LAHORE: Senior medical professionals and health experts have urged the industrial sector, especially Pakistan’s pharmaceutical companies, to come forward and provide funds to the academic institutions and researchers to conduct studies on health solutions.

They said that in developed countries, most of the research projects at the universities are funded by the industry. They deplored that no Pakistani university was among top 500 varsities in term of conducting research, especially in the field of medical sciences, and added that huge financial and material resources were required to initiate quality research to find out local solutions to the health issues.

They were speaking at the launch of an initiative at a local hotel here on Wednesday to provide research grants to young medical professionals and students to start new research projects in their respective areas to find indigenous solutions to diseases and health issues in Pakistan.

Titled “Pharmevo Clinical Research Grant”, the funding project is a joint venture of the Pakistan Journal of Medicine Sciences in collaboration with Clinision, a research organisation, while funds for the research projects would be provided by the local pharmaceutical firm Pharmevo.

Under the project, young researchers can apply for grants up to Rs300,000 for their research projects in the area of medical sciences that would be completed within 18 months. Applications for the research grants would be accepted from July 1 and by Nov 30, 2021, the process would be completed and grants would be distributed among the aspiring candidates.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Pharmevo Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Syed Jamsahid Ahmed said they were trying to improve the image of pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan by promoting research and academic activities in the country and asked the young medical professionals and students to take advantage of this opportunity to materialise their dreams of conducting research.

“We have a dream of creating a healthier society and that dream cannot come true without strong intellectual health, which is not possible without promoting and conducting research.”

“This is the time when we should conduct studies and researches to find out local solutions to our health problems,” he added.

He maintained that his company also wanted to promote ethical practices where funds are utilised for the benefits of the patients and expressed hope that other companies would also follow the path of Pharmevo.

Speaking on the occasion, Shaukat Ali Jawaid, editor of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, said they decided to collaborate with a pharmaceutical firm to help out young Pakistani researchers who wish to conduct research on local health issues but due to lack of resources, could not materialise their dream.

“We are going to provide up to Rs300,000 to young researchers as grants for their research projects that could be completed within 18 months. Applications for the research grants would be accepted from July 1, 2021 while the process would be closed on Oct 31. Within a month, projects would be finalised and announced by Nov 30,” he added.

Eminent endocrinologist and member of the Pharmevo Research Advisory Board Dr Syed Abbas Raza said it was a timely initiative by the pharmaceutical firm Pharmevo to launch a project for conducting local studies saying in most of the countries, industrial sector was funding the scientific and medical researches and providing huge funds to the academic institutions.

Other speakers said during this pandemic and even prior to it, universities and academic institutions have come up with new medical products and solutions including vaccines, medicines and antiviral drugs. They hoped that soon Pakistani researchers would also find solutions to local and global health issues.

Other members of the Research Advisory Board Prof Tayyba Wasim, Dr Shahid Sawrwar, Dr Faisal Nazeer Hussain, Dr Imran Hassan, Dr Atiya Bari, Dr Masood Jawaid also spoke while MD of the Pharmevo Limited, Haroon Qasim, felicitated the experts on becoming part of the research initiative.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2021