IPharm's Postgraduate Opportunities

The Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals (IPharm) was initiated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) under the directive of the BIOTEK Division in 2006. In collaboration with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), it offers Master and Doctoral degree programmes in various facets of health and pharmaceutical research. Currently, IPharm research laboratories are located in the USM Science and Arts innovation Space Park (SAINS Park) and is expected to be relocated to a new research complex within the university's main campus by 2010.

Capable academicians who have considerable expertise in conducting research will supervise students following the various postgraduate degree programmes. As the institute is affiliated to MOSTI, undertaken research programmes and topics will be closely related to relevant issues such as the National Biotechnology Policy, an important component of Vision 2020 to establish a knowledge-based economy in Malaysia. Therefore, this joint effort of IPharm and USM postgraduate programe will enable initiation of research projects relevant to the Government's agenda, which will bridge the existing gap between academia and policy makers while maintaining the high quality of USM's postgraduate program.

Entry qualifications into the various degree programmes include the minimum CGPA score of 2.75 with priority being given to applicants with good track records. PhD applicants will be required to have a good Masters background. The duration for a Masters programme is between two to three years and three to five years for the PhD programme. All programmes will be conducted via research only. At present, IPharm has a creditable team of eight senior researchers who will act as supervisors, with the possibility of joint supervision by co-supervisors from other related institutions.

Currently, the Institute stresses the following five priority areas:

1) Identification and development of bioactive compounds

2) Screening of active bio-compounds

3) Advanced drug delivery

4) Bio-Processing

5) Biodiagnostics

The initial intake of students - targeted at 15 including foreign applicants - into the various disciplines will be made in the third quarter of this year. The projected student intake is an additional five per year. As the programmes are targeted to bridge the gap between academicians and policy makers, these students will be involved in research that would develop the pharmaceutical industry and further cement IPharm as a major regional player in the pharmaceutical research.

In the main, the students will conduct research in the IPharm laboratories; a number will, however, be sent for attachment at the University of California, USA under the QB3 programe.

IPharms aims at developing new pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals with commercial potential by focusing on the following:

: Identifying niche areas in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical biotechnology by exploiting    readily available natural resources in Malaysia.

: Ensuring regulatory complaint in its pharmaceutical and nutraceutical biotechnology R&D.

: Sustaining prioritized R&D activities and adapting to the latest technology in the research of    drug discovery and development.

IPharm has existing collaborations with local and international bodies, including the Democratic Republic of Korea Biotechnology Working Group, the Drug for Neglected Disease Institute Consortium for Globalizations of Chinese Medicine and the Stanford University, USA.

For further information, please call :

Telephone : 04-6535600

Facsimile  : 04-6535601

E-mail        : admin@ipharm.gov.my