Asia Research News 2009

asia researchnews 2009

A R e s e a r c h S E A p u b l i c a t i o n t o h i g h l i g h t r e s e a r c h i n A s i a

The brightest light on the planet...

Seeking the essence of Islam...

Stem cells: the brain game...

Climate change in Southeast Asia...

Challenging the "Out of Africa" theory...

2C O N T E N T S a n d I N T R O D U C T I O N

3-4 T E C H N O L O G Y

5-6 S O C I E T Y

7-8 A G R I C U L T U R E

9-10 E N V I R O N M E N T

11-12 A R C H A E O L O G Y

13-14 I N T . R E L A T I O N S

15-19 H E A L T H

Welcome to the first edition of Asia Research News. This is an annual publication highlighting interesting on-going research inuniversities and research institutions in Asia. Asia Research News is part ofResearchSEA's service to further raise awareness about research and experts in Asiato the international community, including journalists, researchers and policy makers.

This issue focuses on a variety of research topics ranging from the launch of theXFEL facility in Japan to children in the Philippines, climate change in Southeast Asiaand a 3000 year old Egyptian princess. All research stories featured in Asia ResearchNews 2009 consist of on-going or recently completed work. Contact details of leadresearchers are provided with each article for readers who would like moreinformation. This issue is printed in May 2009. For further updates of each project,please contact the lead researcher or go to www.researchsea.com.

ResearchSEA would like to thank the research institutions below for their supportof our continued efforts to raise awareness of research in Asia. For this first issuecontributions were received from (in alphabetical order):

• Asian Institute of Technology

• Forest Research Institute Malaysia

• Hong Kong Polytechnic University

• International Development Research Centre

• Keio University

• RIKEN

• Tokyo University of Science

• Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

• Universiti Putra Malaysia

• Universiti Sains Malaysia

• University of the Philippines - Diliman

• Waseda University

Institutions who would like to have their research or advertisement featured in AsiaResearch News 2010 should contact Magdeline Pokar at [email protected].

Editors and writers:Magdeline Pokar, Catherine Atkins, Ruth Francis and Daniel Raymer

ResearchSEA Limited 65 Covent Garden, Willingham, Cambridge CB24 5GD UKWebsite: www.researchsea.com • Email: [email protected]

Copyright ResearchSEA Limited 2009

If you would like to reproduce any articles in Asia Research News 2009, please contact ResearchSEA

Asia Research News 2009 is published by ResearchSEA Limited, Asia’s premier platform for raisingawareness of Asian research and experts. Research featured in Asia Research News 2009 is based oninformation provided by the research institutions listed above. ResearchSEA editors have strived to ensure theaccuracy of information and aims of the projects featured in Asia Research News 2009. Readers are advisedto use the contacts provided for confirmation of current details and status of projects. ResearchSEA Limitedaccepts no liability for any loss, damage or expense incurred resulting from the use of information in thispublication.

Cover Photo Credit: Waseda University

Contents Photo Credits: RIKEN (Technology) • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Society)Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Agriculture) • Universiti Sains Malaysia (Environment)Universiti Sains Malaysia (Archaeology) • International Development Research Centre (Int. Relations) Keio University (Health).

3 T E C H N O L O G Y

DREAM IT –Development Research to EmpowerAll Mongoliansthrough InformationCommunicationsTechnologyMongolia’s large land mass and limited infrastructurepose formidable development challenges. More thanhalf of the country’s 2.6 million citizens live in remoteareas, many in communities not connected by roads.How best to provide essential services to a populationwidely dispersed across an often difficult terrain?

Canada’s International Development Research Centrehas supported research in Mongolia since the early 1990s,helping the country connect to the Internet and to useinformation and communication technologies (ICTs). Acoordinated country program is now being launched toexplore ways in which ICT can be harnessed to deliverinformation and services more efficiently and equitablythroughout Mongolia. This large-scale holistic project willinvestigate the best ICT tools to use in addressing a rangeof development challenges in spheres such as health,education, environment, livelihoods, and governance.

Initially, six projects are clustered under the umbrellaof the new DREAM IT program. For example, to helpreduce job stress among health professionals,researchers will pilot an online psychological counsellingservice. The data collected will inform the Ministry ofHealth about what works in the Mongolian context.

Another team will test the delivery of distanceeducation via television, the Internet, and mobile phones.The findings should help the Ministry of Education designplans to expand distance learning. Another study willfocus on improving ICT and mathematics course contentin universities.

Making sign languageaccessible to all Researchers are developing a prototype which willenable the recognition of sign language by computer

Sign language is often the only language that deafpeople have 100% access to. Communication with thenon-deaf population can often be difficult due to the lackof understanding of sign language.

Scientists at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak areworking on a framework for a sign language computerinterface to aid mastery of sign language and interactionbetween deaf and non-deaf people. The prototype will beable to extract the hand area from a complex and dynamicbackground in order to interpret hand gestures foraccurate sign language recognition and presentation. It ishoped that the results of this research will make it easierfor deaf people to communicate with others in their dailylives and vice versa.

