PAKISTAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL

Minutes of 2^nd Meeting of

PMRC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) 2011-2014

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The 2^nd meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of PMRC was held on Wednesday, Nov 30, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the PMRC Head Office, Islamabad, under the Chairmanship of Major General Farooq Ahmad Khan, Commandant & Professor/Advisor in Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi.

The following Members attended in the meeting:

1.                  Brig. Dr. Syed Muhammad Imran Majeed, Consultant Cardiologist & Cardiac Electrophysiologist, Head of Department of Clinical Cardiac, Electrophysiologist, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC), Rawalpindi.

2.                  Prof. Dr. Tariq Baqai, Professor & Head of Department of Medicine, Islamic International Medical College, Al-Mizan, IIMC Trust Medical Complex, Rawalpindi. 

3.                  Dr. Faisal Sultan, Chief Executive Officer & Consultant Physician, Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Shoukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore.

4.                  Prof. Dr. Syeda Bushra Iftikhar, Department of Community Medicine, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.

5.                  Dr. Ansar Maxood, Consultant Dental Surgeon/Incharge Dental Department, The Children’s Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad.

6.                  Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Head, Department of Psychiatry, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.

7.         Dr. Huma Qureshi, Executive Director/Member Secretary, Pakistan Medical Research Council, (PMRC), Islamabad.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Shafi, Chairman Anatomy Department, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad and Prof. Dr. Syed Atif Husnain Kazmi, Head, Department of Dermatology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore could not attend the meeting because of their prior commitments.

Dr. Muhammad Arif Munir, Principal Research Officer, Pakistan Medical Research Council (PMRC) Head Office, Islamabad assisted the members of the TAC.  

Dr. Huma Qureshi, Executive Director, PMRC, welcomed and thanked the participants for taking time out from their busy schedule for attending this important meeting.

The deliberations of the meeting were undertaken according to the following agenda:

1. Brief about the progress of approved projects of 1^st TAC meeting.
2. Review of the Research Projects.

AGENDA ITEM # 1:

Brief About Progress of Approved Projects:

Dr. Arif briefed the committee about the progress of research projects that were approved in the last PMRC Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting. He informed the Committee that a total of 15 projects were approved by the last TAC, out of which 11 have been funded, 03 are in process and one has been withdrawn by Principal Investigator.

 AGENDA ITEM # 2:

Review of Research Projects submitted to PMRC and recommendation for funding by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC):

Following 16 research projects were approved by the reviewers and presented to TAC, these include 09 routine projects, 04 high priority area projects, 2 emergency and disaster (flood) related projects and 01 multi-centre project.

PROJECT No. 1

Title of Project:                      To estimate the levels of non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein

(apo) B in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus.

Principal Investigator:           Dr. Misbah Ul Islam Khan, Principal Research Officer, PMRC

Research Centre, FJMC, Lahore.

Institutions:             PMRC Research Centre, FJMC, Lahore.

Budget Requested:                Rs.200,817/-

Duration:                                One Year

TAC Observations/Suggestions:

1. There is already much data available on this subject.
2. As HbA1C has no role in the study therefore the cost demanded for kits i.e. Rs.50,000/ for HbA1C should be deleted or else this kit may be requested as donation  from the PMRC Centre at NHRC, SZH, Lahore, which has produced this kit.

TAC Decision:           Project approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 2

Title:               The antibacterial activity of methylglyoxal-reconstituted beri honey against extended spectrum b-lactamase and carbapenemase producing gram negative rods.

PI:                   Maj. Gen (R) Prof. Dr. Abdul Hannan, Head of Microbiology, University of

Health Sciences, Lahore.

Institution:      Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Budget:           Rs. 155,500/-

Duration:       01 Year

Decision:        Project Approved.

PROJECT No. 3

Title:               Child tuberculosis: Active household contact tracing and screening for tuberculosis in a tertiary care public institute of Karachi.

PI:                   Dr. Munir Ahmed Sheikh, Medical Officer, PMRC, Specialized Research Centre

on Child Health (SRCCH), NICH, Karachi.

Institution:      PMRC Specialized Research Centre on Child Health, National Institute of Child

Health (NICH), Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 118,741/-

Duration:        08 months

TAC Observations/Suggestions:

• PI to clarify as to why adults will be brought to NICH.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above clarification.     

PROJECT No. 4

Title:               Effect of breastfeeding during infancy on the bone growth in prepubertal children.

PI:                   Prof. Dr. Hamid Javed Qureshi, Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Institution:      Physiology Department, University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Budget:           Rs. 73,000/-

Duration:        01 year

TAC Observations/suggestions:

1. Why only male children included in the study?
2. If sample contains only male children, then it should also be reflected in title and objectives.
3. Insulin growth factor (IGF) should be written as growth marker.

Decision:        Project was approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 5

Title:               Impact assessment of educational intervention among dental practitioners about infection control.

PI:               Israr Ahmed, Research Officer, PMRC Research Centre, Khyber Medical

College, Peshawar.

Institution:      PMRC Research Centre, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar.   

      Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar.

Budget:           Rs. 151,686/-

Duration:        16 months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• To have statistically valid results the PI should make sure that a minimum of 30 qualified and 30 non qualified dentists should be included.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above affirmation.

PROJECT No. 6

Title:               Serum hepcidin levels in patients with end stage renal disease receiving erythropoietin therapy.

PI:                   Dr. Shahida Mohsin, Head, Department of Haematology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Institution:      Department of Haematology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

Budget:           Rs. 100,500/-

Duration:        12  months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• In the study design, the word cross-sectional should be added.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above addition.

