IJN to appoint Oxford-based research lecturer as visiting research advisor

From Nurul Hanis Izmir

OXFORD (United Kingdom), Oct 19 (Bernama) – The National Heart Institute (IJN) is to appoint Dr Masliza Mahmod, a Malaysian research lecturer from the University of Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research (OCMR), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, as its visiting advisor in the IJN Research Department.

The appointment, according to IJN chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub, would likely see Dr Masliza, who is the head of the Clinical Trials Group at OCMR, push forward the heart centre’s research in cardiac imaging specifically as well as cardiac research.

“We have had a very productive discussion with Dr Masliza. She is one of the leading researchers in this institution. So, we are really looking forward to collaboration between the two parties,” he told reporters after the discussion between IJN and the OCMR department.

Dr Mohd Azhari said the collaboration would provide the opportunity to young researchers, cardiology doctors or even medical sciences researchers around the country to see IJN as the conduit to collaborate with Oxford University.

In April this year, it was reported that Dr Masliza had been awarded a RM1.6 million British Heart Foundation grant to carry out a pilot study in patients with aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve opening.

Dr Masliza obtained a DPhil (PhD) in Cardiovascular Medicine from the University of Oxford, and Certificate of Completion of Training in Cardiology, UK.

She also obtained a Masters of Medicine from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a primary medical degree from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and holds a membership of the UK Royal Colleges of Physicians.

“We would be honoured to have her with her expertise and wide-ranging networking of research collaborators around the world, not only in the United Kingdom, but in Europe as well as South Africa and other parts of the world,” said Dr Mohd Azhari.

Meanwhile, Dr Masliza said, students need early exposure in medical training and exposure in research to stimulate their interest so that more students would do research.

“It will be difficult initially but it takes time. I’m sure there are talented people out there but they don’t know there is such an opportunity, she said.

-- BERNAMA