USM, PENANG, 16 July 2018 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and TG Ocean Health Food Industries Sdn. Bhd. (TG Ocean) will be conducting clinical trial on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients using OatKing Sport, a multigrain-enriched powder supplement which has received overwhelming response from the public.

According to the USM Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, clinical research has been identified as a key growth engine of the 11th Malaysia Plan, and it plays a key role in advancing human health.

“RA is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease that could lead to progressive joint inflammation and destruction; at present, there is no known cure for this disease and currently the research trend is looking into seeking potential alternative medicine to alleviate the progress of the disease,” he said at the signing ceremony of the Clinical Study Agreement between USM and TG Ocean, here recently.

“It is a great pleasure to collaborate with USM, a well-known Research Intensive University to study the effectiveness of OatKing Sport among RA patients, as we will further explore by conducting human clinical trial with USM researchers from the related field,” said Tan Sri Dato' Seri Tan Khoon Hai, Advisor of TG Ocean, on behalf of the Managing Director, Ong Thor Guan.

“I am happy to announce that TG Ocean is allocating up to RM50,000 for the Bioprocess Technology Programme, through the USM School of Industrial Technology, to be used for the setting up of USM-OatKing Joint Laboratory,” he added.

This is the first pioneering clinical trial, which involved four of the main campuses of USM, led-by principal investigator Dr. Lee Lai Kuan from School of Industrial Technology (USM main campus), Dr. Wan Syamimee Wan Ghazali from School of Medical Sciences (USM Health Campus), Dr. Mastura Mohd Sopian and Dr. Siti Mardhiana Mohamad (Advanced Medical and Dental Institute), and Dr. Foo Keng Yuen from River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre, REDAC (USM Engineering Campus).

Also present from USM were the Dean, School of Industrial Technology, Professor Dr. Azhar Mat Easa; and Acting Group Managing Director of Usains Tech Services Sdn. Bhd., Farid Wajidi Mat Yusoff.

Text: Nor Rafizah Md Zain / Photo: Mohd Fairus Md Isa