AsianScientist (Sep. 26, 2011) – The RIKEN Advanced Science Institute (ASI) and the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the use of tropical biological compounds for drug discovery.
This event, which took place on September 22, also commemorated the opening of the USM-RIKEN Joint Laboratory for Bioprobe Discovery at the Institute of Research in Molecular Medicine, USM.
To start the collaboration going, a RIKEN-USM Joint Research Team was also established within the Chemical Biology core facility of RIKEN ASI’s Chemical Biology Department.
Present at the signing ceremony were Prof. Asma (USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Prof. Dzulkifli Abdul Razak (USM Vice-Chancellor), and Prof. M Jegathesan (USM Pro-Chancellor) from USM; as well as Dr. Noyori, Dr. Tamao, and Dr. Osada from RIKEN.
The joint research team between RIKEN and USM aims to isolate novel biological active compounds from tropical plants found in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia.
With this chemical library, the team hopes to develop drugs for common Southeast Asian tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.
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Source: RIKEN.
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