NIBONG TEBAL, 9 February 2022 –Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has always cherished its long-term strategic relations with Boston Scientific Medical Device (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.[referred to as Boston Scientific] and today, both parties have gathered in USM to celebrate a gesture of appreciation upon the plentiful generosity which USM has received from Boston Scientific from March till September 2021, worth at more than RM6 million on research equipment delivered.

The inauguration ceremony of the Thermal Laboratory: Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) donated by Boston Scientific was graced by the Chairman of USM Board of Governors, Dato’ Dr. Awang Adek Hussin.

Also present were USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Dr. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan; Vice-President of Operations, Boston Scientific, Dave Mitchell and principal officers of both parties.

Awang Adek in his speech said, USM has always been enthusiastic with regard to forging partnerships with Boston Scientific, especially in areas of talent development and research and innovation.

“Medical engineering is one of our focus areas which is aligned to the national agenda, evident by its recurring emphasis in the Malaysian Plan, including the latest 12th Malaysia Plan.

“Within this strategic focus area, Boston Scientific is widely recognised as the world leader in medical devices. Consequently, USM, through its various schools and centres, such as the Science and Engineering Research Centre (SERC), and the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, has been engaging very closely with Boston Scientific in research collaboration as well as in the development of our graduates,” he added.

Meanwhile, the equipment that were shipped in beginning March last year, comprised mostly of brand-new equipment to be utilised for major common lab facility, research and teaching equipment, and analytical equipment that benefitted the teaching, research and service labs.

The distributions had been done in two phases;for first phase distribution, the equipment were placed at the Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (IPPT) and all engineering schools through SERC. In the second phase, again through SERC, the equipment were distributed to the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), School of Industrial Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Chemical Sciences and Pusat Sejahtera at the USM Main Campus, and most recently to the USM Health Campus in Kelantan.

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias