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UK-based Wellcome Trust Foundation recently awarded US $500,000 research grant
to Aga Khan University (AKU) for a study on high blood pressure. The study was
designed by Dr. Tazeen Jafar, Assistant Professor, and her colleagues at the Department
of Medicine, and the Community Health Sciences, AKU. External
international grants for research are highly difficult to acquire and leading
universities in the world strive to get these funds. The Wellcome Trust, UK,
is widely known for its high profile in the best academic and research circles
throughout the world, and for funding only scientifically robust and internationally
competitive research projects. "It is indeed a great source of pride for AKU
to be recognized as a genuine research university on the international stage," says Dr. Jafar. This
ambitious study will be performed by a team of 40 health professionals, who will
first receive three months of intensive training in providing health education
and research methodologies. This will be followed by population-based home health
education, and training of general practitioners in cost effective treatment of
hypertension. The long-term objectives are to lead the development of a sustainable
and implemental nationwide blood pressure control programme. "In Pakistan, one
in three middle aged individuals suffer from hypertension, which is the most common
risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney disease. However the majority of hypertensive
patients go either under-diagnosed or under-treated in Pakistan.
This study would evaluate affordable strategies for lowering blood pressure in
our population", says Dr. Tazeen Jafar, who is also Director, Clinical Epidemiology
Unit and Head, Section of Nephrology, AKU. Dr.
Wasim Jafri, Chairman, Department of Medicine, adds: "It is commendable that our
academicians give priority to research that would directly benefit our population."
Dr. Masood Kadir,
Acting Chairman, Department of Community Health Sciences, says, "We are proud
to draw funding from an agency renowned for investing in the highest quality research".
Dr. Muhammad Khurshid, Dean Medical
College, AKU said, "It is only natural
for AKU to take the lead in novel studies that address major health problems in
our population. We hope that other institutions in Pakistan would also take measures to promote much-needed research culture for combating
diseases that pose a heavy burden on our population."
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