THE TIME TO BOOST INNOVATION HAS NEVER BEEN MORE URGENT
‘The time to boost innovation has never been more urgent’ is an opinion piece by Professor Datuk Dr. John Antony Xavier. The Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive of AIMST University has outlined five suggestions on how the Malaysian government should encourage R&D more resolutely than before. He has also emphasised that innovations on the back of R&D will promote our nation's growth and competitiveness. The article was published in the News Straits Times (NST) on 30th January 2021. Click https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2021/01/661654/time-boost-innovation-has-never-been-more-urgent to read.
Shaping Successful Career Future with AIMST University- BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance
The Faculty of Business and Management (FBM) of AIMST University is organizing an alumni webinar series titled ‘Shaping Successful Career Future with AIMST University- BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance’ at 8 pm on Wednesday, 27th January 2021.
In this webinar, Mr. Kesshigeen Kumar, our alumnus and currently the Customer Manager of TESCO Malaysia, will share his knowledge on the Malaysian retail industry landscape. In general, the webinar shall emphasise the following:
1. Details of the BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance programme
2. Sharing of experiences by the alumnus while at AIMST University
3. The alumnus working experience and his achievements
Please view the brochure for more details and you can view us live on Facebook.
Click the following link to register: Shaping Successful Career Future with AIMST University - Registration Form
#FECT #AIMST #alumni #webinar
Engineering the future’ has highlighted the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0)
An advertorial featuring AIMST University’s Faculty of Engineering & Computer Technology (FECT) appeared in the Education Guide section of TheStar on 21st January 2021.
The write-up titled ‘Engineering the future’ has highlighted the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and its significance to engineering degrees and diplomas offered by FECT.
Please find the snapshot below to read.
Virtual Ponggal Vizha 2021
Virtual Ponggal Vizha 2021
AIMST Indian Cultural Society (ICS) Muthamizh Kazhagam is organizing it's first-ever ‘Virtual Ponggal Vizha 2021’.
The Virtual Ponggal Vizha will include singing, kolam, costume, and art competitions which will offer cash prizes up to RM1500. Participants must submit their videos and pictures to take part in any of the competitions. As for the Mr. & Ms. Ponggal 2021, winners will be selected in two categories:
1. Through judgment
2. Based on FB likes and comments on Instagram
Please stay tuned for detailed info on the rules and regulations for each competition and you scan the QR code for registration. Please view the brochure for more information.
#icsaimst #virtualponggalvizha2021
A search for better mask in battling COVID-19
Testing Efficacy of Face Masks with Smoke: A search for better mask in battling COVID-19
Researchers from the Faculty of Allied Health Professions (FAHP) AIMST University Malaysia in collaboration with industrial partner 3Cs Medical have conducted experimental testing of the effectiveness of different face masks for healthcare workers in preventing the virus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this video, researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of using smoke test by comparing three types of face masks, namely surgical mask, N95 respirator mask and Lekad mask.
Undeniably, the N95 respirator mask is a gold standard face mask recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for healthcare workers. However, this collaborative research has proven Lekad mask is a promising solution to serve humanity in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, AIMST University Malaysia and 3Cs Medical researchers have proved the novel Lekad mask provides a near-perfect fit and has minimum leakage.
Please watch the video on ‘Comparing Lekad mask with other masks’ at https://youtu.be/XD5tHG9pSVk
Time is Ripe for Private Medical Schools to Have Teaching Hospitals
Get to know why private medical schools should have teaching hospitals and how it helps medical students to develop a sense of medical professionalism. The Director of the Clinical Skills Centre (CSC) AIMST University believes that students will have more quality time interacting with patients to learn soft skills and other pertinent skills which will lead to medical professionalism among medical students. He had also stated that students pursuing other programmes will have a hands-on opportunity to learn in a hospital environment and future job opportunities. The article titled ‘Time is ripe for private medical schools to have teaching hospitals’ by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Patrick Tan Kee Seng was published in the columnist section of the News Straits Times (NST) on 14th January 2021. Click "Time is ripe for private medical schools to have teaching hospitals" to read.
