KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has entered into a collaboration with Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF) to conduct research on spinal cord injuries through an agreement signed on Tuesday (May 2).
It is part of an initiative to coordinate worldwide research backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The study will focus on the level of care, quality of life and rehabilitation of those who have had spinal cord injuries.
The discussions included potentially developing a rural rehabilitation centre located in Sabah’s Beaufort, about two hours drive from the state capital, that can be used as a facility to carry out rehabilitation research based on artificial intelligence (AI-assisted rehabilitation).
The collaborative document was inked at Notwill, Switzerland where the university was represented by vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor while SPF director Prof Dr Med Gerald Stucki signed on behalf of the research institute, according to a statement released here by UMS on Wednesday (May 3).
The event was also witnessed by UMS deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Rosalam Sarbatly and SPF managing director Mirjam Brach.
"It is an initiative from WHO where SPF, a leading research institution in Europe, is responsible for coordinating the implementation of research on an international scale.
"This study will be conducted in 42 countries including Malaysia. At UMS, the research is led by Assoc Prof Dr Fatimah Ahmedy as a rehabilitation medicine specialist as well as Assoc Prof in the university’s Medicine & Health Sciences faculty, along with several other medical experts in the same field in this country," said Dr Kasim.
The SPF researchers are slated to come to this state for research purposes in early 2024, he added.
On the proposed rehab facility in Beaufort, he said, “The main aim of this research is to optimise the ability of those who are paralysed and disabled to be able to return to work and lead a daily life in the community.
"It is very timely because it is seen in line with the research skills of UMS which focuses on the university's contribution to the community through the village rehabilitation centre as a living lab.
"With the inspiration of UMS as an innovative community leader, I am confident that this centre can be a reference to help rural communities who suffer from physical problems and disabilities due to limb injuries to return to work," Dr Kasim added.
Indirectly, this could help the government in improving the national economy as well as reducing the burden of health costs, he added.
Dr Kasim also hoped the collaboration will increase UMS visibility towards supporting international efforts in the field of spinal cord injury research.
