Centre for Cancer Research

 REPORT OF ACTIVITIES

Report for 2015 Seminar on Medical Research Ethics
The seminar titled, SEMINAR ON RESEARCH ETHICS was held at UTAR Sungai Long Campus on 22nd January 2015 at KA block.

The first inspiration talk title “Ethical Concerns in Health-Related Research Involving Humans” by Prof. Dr. Ngeow Yun Fong from Universiti Malaya and very interesting talk titled “ Clinical Trial on Human Sample” by Dato’ Dr. Chang Kian Meng, the Chairman of Malaysia Research and Ethics Committee, MOH. After that, a presentation of getting started in Animal Research by Mr. Terrance Hoe, the Product Manager at Interscience Sdn. Bhd. In the afternoonsession, Associate Prof Dr. Goh Yong Meng fromUniversiti Putra Malaysia gave a talk onAnimal Ethical Issue. The last sessionwas about UTAR-Scientific and Ethical Review Committee by Associate Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat, the Deputy Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Objectives of the Program

The general objective of the workshop is to provide awareness in human and animal ethics, stimulate discussion and encourage ethical practices in health research among scientists, clinicians and other individuals.

The specific objectives of the workshops are to:

  • Enable participants to be aware of and address ethical concerns in deciding on research needs and priorities, preparing research proposals, and the process of reviewing the research proposals and monitoring the conduct of research;
  • Review and discuss ethical principles governing research involving human and animal
  • Encourage commitment to lifelong learning.
The seminar was organized by Centre for Cancer Research (CCR), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. A total of 45 participants from different universities joined and attended on that day.

Positive feedback:
  • In short, the program was smoothly conducted and was on schedule
  • The hall is spacious
  • All speakers had given very informative, comprehensive and interesting talks
  • Objectives of the program were achieved


Participants of the seminar




Participants and speakers of the seminar




Question and answer session

Report on Visit to National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Venue: NCI, Putrajaya
Date: 4 June 2015
Time: 2pm – 4pm

  • Introduction of NCI and Centre for Clinical Research (CRC) by Dr Lim
  • Introduction of UTAR & the research centers in FMHS by Prof Lim Yang Mooi
  • Discussion on research collaboration:
  1. Prof Choo KB:
    • Proposed to have collaboration works using IPSC model and chemo resistant cancer cells ortranslational medicine
    • Would like to get sample from patientswith patients’ background information
    • Having engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to treat cancer established in Taiwan, potential result obtained in animal models, paper published (CKB as co-researcher), enquire for opportunity for pre-clinical study or translational study in collaboration with NCI
    • NCI’s reply:
      NCI is not a suitable place for translational medicine research at the moment, they don’t have the capacity for research, need probably few more years to establish.

      NCI don’t have the biopsy, suggesting a collaboration with surgeons from hospital.

      NCI suggested to consider about drug formulation before moving on to clinical trial. So far, it is quite hard to find GMP lab in Malaysia which can produce placebo and drug for research, ca collaboration with a pharmaceutical company on this matters can be considered although it isquite hard to get ethics’ approval.

  2. Prof Deva:
    • Proposed to have a collaboration on carrying out epidemiology study e.g. to evaluate depression level among cancer patients
    • Suggested to have group therapy session for daycare patients.
    • NCI’s reply: The proposal from Prof Deva is welcomed

  3. Nursing:
    • Interested to collaborate for research on pediatric oncology
      NCI’s reply: Unfortunately, pediatric oncology is not available in NCI at the moment.

  4. Dr Ong HT:
    • Would like to get NPC relapse patients’ biopsy if possible so that she can use it for research materials testing (e.g. measles virus) or develop primary cell line from the biopsy
      NCI’s reply: NCI don’t have the biopsy, usually surgeons in hospital would have it, so it is advised for Dr Ong to collaborate with surgeons.

  5. Dr Shwe Sin:
    • On behalf of Assoc. Prof Dr Thaw Zin, would like to have a collaboration that works on chemotherapy for breast carcinoma.
      NCI’s reply: NCI is more clinical and service oriented at the moment, but still welcomes proposal from researcher, the proposal can be submitted to the director of NCI for consideration.

  6. Teoh HK:
    • Enquired about the national cancer registry, whether it would be published soon
      NCI’s reply: NCI is working on it, Dr Renoka is the person in charge, not easy to get data/ information about cancer patients in Malaysia, needs co-operation from all parties i.e. university hospitals, MOH & private institutions. So far, these parties are not communicating with each other.

  7. Prof Lim YM:
    • Enquired whether doctors will use TCM to treat patient
      NCI’s reply: No, TCM only produces complementary medicine for patient, mainly for pain relief or to tackle the side effects of conventional therapy but it can be further explored by research.



Introduction of UTAR & the research centers in FMHS by Prof Lim Yang Mooi



Discussion on research collaboration



A tour of NCI




A group photo for rememberance

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