Attracting FDIs Will Give Local Firms a Run for Their Money
AIMST University’s Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive, Professor Datuk Dr. John Antony Xavier has contributed an article regarding foreign direct investments (FDIs) and its significant role on the Malaysian economy and how it relates to national competitiveness. The Vice-Chancellor has outlined the fundamental elements for a good ecosystem to attract FDIs and suggestions to create greater competitiveness and the ability to attract investments. The article titled ‘Attracting FDIs will give local firms a run for their money’ was published in the New Straits Times (NST) on 11th January 2021. Click https://www.nst.com.my/.../attracting-fdis-will-give... to read.
Fear Not The Covid-19 Mutation
Professor Dr. Ravichandran Manickam, the Dean of Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), AIMST University and also an avid COVID-19 researcher has contributed an article on Covid-19 mutation and its relation to vaccines, diagnosis, and containment.
The FAS Dean is a medical microbiologist and biotechnologist and has over 20 years of research experience in the field of vaccinology, genetic engineering, and molecular diagnostics.
The article, titled ‘Fear not the Covid-19 mutation’ was published on 10th January 2021 in the TheStar newspaper. Please find the snapshot of the article to read.
Opinion on The Recent Spike of Covid-19 Cases in The Country.
AIMST University’s Associate Professor Dr. Saraswathi Bina Rai has shared her opinion on the recent spike of Covid-19 cases in the country. Dr. Bina is a member of the University’s Faculty of Medicine (Community Medicine Unit) and was formerly the Head of Penang Epidemiology Intelligence Programme Unit, Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH). The article titled ‘So many questions yet no answers, says public health expert ahead of Jan 20 school reopening in Malaysia’ was published in the Malay Mail on 9th January 2021. Click https://www.malaymail.com/.../so-many-questions.../1938723 to read.
What is Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy?
When one is affected by accident, disease, or by developmental or other impairment, physiotherapy helps restore mobility and function as close to normal as possible. Physiotherapists are graduates who have studied physiotherapy courses at the university and have a degree in physiotherapy.
What is Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy?
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy is a specialized procedure for physical therapy in patients who have signs of a musculoskeletal condition or are treated for a musculoskeletal disorder. Through daily treatment sessions, musculoskeletal physiotherapy helps the patient heal faster from their illness and to build coping mechanisms to help the patient during the healing phase and avoid the occurrence of secondary problems. Injuries that can be treated by musculoskeletal physiotherapy include:- Ligament sprains
- Muscle strains
- Arthritis
- Cartilage tears
- Pre and post-surgery rehabilitation
- Fracture rehabilitation
- Back pain
Musculoskeletal Disorder
Any fracture, damage, or pain in the muscle tissue, joints, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscle or skeletal structures of the body that support the limbs or the back are musculoskeletal disorders. Almost any part of the body can be affected by musculoskeletal disorders, from the back and neck to the arms, hands, and feet. This disorder can be caused by large objects being lifted incorrectly, repetitive pressure, or direct injury or trauma. Carpal tunnel syndrome, ligament sprains, muscle strains, different kinds of arthritis, cartilage tears, post-operative recovery, back ailments, and bone fracture rehabilitation are examples of musculoskeletal conditions be treated with musculoskeletal physiotherapy.
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapists
Specialists in the assessment and care of patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome are known as musculoskeletal physiotherapists. These specialists can be bachelor's degree holders in physiotherapy. Musculoskeletal physiotherapists have specialized experience in directly relevant therapies and procedures for musculoskeletal conditions, and most may hold a higher degree in physiotherapy, such as a Master's. Most musculoskeletal physiotherapists find that their patients specifically suffer from problems with the muscles and joints, often causing back and neck pain. The treatment options a Musculoskeletal physiotherapist can use include:- Manipulation and manual therapy
- Massage
- Exercise therapy
- Electrotherapy
- Coping strategies and self-management techniques
- Pain management
- Optimise healing
- Speed the recovery process
- Increase strength
- Restore normal movement
- Decrease pain
- Decrease swelling and inflammation
- Increase independence
How Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Helps?
