[ad_1]
For the past year, scientists around the world have been racing to find a solution to the Covid-19 pandemic. Malaysian researchers are also doing their part to help counter the spread of the coronavirus. In April, UK-based Malaysian surgeon Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri was chosen to be part of the UK’s first Covid-19 vaccine trial team. Researchers at our local universities are also working on the development of a Covid-19 vaccine that is still in its early stages. In November, Malaysia’s prominent virologist emeritus, Professor Datuk Dr. Lam Sai Kit, joined the Lancet Covid-19 Commission to investigate the origin of the coronavirus.
Faster and more convenient Covid-19 testing
Lim Boon Chuan, an academic in the Department of Public Services and a student at the University of Oxford, is doing his part in the fight against the pandemic by contributing to the development of a Covid-19 test kit that is accessible and provides rapid results.
The 26-year-old PhD candidate (DPhil) in synthetic biology is one of the founding research members of the Oxford University team of scientists led by Professors Wei Huang and Zhanfeng Cui. The Covid-19 Rapid Test Kit developed by Lim and his team shortens the entire testing process from two to three days, which includes sample collection, sample delivery, sample preparation, and viral nucleic acid detection, just 45 minutes.
The development of the diagnostic kit is actually a side project for Lim, whose main area of study is cancer research. However, Lim spends an average of eight to 10 hours a day working on the project. Today, the university has created a social enterprise to market the diagnostic kit, which is being used at London’s main Heathrow Airport, several other UK airports, and is also being tested at Hong Kong International Airport. Kong.
“We are trying to find a better product and there is always room for improvement. But I’m also still a student and my goal is to graduate next year, so my time is hard to fix at the moment, ”he tells the Sunday Star in a phone interview.
Lim minimizes his role in the project, insisting that it is just part of his job and considers himself lucky to have the opportunity to work on the diagnostic kit.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to work on a project like this and to be able to contribute in a setting like this. I am very lucky to be in this position, as many other people in my place, PhD students in the same field as me, could also do this job, ”he says.
When asked about the possible financial gains from this project, Lim explains that the time he spends developing the test kit is more for the public benefit.
“This is a social enterprise and the nature of a social enterprise is not to make a lot of money. It gives me some pocket money, but at the end of the day we don’t do it for profit, ”he says, adding that the profits are mainly to cover operating costs.
We all have our roles to play, and the best way for members of the public to support healthcare workers is by following the mandatory standard operating procedure (SOP).
“The best thing to do is stick to the rules. If it’s quarantined, keep it quarantined. If you’re not supposed to go out, don’t go out. Take care of your personal hygiene, wash your hands frequently and wear a mask ”.
And very importantly, we must feel empathy for those around us.
“Look around for local stores that we can help. As members of the public, we only have to do small things to help with the big problems. Take care of our own responsibilities, set a good example and be kind, ”he says.
Dr Masliza Mahmod, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, uses her experience to help us better understand and combat Covid-19
Investigating the impacts of Covid-19 on vital organs
Oxford University Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Dr Masliza Mahmod, 48, is also using her experience to help us better understand and combat Covid-19.
Dr. Masliza is part of the university’s research team studying the effects of Covid-19 on multiple organs. The team, led by Dr Betty Raman and Prof. Stefan Neubauer, is comprised of many specialists across the UK and Dr Masliza is contributing her expertise as a cardiologist.
“We know that with Covid-19, people have difficulty breathing and the virus can be fatal, but we also want to know how it affects different organs and to what extent: the lungs, the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the liver, etc. “He tells the Sunday Star in a video interview.
“We want to know which organs are most affected and at the same time we want to know what are the long-term effects that Covid-19 has on these organs.”
Dr. Masliza explains that research done on the effects of Covid-19 on major organs can help in terms of future care and treatment.
“If we know how Covid-19 can affect the lungs or the brain, we will also know how to tailor treatment to patients. If the virus has long-term impacts on a certain organ, doctors will know that they should have longer follow-ups and will be able to better monitor the patient, ”he says, adding that the study is almost complete and is in the process of being published.
Also, once we understand how the virus affects different parts of the body, we will be better prepared in the event of future outbreaks.
Working on Covid-19 research can be mentally and emotionally draining, but there are also uplifting and encouraging examples. For Dr. Masliza, the most rewarding aspect of her job is seeing the disinterest shown by the volunteers.
“Many former Covid-19 patients volunteered to help with the research. I was moved by his gesture. The fact that they were sick before, some were hospitalized and incubated and yet they returned to the hospital to help with our research after only weeks of recovery, ”says Dr. Masliza.
Moving forward, Dr. Masliza and her team at Oxford have written a proposal for a grant application, in collaboration with the National Heart Institute (IJN) consultants Dr. Rafidah Abu Bakar and Datuk Dr. Suhaini Kadiman, to analyze the effects of Covid-19 in Malaysia. multiracial population.
“I am involved in Covid-19 research here in Oxford and I would like to extend the study to Malaysia to analyze the multiracial population of our country. We know that Covid-19 affects ethnic groups differently, for example, in the UK there are more Covid-19 patients from minority ethnicities compared to the white community, ”he says.
“In one country, we can study many different ethnic groups, that is the strength of Malaysia. Malaysia is a very interesting country, rich in culture and rich in resources and data. People don’t realize that you can get a lot of knowledge from Malaysia. “
She hopes to combine the Malaysian results with the existing study to produce a more complete understanding of the virus. However, funding and time are an obstacle.
“Because time is of the essence, we cannot wait long to do the study because otherwise we will lose the boat,” says Dr. Masliza.
One way we can help scientists find out more about this deadly virus is by volunteering for ongoing research. “I think it is important to be aware that there is a lot we don’t know about this virus and that a lot of new knowledge depends on research and patients. It will be very helpful for former patients to volunteer and help with research. If we get the grant to bring the study to Malaysia, I hope former Covid-19 patients will volunteer to help us, ”says Dr. Masliza.
[ad_2]