Other projects will explore ways to boost citizenengagement in e-governance initiatives and improve thedelivery of public information. One research team aims tobuild a model "participatory eco-information system" tofacilitate dialogue among government officials, grassrootsgroups and mining companies in the Gobi region.

For further information contact:Wang Hui HuiFaculty of Computer Science and Information TechnologyUniversiti Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Dr Gombo Enkhbold Datacom Co. Ltd Email: [email protected]

Maria Ng Lee-Hoon Pan Asia Networking ProgramInternational Development Research CentreEmail: [email protected]

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The brightest light onthe planet Using beams of electrons travelling close to the speed oflight, XFEL will produce light 10 billion times brighterthan the sun and allow scientists to study proteins,viruses and nanomaterials currently impossible to view,promising important breakthroughs for the nextgeneration of scientific discovery.

The 700- metre long X-ray Free-Electron Laser (XFEL)currently under construction in Harima, Japan, will be thefirst X-ray laser in the world. Using beams of electronstravelling close to the speed of light, XFEL will producelight 10 billion times brighter than the sun and radiationbeams a billion times brighter than existing x-ray sources.

XFEL will be able to take snapshots of extremely fastmovements, including the vibration of atoms in crystallattices. This will allow close, real-time observation ofsmall but vital objects such as proteins, viruses andnanomaterials.

The machine offers hope to fields of drug discovery byallowing scientists to study proteins and viruses currentlyimpossible to view in this way since they cannot be frozenand immobilised for scanning. New nanomaterials can bedeveloped thanks to the ability to instantaneously captureatomic scale events. Similar facilities are being built byteams in Germany and the US but the Harima XFEL willbe the first of its kind.

Scheduled for completion in 2010, the RIKEN HarimaInstitute has already been flooded with proposals fromaround the world from teams keen to benefit from thispioneering laser.

4T E C H N O L O G Y

For further information contact:Professor T. IshikawaRIKEN-JASRI Joint project for Spring-8 XFELEmail: [email protected]

Robotic help for ageingpopulation In the future, TWENDY-ONE will be able to assist peoplein their homes, transferring them from chair to bed orhelping them to stand. In a rapidly ageing society, thepossibilities for this little home-help robot are huge.

Waseda University’s humanoid robot, TWENDY-ONE isnearly 5ft tall and its manual dexterity allows it to handlekitchen utensils and mirror complex human manoeuvres.TWENDY-ONE’s hands are covered with a silicone skin toimitate the softness of a human hand and each hand’sthirteen sensors allow for delicate and precise movement.

Converting siliconwaste to electricity Researchers in Japan have developed a technologywhich transforms wasted silicon sludge into a materialwhich captures wasted heat energy and converts it intoelectricity.

The electronics industry produces silicon sludge aswaste. In the process of silicon wafer fabrication, about60% of the initial silicon source is discarded as siliconsludge. Even solar cell fabrication produces silicon sludgewaste. Associate Professor Iida and his team from TokyoUniversity of Science have developed a technology whichconverts silicon sludge into magnesium silicide (Mg2Si), amaterial which traps wasted heat energy and converts itinto electricity. One possible use for this technology is indiesel or petrol cars which waste about 70% of heatgenerated in the engine and exhausts.

For further information contact:Sugano LaboratorySchool of Science and Engineering, Waseda UniversityEmail: [email protected]://twendyone.com/index_e.html

For further information contact:Associate Professor Tsutomu IidaFaculty of Industrial Science and TechnologyTokyo University of ScienceEmail: [email protected] • http://www.tus.ac.jp/tlo/

The XFEL facility (under construction) stretching out from the roundSPring-8 facility in the background.

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One size fits all salespromotion? Sales promotion is a well-established means of gainingmarket share, but how do different cultures react tothe sales promotion techniques used by manymultinational corporations?

Do differences in age, product type, occupation andreligious affiliation have an impact on the effectiveness ofcertain sales promotion techniques compared withothers? Professor de Run of Universiti Malaysia Sarawakhas been conducting research on the Asian consumers’viewpoint of sales promotion techniques. In particularthe study looks at the impact of national and localculture as well as religion on sales promotion activities.The study is being conducted amongst consumers in the25-45 year age group in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia,Brunei and Thailand.

For further information contact:Associate Professor Ernest Cyril de RunFaculty of Economy and BusinessUniversiti Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

5 S O C I E T Y

Tourism forecasting forHong KongGiven the important role played by the tourism industryin Hong Kong’s economy, an accurate way of forecastingdemand is crucial for tour operators, transport andfacility providers, policymakers and businessstrategists

Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s project aims todevelop a web-based forecasting system to forecast thedemand for tourism in Hong Kong over the next decade.With this system, users can be informed about the factorsthat determine the demand for Hong Kong tourism andthe future demand trends which will enable them to planaccordingly. The system forecasts tourism-relateddemand in terms of tourist arrivals, total touristexpenditure, expenditure by product category and hotelroom nights. It will also look at the number of outgoingtourists from Hong Kong and their preferred destinations.

