug dependence
and tropical diseases in Malaysia.
Multidisciplinary empirical and operational research is conducted
to generate new knowledge in social and behavioural aspects of drug abuse,
disease transmission, prevention and control.
Research results are used to develop new health interventions and
policies. 
The
research focuses on various target groups such as adolescents and youths
as well as target environments like workplaces, schools, institutions
and communities. Research
thrust areas include epidemiological studies on the nature, extent and
etiology of drug abuse; community health intervention studies to promote
positive behavioural change towards disease prevention and control; programme
evaluation studies to assess the effectiveness of drug and other health
interventions; and developing health and drug information systems for
routine assessment and monitoring of drug abuse problems in the country.
Currently the Centre is venturing into various areas of "Drug Free
Programmes" and to begin this endeavor, a district in Penang has
been selected to initiate and implement a "Drug Free District"
programme.
Analytical
and Extraction
Technology
Our
research chemists utilize a wide variety of modern instruments and
technology to develop analytical procedures for a wide range of pharmaceutical
and clinical samples. Our research laboratories are regularly inspected
to ensure that they continue to adhere to the requirements of good laboratory
practice.
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Drug Metabolism and Toxicology
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Pre-clinical pharmacological studies to assess tolerability and efficacy of new drugs in selected animal models are available. The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of xenobiotics in laboratory animals as well as drug-related toxicities are routinely carried out. Studies to identify metabolites in tissues and faeces as well as protein binding studies can also be undertaken. In vitro and in vivo metabolite pattern studies of xenobiotics, including structure elucidation, are also carried out. Commissioned studies related to acute and chronic toxicity are also conducted.
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Clinical Pharmacology
Clinical studies to establish absolute/comparative bioavailability/ bioequivalence are routinely carried out. Phase I clinical trials on healthy volunteers are conducted under strict supervision by the Centre's staff in conjunction with senior medical consultants from local hospitals. Our Centre also undertakes Phase II to Phase IV clinical studies, in conjunction with the local hospitals for a variety of diseases. For commissioned studies, protocols are devised to meet the needs of sponsors in accordance with the Principles of Good Clinical Practice. Assistance is also provided to sponsors/researchers to obtain national/institutional ethical approvals.
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Major projects undertaken by the Centre encompass the following areas:
| Evaluation of Governmental Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Programmes |
| Prevention Education Research Among Adolescents |
| Epidemiological Studies on Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse Among Various Target Populations such as Adolescents, Young Adults and Women |
| Pharmacotherapy Studies on Naltrexone and other Synthetic Drugs |
| Health Promotion with Reference to Dengue Fever |
| Development and Implementation of National/Regional/International Drug Monitoring Systems |
| Prevention of Drug Abuse through the Development of Personal and Social Skills - a Pilot Study |
| Drug Prevention Education in the Workplace |
| Clinical Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacological Studies of Drugs |
| Clinical Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacological Studies of Antimalarial Drugs |
| Bioequivalence of Pharmaceutical Products |
| Analytical and Extraction Studies of Drugs |
| Forensic Studies of Abused Drugs and Steroids |
| Data Processing/Statistical Analysis of Pharmaceuticals |
| Effect of Andrographis Paniculata on Hepatic Metabolism |
| Addiction and Rehabilitation - Asia Pacific Training and Evaluation Studies Grant |
| Rapid Assessment and Response Survey Instruments |
Current projects of the Centre
| Stability and quality assurance studies of anti-malaria products |
| International collaborative project on development of anti-malarial drug combination therapy (i) Artesunate-Mefloquine (ii) Artesunate-Amodiaquine |
| Effects of purified herbal components of orthosiphon stamineus on UDP-glucoronosyltransferase activity |
| Discovery and pre-development evaluation of new anti-cancer biomolecules from typhonium flagelliforme (Keladi Tikus) and other natural substances |
| Human and animal behavioural studies of mitragyna (Ketum) |
| Study of the transition behavior of illicit buprenorphine-monotablet (BMT) to buprenorphine/noloxone tablet (BNT) use among opiate addicts |
| Drug discovery and development of potential psychoactive compounds for the treatment of drug addiction and chronic pains from selected local plants |
| Rapid Assessment Study to better understand and the inter-relationship of substance abusing behaviors and HIV infection in Malaysia |
| Chemical fingerprint study of capsule formulation: A step towards halal authentication for capsule dosage form |
| Bupernorphine / Naloxone and Heroin injectors in Malaysia: A prospective survey |
| Development of in vitro anticancer drug discovery screen |
| Antimicrobial activity and toxicity studies of Clitoreia Ternatea |
| Measuring the severity of addiction and quality of life among ketum leaf users in Malaysia |
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