Department of Medicine in Forefront of Research in Pakistan

The Fourth Annual Research Retreat of AKU's Department of Medicine (DOM) was held in May 2005 in Karachi, where a series of research papers unveiled the ongoing investigational activities of the department. Scientific papers presented on the occasion covered key health sciences areas such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and gastrointestinal and infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, typhoid and malaria.

This annual programme not only highlights the research activities of the department, but also engenders discussions leading to further improvement in the quality of research and research productivity of the department.

 

Dr Wasim Jafri, Chair of Department of Medicine, addressing the gathering at the Research Retreat.

In his keynote address, President of AKU, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha expressed his appreciation at the magnitude of research work being done in the department, and was pleased to note that the faculty had chosen topics of high relevance to the population of Pakistan as their areas of investigation. He said, "This would set the stage for translation of this work into policy and benefit for common man in Pakistan." President Kassim-Lakha praised the faculty of DOM for their collaborative work with other departments, and encouraged the same with other international campuses of AKU including the ones in Nairobi and London. The Dean, Dr Mohammad Khurshid, spoke highly of the initiatives taken by DOM, while AKUH Director General Nadeem Mustafa Khan, supporting the Dean's views, placed emphasis on quality of clinical care and research.

"This year's research retreat has once again brought to light different problems pertaining to Pakistan, as well as the collaborative work between different sections of the department and inter departments of the University," said Dr Wasim Jafri, Chair, DOM, in his opening remarks. Prevention, he continued, of various diseases must be an important goal which can only be achieved through research in the epidemiology of critical diseases that pose a great burden on our society and country. He said hepatitis, hypertension, Ischemic heart disease, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes and various cancers had taken a heavy toll on the already constrained health budgets. "The Department is trying to contribute towards defining the epidemiology and preventive aspects of all these and many more diseases," he observed. Dr Jafri also pointed out that the faculty of DOM is managing various grants both from within and outside the University - - at least 20 per cent of the faculty is recipient of some kind of grant for promoting research.

Dr Tazeen Jafar (MBBS, '90), Chair of Research Committee, DOM, described the significant contribution of the department to research productivity in South Asia, and the recent strategic measures taken to further increase collaborative research with both Pakistani and overseas institutions. "Undoubtedly, research retreats have been one of the most important initiatives of DOM," she said, "as these have clearly resulted in a significant increase in the department's research productivity." Judging by the trend of abstract submission alone, which requires that the research be done during the past one year only, the number of submissions has risen by 2.5 fold over the last four years, she disclosed. "This year, over 100 abstracts were submitted, averaging over two submissions per faculty."

Dr Javed Tai, Consultant Cardiologist, shared results of the impact of new investigational modalities on outcomes of heart attack patients, while Dr Fahim Jafary (MBBS, '90), Consultant Cardiologist, presented findings on predictors of coronary artery disease in patients with rheumatic heart disease. Dr Nawal Salahuddin (MBBS, '90), Consultant Pulmonologist, reported the usefulness of stair climbing as a surrogate marker for preoperative risk assessment for patients undergoing surgery.

Dr Mohammad Wasay, Consultant Neurologist, described the association between a common gastrointestinal infection (heli-cobacter pylori) and stroke. Dr Amyn Alidina, Head of Haematology and Oncology Section, presented findings of new chemotherapeutic protocol on the outcomes of breast cancer and Dr Junaid Razzak (MBBS, '94), Consultant Emergency Medicine, elaborated on the lack of accuracy of data on road traffic injuries. Dr Muhammad Azharuddin, Consultant Nephrologist, shared the findings of his study which suggested that the incidence of adverse kidney outcomes, a known complication of dye used in some investigational procedures, in Pakistan is in fact lower than in the West.

In the final session, Dr Asif Imam, Consultant Physician, presented data on pollens responsible for allergies in Pakistan while Dr Lubna Zuberi (MBBS, '88), Consultant Endocrinologist, reported findings of her study which suggested increased incidence of adverse outcomes in babies of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy. Dr M. Aslam Khan (MBBS, '94), Consultant Physician, shared the findings of effectiveness of home nursing care. An additional 90 research projects were displayed in a poster exhibition during the meeting, highlighting various clinical problems relevant to Pakistan.

Summing up the day's proceedings, Dr Wasim Jafri said that "this meeting represents AKU's, and DOM's, commitment to research and innovation." He noted that a conference such as this was unique in Pakistan, and DOM was proud to take the lead in research endeavours "that contribute to advancements in medical science and improvement of health of our population."