PROJECT No. 7

Title:               An educational intervention for laboratory workers regarding effective biosafety

                        measures.  

PI:         Sadia Nasim, Research Officer, PMRC Specialized Research Centre on Child

Health (SRCCH), National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi.

Institution:   PMRC, Specialized Research Centre on Child Health, National Institute of Child

Health, Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 19,500/-

Duration:        09 months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

1. Post intervention evaluation cannot be done on phone and should be done by personal visits and observation.
2. Comparison could also be made between public and private sector hospital labs.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 8

Title:               Comparison of a rapid test with ELISA for the detection of Hepatitis B surface antibodies.

PI:                   Safia Bibi, Research Officer, PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi

Institution:      PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 113,820/-

Duration:        01 year

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• The comparison between these two techniques can not be generalized as it will be kit specific.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above affirmation.

PROJECT No. 9

Title:               Validation of in house myelop eroxidase (MPO) assay (ELISA based) with a

                        commercially available kit (ELISA).

PI:                   Miss. Saima Naz, Research Officer, PMRC Research Centre, NHRC, Shaikh, Zayed Hospital, Lahore.

Institution:      National Health Research Complex (NHRC), Lahore.

           Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital. Lahore.

Budget:           Rs. 6000/-

Duration:        08 months

Decision:        Project Approved

HIGH PRIORITY RESEARCH GRANT

PROJECT No. 10

Title:               Hepatitis B vaccination of the unvaccinated health care workers and measurement of their antibody titers at a tertiary care hospital

PI:                   Dr. Waquaruddin Ahmed, Research Director, PMRC Research Centre, JPMC,

                        Karachi.

Institution:      PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 142,042/-

Duration:        02 years

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• What would be the sample size of siblings, relatives of the health care workers and how it will be managed in this budget? PI should put in some scientifically valid number and do costing for their tests

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 11

Title:               Treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in thalessemia Major patients.

PI:                   Dr. Waquaruddin Ahmed, Research Director, PMRC Research Centre, JPMC,

Karachi.

Institution:      PMRC Research Centre, JPMC, Karachi

            Hussaini Blood Bank, Karachi.

            Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program, Sindh

Budget:           Rs. 64,400/-

Duration:        02 years

Decision:        Project Approved

PROJECT No. 12.

Title:               Translation, cultural adaptation and validation of Psychosis screening Questionnaire.

PI:                   Dr. Haider A. Naqvi, Assistant Professor, Department of  Psychiatry, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.

Institution:      Department of Psychiatry & Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 201,900/-

Duration:        01 year

TAC Observations/suggestions:

1. The word “Urdu speaking population” reflects to a particular ethnicity so this may be replaced by population who understands Urdu?
2. An assent is taken from a psychotic patient and not consent. Please change or clarify.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 13

Title:               Assessment of Stigma among patients with hepatitis B and C residing in                                     Islamabad

PI:                   Ibrar Rafique, Research Officer, PMRC Head Office Islamabad

Institution:      Pakistan Medical Research Council, Islamabad.

                        Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad.

                        CDA, Hospital, Islamabad.

                        Federal Govt. Services Hospital, Islamabad

Budget:           Rs. 180,904/-

Duration:        08 months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• The budget of the project should be rationalized.
• Translation of questionnaire in Urdu language.

Decision:        Project approved subject to budget modifications.

EMERGENCY AND DISASTER (FLOOD) CATEGORY.

PROJECT No. 14

Title:               Frequency of Hepatitis A and E virus infection, and other water borne infections among flood victims in Pakistan

PI:                   Dr. Shazia Tabassum Hakim, Associate Professor  & Chairperson, Department of

Microbiology, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi.

Institution:      Virology and Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Jinnah

University for Women, Karachi.

Budget:           Rs. 249,000/-

Duration:        06 months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• The title and objectives do not match. The objectives should be summarized in title like Causes of diarrheal disease/gastroenteritis in flood camps.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

PROJECT No. 15

Title:               Coping with pregnancy related needs during natural calamity and forced displacement.

PI:                   Dr. Farkhanda Ghafoor, SRO, National Health Research Complex, Lahore.

Institution:      NHRC, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex, Lahore.

                        Umrana Mumtaz Trust, Charsada, KPK.

Budget:           Rs. 298,543/-

Duration:        01 year

TAC Observations/suggestions:

• The title of the project should be changed to “identifying the pregnancy related needs during natural calamity and forced displacement”.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

MULTICENTRE STUDY

PROJECT No. 16

Title:               Study of Dengue fever case management and association of co-morbidities with deaths.

PI:                   Muhammad Arif Nadeem Saqib, Senior Research Officer, M. Phil,

                        PMRC Head Office Islamabad,

.Institution:     PMRC, Head Office, Islamabad

                        PMRC Research Centre Ganga Ram Hopsital Lahore

                        PMRC Research Centre Sheikh Zayed Hopsital Lahore

                        PMRC Research Centre Mayo Hospital Lahore

Budget:           Rs. 584, 000/-

Duration:        09 months

TAC Observations/suggestions:

1.      Objectives should be more specific.

2.      Physical co-morbidities should also looked for.

3.      Budget should be rationalized.

Decision:        Project approved subject to above modifications.

The meeting concluded with vote of thanks from the Chair.

Dr. Huma Qureshi

                         (Member/Secretary TAC)

Approved & Signed:

Major General Farooq Ahmad Khan

(Chairman TAC)