Rodent Workshop From Field Works to Databases

Rodent Workshop From Field Works to Databases: Sharing Protocols, Knowledge and Data

A workshop titled “Wellcome Trust Grantsmanship: How to stand out in a crowd? Your essential guide to submit a successful grant proposal” was organized in conjunction with the 55th Annual Scientific Conference of the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM). This event was a collaborative effort between the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, The Ministry of Education Malaysia, Biodiversity and Ecology Network, Young Scientist Network and Institute of Biology Sciences with the support of the Wellcome Trust.

The workshop took place on 15th March 2019 at the auditorium Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya with the objectives to equip our scientists with the right skills in writing grant proposals to international grant bodies such as those provided by the Wellcome Trust.

The key speakers for the workshop were Dr. Michael Chew, the Science Portfolio Adviser of the Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom, Datin Paduka Prof. Dr. Teo Soo-Hwang, CEO, Cancer Research Malaysia and Prof. Dr. Balbir Singh, Director of the Malaria Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. The program covered the various Wellcome Trust grants, tips from a grant evaluator and recipient and finally the art of how to prepare a successful grant.

This workshop was well received with more than 50 participants registered, mainly conference attendees, academicians and postgraduate students from various local higher education and research institutions including international delegates from Indonesia and Brunei Darul Salam.

The event was graced by YBhg. Prof Dr Raha Abdul Rahim, the Director, Institution of Higher Education Excellence Planning Division, Ministry of Education and the Head of Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, Associate Prof Dr Nurhayati Zainal Abidin.

MoU signing ceremony Vietnam 2018

MoU signing ceremony Vietnam 2018

Our Vision of a Regional Community Comes to Fruition.

The ASEAN Societies’ Alliance of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology has finally been realised with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between 6 Tropical Medicine and Parasitology societies in Southeast Asia on 26 July 2018 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The original six founding members are:

  1. The Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM),
  2. The Vietnam Society of Infectious Disease (VSID),
  3. The Vietnam Society of Parasitology (VSP)
  4. Parasitology and Tropical Medicine Association Thailand (PTAT),
  5. Indonesia Parasitic Disease Association (IPDA), and
  6. The Philippine Society of Parasitology (PSP).

The presidents of the societies were represented by Associate Prof Dr Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain (MSPTM), Prof Dr Nguyen Van Kinh (VSID), Prof D Le Bach Quang, (VSP) Associate Prof Dr Jitra Waikagul (PTAT) and Associate prof Dr Mary Jane Flores (PSP).

The MOU signals the joint commitment of the six societies towards creating a united community of associations in the ASEAN region that will establish a platform for researchers and practitioners to share ideas and coordinate in the field of parasitology and tropical medicine.

In her introduction speech, President of the MSPTM, Associate Professor Siti Nursheena, described her happiness to see an idea that was mooted more than a decade ago come to fruition through the signing of the MOU.

She emphasized that with this union, key experts in various fields of parasitology and tropical diseases have greater ease and support to share ideas and solutions to promote scientific knowledge and cooperation among the medical, scientific and veterinary fields. This will ultimately play an important role in strengthening research outputs, enhancing surveillance, and implementing capacity building programs to stimulate further science and technological developments.

The main objectives of this initiative is to:

  1. Create a joint member database that will be accessible to all parties;
  2. Offer increased value-add to memberships.
  3. Platform for matching areas of expertise and research interests; improve communication between leadership, members, and partners.
  4. Organise key networking events such as the bi-annual ASEAN Congress of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (ACTMP) to promote key knowledge sharing and networking among members; ACTMP will be rotated every 2 years in each country.
  5. Platform for capacity building and training for students and researchers through exchange programs and special joint projects;
  6. Prepare joint proposals, research in areas of mutual interest
  7. Share experience and research results, exchange of publications, reports and other academic materials and information; and
  8. Share other activities and programs in areas of mutual interest, where such sharing shall result in benefit to all Parties

Ultimately its about creating an ASEAN-wide community of knowledge and practice