When the State Government prepared to initiate its biotechnology program, it was of the view that the State was to participate in the three thrust areas underlined under the National Biotechnology Policy. The three areas identified are Industrial, Healthcare and Agriculture Biotechnologies. State Government is seeking for investors or partners to invest in Pahang in these three areas. Currently there are a few projects have been approved to be carried out in Pahang, namely:
Development of Haruan Based Biomedical Products
This project is being carried out by Haruan Research Group (HRG) which is based in Universiti Putra Malaysia lead by Prof. Dr. Abdul Manan bin Mat Jais. It is a comprehensive Drug Discovery exploiting one of local ethno-pharmacology Haruan Channa striatus for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Products. This project comprises of a few components:
a. Biological Information
This involves compiling environmental physiological and biological background for the agricultural activities in providing enough fresh high quality Haruan for the productions. The research works is in collaboration with Institut Penyelidikan Perikanan (IPP) to include morphological taxonomy, distribution, Stock Identification and biochemical profiles. HRG is also looking at analyzing genetic background of this indigenous species
b. Standardization of Haruan Traditional Extracts
This work is to determine marker ensuring Quality Control where every single badge of production using similar quality of extract. This will in-turn produce same standard of products.
c. Biomedical Properties
Works are carried out to study biomedical properties of the Haruan Traditional Extracts (HTE) including anti-nociceptive, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, platelet aggregation, cell proliferation and as media to propagate Stem Cell growth
d. Haruan Biomedical Products
To established networking for the starting of the production including prototypes, packaging, registration and marketing strategy.State Government is looking forward into making this project as one of the Pahang Flagship Project. In order to make it happen, both State Government and Haruan Research Group is searching for investors to fund for further R&D activities especially in development of biopharmaceutical products and also to commercialize the products.
For further information, please visit: http://www.haruan.net
Stem Cell Production
Pahang will host the world’s largest stem cell manufacturing facility when US-based Bio Cellular Research Organisation (BCRO) sets up operations here this year. Stem cell transplantation researcher BCRO will site its main manufacturing plant in Pahang from its present location in Slovakia. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Pahang Technology Resources Sdn. Bhd. and BCRO Stem Cell Xenotransplantation Sdn. Bhd. on January 28, 2008. Pahang State Government hopes that this MoU would be a catalyst to spur development in biotechnology activities in Pahang.
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