CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH IN AIDSUNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

2009

CERiA History• Application to set up a Research Center on

HIV/AIDS – February 2007

• Approval for Establishment from Dato VC –September 2007

Justification

• A serious HIV epidemic exists in the country particularly amongst injecting drug users

• Reversal of HIV/AIDS the only MDG goal not achieved by Malaysia

• No dedicated HIV research center in the country• UM/UMMC possess a pool of expertise in HIV and

related areas• Better coordination of existing research activities

Objectives of CERiA• Research

• Training

• Translation of Research into Policy & Practice

Organisational structure

Academic staff• Professor Hussain Habil, Department of Psychological Medicine

• Professor Awang Bulgiba, Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

• Professor Ng Kee Peng, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine

• Dr Muhsin Ahmad Zahari,Department of Social and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine

• Dr Rusdi Abd Rashid, Department of Psychological Medicine

Academic staff• Assistant Professor Yong Kek Pang

• Dr Sasheela a/p Sri La Sri Ponnampalavanar

• Dr Sharifah Faridah Syed Omar

Non Academic Staff• Basic science:

– 1 research officer, 4 research assistants• Social behavioural:

– 5 research assistants• Clinical :

– 2 research assistants, 1 research nurse• 3 PhD students – 1 graduating• 3 Masters students

Support staff

• Training : 1 training officer• Administration and Finance:

– 1 administrative assistant– 1 admin & finance officer– 1 procurement and admin assistant

Internal Collaboration

• Psychological Medicine

• Social Preventive Medicine

• Medical Microbiology

External Collaboration - Local• Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia• Majlis AIDS Malaysia• Jabatan Penjara Malaysia• Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan• Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia

External Collaboration - International

• WHO, Western Pacific Regional Office• UNAIDS• UNODC• National Institute of Infectious Diseases,

Tokyo, Japan• Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia• University of Western Australia

External Collaboration - International

• National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Australia

• TREAT Asia – American Foundation for AIDS Research

• Social Research Group, School of Social Sciences, Columbia University, USA

• AIDS Program, Yale University, USA• School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine,

Tulane University,USA

Non-graduating International Students

• Ravi Kavasery, Yale University, USA• Adiba Hassan, Tulane University, USA• Naomi O’Connor, University of London• Dino Tan, Andrew Lim, Zayd Ahmad, Constance

Lim – University of Western Australia• Danielle van den Heuvel, Alma van Woudenberg –

Free University, Amsterdam• Brooke West, Columbia University

Current Research ActivitiesBasic science• Molecular epidemiology of the HIV epidemic

in Malaysia • Immune Reconstitution Disease (IRD)• Dried Blood Spot Study

Current Research ActivitiesClinical• Antiretroviral resistance (TASER)• The TREAT Asia HIV-AIDS Observational

Database (TAHOD) • Phase 111 – TMC 114-229, TMC 114-214

Studies• The ALTAIR study

Current Research Activities

Social behavioural• Social network of injecting drug using

fishermen in Kuantan• Intervention of HIV, Drug Use and the

Criminal Justice System – A randomised controlled trial

Training2008• Harm Reduction Training for Enforcement Agencies

(Prison and AADK)• Methadone Counseling Training2009• Harm Reduction Training for Health Professionals• Harm Reduction Training for Non-Governmental

Organisations

Seminar2008• Drug Policy in the Era of HIV: A Roundtable

Discussion2009• Drugs, Principles and Dilemmas: International

Drug Policy – New Perspectives, New Approaches

Basic Science Team

Penjara & KKM

Tulane Students

UM-Yale MoU Signing

KKM Training

NGO Training

Publications

• 2007: 7 articles : 5 international journals

• 2008: 10 articles : 8 international journals

• 2009: 12 articles : 9 international journals

Abstract Presentations

Presentations• 2007: 7 abstract presentations• 2008: 9 abstract presentations• 2009: 10 abstract presentations

FINANCIAL REPORT

Total Grants Received 2007 - 2008

Total Expenses 2008

Research University GrantExpenses by Projects- 2008

Research University GrantExpenses by Categories - 2008

Total External Grants Received- 2008

Total External Grant Expenses - 2008

Total Grants Received in 2009

Future research activities• A longitudinal cohort study of Malaysian drug

users injecting pharmaceutical agents• Health Status of HIV positive Prisoners • Mobile Integrated Health Program• Injecting drug user- size estimation study• Drug policy and HIV• Low cost lab monitoring in HIV therapy

Future management plan

• Establishment of CERiA advisory board

• Staff development and capacity building

• Build greater internal collaborations –especially within UM family