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy contributes, in a variety of ways, to patient rehabilitation and enhanced quality of life.- Improves the strength and flexibility of muscles
- Improves motion, ease, and movement quality
- Enhances coordination and movement control
- Relieves or entirely removes pain
- Helps the patient develop coping mechanisms to help them with discomfort during the healing process or difficulties while performing regular movements
- Helps you meet physical activity or wellness goals
- Teaches and consolidates safe ways of moving to decrease the risk of potential musculoskeletal disorders
- Helps a patient begin his rehabilitation at home or the gym, a musculoskeletal physiotherapist will formulate a home physiotherapy program. When he has recovered, they may also devise a maintenance programme to ensure that you continue to benefit from your physical therapy
- Ultimately, musculoskeletal physiotherapy will accelerate your recovery and allow you to return as soon as possible to regular activities
- Reduces inflammation and swelling
- Boosts the everyday degree of autonomy and self-sufficiency of the patient
In a Nutshell
When the physiotherapist is putting together his or her recovery plan, the patient's diagnosis and a specific set of symptoms will be considered. Students interested in studying the course at the university can enrol in the programme to earn their bachelor's degree in physiotherapy.The 5 Stages of Vaccine Development
The development of vaccines is usually a lengthy, complicated process, typically 15 years long and requiring a combination of public and private engagement. Medical practitioners across different medical fields such as biotechnology, pharmacy, etc. are involved in different stages of vaccine development. The five stages involved in the production of vaccines include:
- Exploratory
- Preclinical
- Clinical development
- Approval
- Pharmacovigilance
How Do Vaccines Work?
Vaccines work by imitating the bacteria or viruses responsible for the disease. Vaccination works by stimulating the body's immune system without allowing the disease to set up defences against the infectious bacteria or virus. The sections of the infectious organism recognised by the immune system are extraneous to the body and are considered antigens. Vaccination exposes certain antigens to the bloodstream. Some vaccines contain weaker copies of a virus or bacteria, and others contain only a fraction of the virus or bacteria. Some vaccines only contain a certain protein's genetic material and lead the body to produce a limited amount of that protein. The body's immune system, if it recognizes this antigen, responds defensively. After vaccination, when the body meets the actual disease-causing bacteria or viruses, the immune system is prepared to respond rapidly and aggressively.
Five Stages of Vaccine Development
Stage1: The Exploratory Stage (Takes usually 2-4 Years)
This is where laboratory testing is conducted to identify an antigen (a substance capable of stimulating an immune response to help the body develop antibodies). A variety of compounds, including virus-like spores, weakened viruses or bacteria, weakened bacterial toxins, or other substances originating from pathogens, can be made up of antigens.Stage 2: Pre-Clinical (Takes usually 1-2 years)
Different experiments are conducted on cells, tissues, and animals at this level. This decides the efficacy of the vaccine, how to administer the vaccine, the patient's effective dosage, and how effectively it contributes to an immune reaction (immunogenicity). These experiments are conducted to guarantee that testing the vaccine in humans is genuinely safe and to check that it cannot cause significant harm to patients. Not all vaccines make it to the clinical level after testing.Stage 3: Clinical Development
After a vaccine has been approved to progress to the clinical stage, it is safe for human testing. This process can be broken down into three sub-phases, namely Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III.Phase I (Takes usually 2 years)
The first phase usually entails the vaccine being administered to about 20-80 volunteers. The aim is to assess the vaccine's efficacy, side effects, sufficient dosing, and immune response. The aim is to check if the vaccine is performing as expected. The question to be answered is: did the vaccine prevent the disease, and did it produce antibodies?Phase II (Take usually 2-3 Years)
The vaccine will proceed to Phase II if the answer to the question in phase I is positive. A wider group (usually hundreds) of volunteers are included in this phase. Volunteers are randomly chosen to obtain either the new vaccine or a placebo (saline solution, a vaccine for another illness, or some other substance). The aim is to begin tracking the efficacy of the vaccine, the doses of the vaccine, the duration of the immunization, and the delivery mode of the vaccine. The method of administration could be oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, or intranasal.Phase III Stages (Takes usually 5-10 Years)
Like phase II, this third phase will involve a larger group of people, usually tens of thousands of volunteers. The volunteers are randomly assigned to the experimental or placebo group. The primary purpose is to test the vaccine's efficacy and safety in a much greater group of individuals, especially in the population for which the vaccine is intended. In a larger group of individuals, it is possible to detect a rare side effect than in a smaller group.
