Research Focus

Epilepsy, Antiepileptic Drug Therapy and Behaviour

Epilepsy research focuses on investigating new treatment option in pre-clinical and clinical phases. Investigation also involve clinical response to antiepileptic drug therapy and prediction factors for response. Other studies exploring behavioural factors influencing adherence to antiepileptic drug therapy and strategies to improve adherence and treatment outcome.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics

Clinical pharmacokinetic research focuses on developing pharmacokinetic model for clinically specific condition in Asian population such as pediatrics and critical care. Investigations also include studies on the relationship between pharmacokinetic (PK) determinants and pharmacogenetic (PG) markers, and PK-PG and clinical responses.

Parenteral Nutrition
To be updated

Vaccine Development
To be updated

Pharmacoeconomics

Research in pharmacoeconomics involved evaluation of resources use and outcomes of pharmaceutical products and services using methodologies such as cost-benefit, cost-utility, cost- minimization and cost-effectiveness. Scientific measurement of these costs and outcomes of drug interventions is pertinent to inform clinicians and decision makers about the value of therapeutic interventions in view of rising health expenditures and limited resources.  Research topics include pharmacoeconomic evaluation of drug therapy in chronic diseases such as mental illness, willingness to pay for pharmaceutical services in community pharmacy for example tobacco cessation and humanistic outcomes of quality of life during long term treatment of chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  

Community Pharmacy

Research in this area explores extended roles and services that can be provided by community pharmacists, beyond traditional medication dispensing, to improve patients' health outcomes. These extended services include adherence support services, chronic disease management and medication review. Research also focuses on interventions that may improve community pharmacists' knowledge, attitude and patient-centered practice in various healthcare areas. Understanding public's perception and expectations of community pharmacy services in Malaysia is also recognized as an important area of research.

Hypertension and Salt Intake

Hypertension research focuses on dietary salt intake assessment and it's impact on blood pressure control. It also involved a study looking at knowledge, attitude and perception towards hypertension and salt consumption among hypertensive patients.

Medication Effectiveness and Safety 

Research in medication review includes the evaluation of effectiveness and safety of medication use in immunocompromised patients and patients with autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and renal failure. The evaluation of antibiotics and other antiinfective drug use is also important to ensure their effectiveness and safety, and to prevent development of resistance. Research interest in this area also includes assessing the adverse drug reaction (ADR) of the medications.

Medication Review

Research in medication review includes evaluation on clinical pharmacy services that focus on patient-oriented care. This include evaluation on the impacts of the services on patients' outcomes and healthcare delivery. The research also focus on the design of effective clinical pharmacy services such as Home Medication Review (HMR), Medication Therapy Adherence Clinic (MTAC), clinical pharmacy services in community pharmacy and similar services.

Infectious Disease Management

Antibiotic management: Research in antibiotic management focuses on the appropriate use of anti-infectives in an attempt to reduce resistance and inefficacy in the long run. The knowledge and understanding of antibiotics among the public are assessed. Understanding the association between the involvement in shared decision-making processes and knowledge of antibiotic is also the focus of the research. 

      
Use of Medicines in Children

Research in this area include the prescribing of unlicensed and off-label medicines in children. Unlicensed medicines include extemporaneously prepared medicines, clinical trial medicines and imported medicines. Use of medicines outside the licensed dose, age, route of administration and contraindicated use of medicines are classified as off-label. Adherence to treatment among children with chronic diseases and factors that influence adherence constitute part of the research focus.

Geriatric Medicine

Geriatric medicine emphasizes on health care of elderly people particularly those with multiple comorbidities that usually have significant functional implications. The research focuses on aging-related issues including pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic changes, adverse drug reaction, treatment burden, health service utilization patterns and medication management at home or care facilities. Research on geriatric medicine also aims on developing models of care to improve health outcomes for elderly.

Patient Education

The focus of this research is to develop and document innovative methods in patient education, patient support system and behavioral approach among patients with uncontrolled chronic diseases. Psychosocial aspects of the patients will be emphasis.

Professional Development

Continuing professional development is vital to support individual, professional and organisational effectiveness. The focus of this research is to develop and improve the competencies of the pharmacists for future requirements.