KOTA KINABALU : Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Teknology Mara have signed an agreement related to chemical and pharmocological research on natural medication products.

The agreement was signed by Shah Alam UiTM vice chancellor(UiTM) Shah Alam, Profesor Datuk Ts. Dr. Hajah Roziah Mohd Janor and UMS vice chancellor Profesor Datuk ChM. Ts. Dr. Taufiq Yap Yun Hin and Atta-Ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery
(AuRIns) UiTM, Prof. ChM. Dr. Nor Hadiani Ismail.

UMS’s Biology Tropical and Conservation Institute director Professor Madya Dr. Monica Suleiman, the deal will help to develop the pharmaceutical industry in the country.

“This research collaboration is titled “Chemical and pharmacological investigation on medicinal natural products of Sabah”, which is the result of the findings the end of the research study can confirm that the traditional use medicinal plants in Sabah can be developed into pharmaceutical agents and nutraceuticals”.

“This research collaboration is also important to achieve the National Biotechnology Policy
(NBP) and Malaysia’s National Medical Policy,” she said in a statement.

Monica added the collaboration between IBTP and AuRIns has started since 2019 through research grant projects and supervision of postgraduate students.

“UMS and UiTM will also co-organize a conference international that is the ‘International Conference on Natural Products (ICNP) on 21-23 September 2022.

“With that, I am with my competitor at AuRIns which is ChM. Dr. Fatimah Salim agreed to enter into an agreement between these two institutes so that research and collaboration can be carried out more effectively and comprehensive.”