New horizons: KMU to host two new research centres

CDWP has approved Rs980.4 million for the purpose.

PESHAWAR:

Work on two new research centres at the Khyber Medical University (KMU) will begin soon as the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved Rs980.4 million for the establishment of Research Institute of Hematology, Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation (RIHEHPT) and Research Institute of Diabetology, Endocrinology & NCDs (RIDENC).

While addressing the 18th meeting of heads of institutes, departments and sections, KMU Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Hafizullah Jan said that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) will sponsor the projects while the execution, maintenance and operation will be carried out by KMU itself.

He said that these mega projects were approved during the 23rd meeting of CDWP, held under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Planning Commission of Pakistan Deputy Chairman Ahsan Iqbal in Islamabad.

Jan highlighted that the RIHEHPT and RIDENC will offer state-of-the-art services of liver transplant for patients who develop liver cancer and will treat complications of diabetes like ketoacidosis, renal, cardiac, eye and foot ulcers along with offering advanced interventional radiology services for peripheral angioplasty. The institutes will also conduct research on the possibility of pancreatic transplant as a cure for diabetes.

Proposed facilities

The centres will provide training opportunities to doctors, nurses and paramedics and will serve as platforms for research on etiology, prevention and dissemination of communicable and non-communicable diseases and clinical and epidemiological research on basic genetics and stem cell.

Well-equipped pathology laboratories will be built and radiology services will be provided and shared by both the institutes. A high-tech computer lab will also be established in order to meet the needs of students and faculty, Jan added.

Professor Jan said RIDENC will facilitate patients with complications of diabetes while the RIHEHPT will offer liver and bone marrow transplant facilities. He stated that the approval of these projects speaks of trust and confidence that the authorities have in KMU. The aforesaid facilities will be made available to the general public at minimum charges and financial support will be provided by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2014.