| James Kon |
WITH advances in science, it is now possible to develop innovative, precise and targetted medicine for every patient needing them, and to match those treatments to patients who are most likely to benefit from them.
The continuing progress of science in the field of healthcare was highlighted by Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Jaafar, the Minister of Health, in his address as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the 3rd National Scientific Symposium. The event was held yesterday at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
“The precision medicine approach of leveraging unique genetic and genomic characteristics of individual patients to healthcare, is allowing some of them to respond to treatment much better than others,” he said.
“Genomics is today the most powerful tool available for use in understanding of diseases, especially in cancer. We are now witnessing rapid development in the field of precision oncology, whereby the availability of highly personalised diagnostic, pragmatic and pharmacogenomics biomarkers are helping to improve the identification, treatment, planning and survival of cancer patients.”
Similarly, he added, “Much effort has also been invested now, in the research and application of genomic technologies in mainstream medicine, such as those related to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.”
Cardiovascular disease, said the minister, “is the second largest leading cause of death in Brunei Darussalam, after cancer. As we are all aware, cardiovascular disease and most non-communicable diseases can be prevented by means of early detection of risk factors and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile, an unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and lack of physical activities are readily identified as key risk factors that can contribute to heart disease and stroke.”
Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham also noted that the emergence of new infectious diseases that can spread rapidly and beyond borders has driven the need for swift and almost immediate diagnosis.
The 3rd National Scientific Symposium was jointly organised by the Brunei Darussalam Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (BAMLS) and the PAPRSB IHS.
Dr Hajah Surita binti Haji Mohammad Taib, the President of BAMLS and the co-chairperson of the symposium, said, “The Brunei Darussalam Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists, as a professional body, and the PAPRSB IHS aim to inspire, enlighten and inform our participants with valuable knowledge and experience.
A total of 200 participants attended the three-day symposium from January 19-21, comprising of medical laboratory professionals, healthcare professionals, academics, postgraduates and under-graduates. The minister also presented the top three prizes for the poster exhibitions.
Fakhriedwan Idris, a PhD student at the PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences took first prize with his poster on Actin Rearrangement of brain endothelial cells and its effect on tight junction proteins during dengue infection.
In second place was Siti NurIdayu binti Haji Matusin, while Dayangku Hajah Rozillah binti Pengiran Haji Ahmad took third place.
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