Stage 4: Approval
The sponsor of the vaccine follows an approval process after a vaccine has successfully passed phase III trials. The vaccine is approved by the governing authority only if it is safe and reliable, and the benefits outweigh the risks it may pose to the patients.Stage 5: Pharmacovigilance
Once the vaccine is available to the public, the vaccine manufacturer continues to monitor the vaccine's efficacy to avoid any adverse events. To ensure that the vaccine is healthy for the public, the governing authority will also monitor the entire production process.In a Nutshell
Those are the five stages involved in the development of vaccines for the disease. Professionals in different medical fields such as biotechnology, pharmacy, etc. are involved in the stages of vaccine development. Upon approval, frontliners such as doctors and nurses in particular will stand at the frontline to administer the vaccine. In the midst of COVID-19, many individuals in the medical field are contributing greatly to the fight against the deadly disease to save the world. Are you interested in courses that lead to a rewarding healthcare career? AIMST University offers various healthcare courses such as diploma in nursing, MBBS course, Bachelor of Pharmacy and more. For more information, feel free to get in touch with our helpful and friendly counsellors.Microbiology vs. Biochemistry: Which is better?
Biochemistry and microbiology are the foundation of life sciences. The relationship between these disciplines is that they are involved in the study of life. Both courses are just as crucial in their respective fields and have significant scope for higher education, jobs, and research. However, the curriculum and scope of the study are widely separated.
For instance, at AIMST University, Biochemistry and Microbiology as a postgraduate study are entirely research-based. The programmes are divided according to the research areas/expertise: medical biochemistry, bioinformatics, genetic engineering, traditional medicines, and oncology.
Microbiology is divided according to the research areas/expertise in the following areas: medical bacteriology, medical virology, medical mycology, medical biotechnology, medical biosensors, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering.
Both sciences are equally vital to the human race as well as the universe. However, what makes them unique involves two factors: educational background and duties.
The Educational Background of a Biochemist
To become a biochemist, one must have at least a bachelor's degree in chemistry or biochemistry. Biochemistry programmes also involve math, biology, and computer science. Typically, those interested in independent research or teaching go on to earn a PhD. It takes another four to six years of school, including a dissertation comprising original research, to earn your doctorate.Duties of a Biochemist
The typical projects of biochemists may include researching the nutritional value of foods or the effect on biological processes of drugs or hormones. The majority of biochemists spend a good amount of time isolating and synthesizing proteins, enzymes, and other biomolecules in the laboratory. Other duties include applying for grants, writing reports and research papers, and making recommendations based on their research to their employers or the public.The Education Background of a Microbiologist
The requirement for working as a microbiologist is a bachelor's degree in biology or microbiology. Undergraduate microbiology programmes will have biology, biochemistry, microbial genetics, microbial physiology, environmental microbiology, and virology. If you are interested in research or going up to a supervisory position, a master's degree or a doctorate is required.Duties of a Microbiologist
In general, microbiologists' roles relate to the study of the characteristics of microorganisms and, in particular, how they relate to human ecology. Specific duties include the isolation and maintenance of bacterial or other cultures, detecting microorganisms collected from water, food, humans, and other sources. Microbiologists also study the effects of microorganisms on plants, animals, and humans. To develop new medical treatments, some microbiologists collaborate with biochemists, pharmacologists, and other scientists.
Why Biochemistry May Be Better for You?
- For students interested in studying the chemical composition of living organisms, Biochemistry may be an excellent course to study. If you understand the fundamental concepts of Biology and Chemistry, you should opt for this course.
- The course is taught with real-life applications in mind. It includes laboratory work and activities and projects geared towards science.
- Biochemistry is a specialized life science course with significant contributions in other fields like medical and healthcare, agriculture, science, and technology, forensic, etc.
- The demand for biochemists to conduct laboratory tests and experiments for the manufacture of medicine, chemical products, etc., is strong due to expanding healthcare, agriculture, and industries.
Why Microbiology May Be Better for You?
- Microbiology is an excellent option for students who are interested in studying different microorganisms and their pathogenic potential.
- Microbiology is a career-driven curriculum that encourages learners to shape their intellect to conduct study and experimentation.
- Candidates with a degree in Microbiology are in demand in Malaysia and beyond in various fields such as medicine, pharmacy farming, food industry, science, environment, etc.
- After getting a degree in Microbiology, graduates can go for a master's degree in a related field or get a job in the pharmaceutical industry, laboratories, food industry, etc.
- Graduates of Microbiology are in high demand to contain different forms of diseases caused by microorganisms.
