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Aga Khan University's
Department of Medicine (DOM) held its third annual Research Retreat
at the Avari Tower Hotel on April 30, 2004. A series of papers highlighted
the department's ongoing research activities.
In his welcome address,
Dr. Wasim Jafri, Chairman DOM, highlighted the importance of medical research
in both epidemiology and clinical studies, adding that research is generally
neglected due to overwhelming clinical work and administrative commitments. "But the DOM faculty is an exception to the rule. All DOM sections are involved
in both epidemiological and molecular research, and are collaborating with other
University departments, as well as with other medical institutions at both national
and international levels," Dr. Jafri disclosed.
Faculty at Aga Khan University
(AKU) is routinely putting up protocols for both Seed Money and University Research
Council (URC) grants, and protocols are also being written for extramural funding
from sources such as National Institutes of Health. AKU faculty has been successful
in attracting substantial grants and at the top of the list is the current Chair
of Research Committee, DOM, Dr. Tazeen Jafar, who was recently awarded a Wellcome
Trust Foundation grant for a study on hypertension in Pakistan. This is a joint
project of Community Health Sciences Department, AKU, and DOM. AKU faculty has
also been awarded grants by the URC, Pakistan Science Foundation and other local
funding agencies.
The importance of epidemiology
cannot be accentuated enough given its role in the identification of disease
patterns. Highlighting the need to emphasise prevention, Dr. Jafri said that "ours is a poor country and preventive medicine should be the cornerstone of
any research. However, there are a large number of patients in almost all disease
categories and proper research must be carried out in order to significantly
impact therapeutics as well," added Dr. Jafri.
The Gastroenterology Section
places great emphasis on the prevention of hepatitis B and C. Through workshops
and symposia, the Hepatitis Task Force educates the public in general and medical
professionals in particular regarding all aspects of preventive hepatology.
Diabetes is a major public health problem and the Endocrinology Section is actively
imparting knowledge to the public and the physicians community in order to make
an impact on the management of diabetes. The University, which itself is a no-smoking
zone, has been leading the campaign against tobacco use in conjunction with
the Pakistan Chest Society. Dr. Javaid Khan, Consultant Pulmonologist at DOM,
AKU, heads the anti-smoking programme and is collaborating with various international
agencies in the fight against tobacco.
Dr. Jafri also emphasised
the commitment of DOM towards innovative research which is both relevant and
can impact the region. He said that his Department is contributing significantly
towards peer-reviewed publications in international journals and hence "Pakistan's
name can now be found in most of the important peer-reviewed journals available
on Medline."
Scientific papers based
on original laboratory and clinical research were presented covering key health
sciences areas such as hypertension, diabetes, and gastrointestinal, cardiovascular,
kidney and infectious diseases.
In the opening session,
Dr. Saeed Hamid, Associate Professor at the Section of Gastroenterology, AKU,
presented results on potential molecular markers of progressive liver injury
in chronic viral hepatitis; Dr. Khalid Mumtaz, Senior Fellow at Gastroenterology,
DOM, on response of hepatitis C patients to treatment in Pakistan; and Dr. Faisal
Wasim on predictors of adverse outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal diseases.
In the second session, Dr.
Tazeen Jafar highlighted the rising epidemic of hypertension and its complications,
including heart and kidney diseases. She stressed that a decrease in ghee and
salt intake, weight control and exercise are likely to have a profound effect
on the burden of hypertension in the Pakistani population. Dr. Abdul Jabbar,
Head of the Section of Endocrinology, AKU, presented data from 13 Muslim countries
on the impact of lifestyle changes during Ramadan on increased blood sugar levels.
Dr. Fahim Jafary, Consultant Cardiologist, made a presentation on the association
of low HDL (which is mainly due to lack of exercise) with increased incidence
of heart attacks. Dr. Sajid Dhakam meanwhile stressed the importance of the
practice of radiation safety by invasive cardiologists in Pakistan.
In the third session, Dr.
Rifat Rehmani presented data on the reliability of the urine dipstick in predicting
urinary tract infection, Dr. Bhojo Khealani on predictors of stroke, and Dr.
Saad Shafqat on compliance with medications among patients with stroke.
In the final session, Dr.
Nawal Salahuddin discussed the success rates of a staff education programme
on reducing ventilator associated pneumonia rates in the intensive care setting,
and Dr. Fayyaz presented results of his study on sleep disordered breathing
among health care workers in Pakistan. An additional 70 research projects were
illustrated in a poster exhibition during the meeting, highlighting various
clinical problems relevant to Pakistan.
Earlier, the Chief Guest,
Professor Jan Mohammad Memon (Vice Chancellor, Liaquat University of Medical
and Health Sciences, Jamshoro) stressed the importance of medical research
in Pakistan. Dr. Tazeen Jafar highlighted the contribution of AKU-DOM to research
productivity in South Asia, and the recent strategic measures taken to further
increase collaborative research with institutions within Pakistan and abroad.
Dr. Mohammad Khurshid, Dean, AKU Medical College, said that "such research endeavours
would lead to advancement in medical science and improved health of our nation."
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