For further information contact:Professor Haiyan Song School of Hotel and Tourism ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityEmail: [email protected]

Fashion industry gainsfrom first digitaldatabase of Chinesehead and face shapesThe SizeChina project provides invaluable data ofChinese head and face shapes for the fashion industryand the global Chinese market.

Prior to the SizeChina project, all ergonomic dataavailable for fashion and clothing designers focused on thebody shapes of Western populations. This was problematicsince Western physiology differs significantly from thephysiology of Chinese people, particularly in terms of theshape of the head and face. The result was that helmets,facemasks and eyeglasses designed from Western datasimply did not fit the needs of Chinese users.

Using the most current digital scanning methodology,researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic Universityassembled data from a representative cross section of themainland Chinese population to create the first-everdigital database of Chinese head and face shapes. Now,for the first time, products will genuinely fit.

The next phase of the project will see the creation of adatabase of Chinese foot and hand shapes. Westerndesigned footwear does not fit Chinese customers well.For example, Chinese women tend to have a wider footand a higher arch. The research on hand shape will takeinto account strength and flexibility as well as size. Thisdata will be of use to designers and manufacturers ofhand power tools which have traditionally beendimensioned to suit Western male users.

For further information contact:Professor Roger Ball School of Design The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityEmail: [email protected]

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Japanese-Filipinochildren in metro ManilaConcerns about the welfare of children of Japanesefathers and Filipina mothers have been raised by severalorganisations. This study will open avenues for mutualco-operation between the Philippines and Japan to assistthese children.

Relationships between Japanese nationals and Filipinaoverseas workers, primarily employed in the entertainmentand restaurant industry, often fail due to many factorsincluding financial difficulties, cultural differences andlanguage barriers. The children of such relationships aretypically left to live with their Filipina mothers.

In the Philippines concerns regarding the welfare ofthese children have been raised by several non-government organisations yet there is a lack of informationabout these children and their families. The study by theUniversity of the Philippines focuses on Japanese-Filipinochildren in Manila city. These children need to understandthe two cultures from which their parents come and thisstudy aims to provide a demographic presentation of thenumbers of Japanese-Filipino children in Manila and toidentify and recommend areas for intervention from boththe Philippines and Japan to assist these children.

For further information contact:Professor Jocelyn T. CaragayCollege of Social Work and Community DevelopmentUniversity of the Philippines Diliman Email: [email protected]

Encouragingcommunity-basedtourism This research looks at how sustainable tourism may beimplemented in the absence of government assistancein areas of scarce resource.

When Taketomi Island, one of the islands at thesouthernmost edge of Japan abandoned fishing andfarming in favour of tourism, a community-basedapproach was adopted. The entire community wasencouraged to focus on their traditions and value-systems to serve as a basis for action and involvement.

This research being undertaken by the University ofthe Philippines seeks to investigate ways in which wholecommunities can sustain and profit from the benefitsbrought by tourism. The study will look at the experienceof Capul Island in Northern Samar and compare it to thetourism development seen in Taketomi island.

The project will look at how sustainable tourism maybe implemented in areas of scarce resource or with littleinfrastructure investment and in the absence ofgovernment assistance. The successful organisation ofcommunities to share in the responsibility of promotingtourism activities will also be studied.

For further information contact:Dr David Leonides T. YapSchool of Urban and Regional Planning University of the Philippines DilimanEmail: [email protected]

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Spicing up pepperproduction As the fourth-largest producer of pepper in the world,Malaysian scientists are looking at alternative meansfor harvesting and uses for waste products from theprocessing of pepper.

Malaysia is the fourth-largest world producer ofpepper after Brazil, India and Vietnam with 95% ofMalaysian pepper grown in Sarawak. Pepper vines areusually found on hilly terrain which makes pepperharvesting laborious, time-consuming and hazardous.

A team at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak is workingto develop a mechanised pepper harvester. The machinewill consist of a robotic chassis and an arm that willreach over four metres, the average height of a peppervine. The current design runs on wheels, but theresearchers are also investigating the possibility of theharvester running on a rail.

Once the pepper is harvested, the processing of thespice produces a large amount of organic waste, most ofwhich is currently discarded. As an alternative, a secondteam at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak is researchingthe potential of pelletising the pepper waste into biomasspellets for energy generation. This has been previouslydone with wood, barley and wheat waste which providesuseful grounds for comparison.

Rice husks to therescueScientists have developed a cheap and efficient meansof reducing industrial pollution using a waste productfrom rice processing.

In rice-producing countries, the processing of therice produces rice husk which is generally either burnt orsent to landfill. The burning of the rice husk generatesrice husk ash as well as greenhouse and acidic gaseswhich cause global warming. In Malaysia alone overeighty thousand metric tons of this ash is producedannually. Since pollutants that cause global warming/acidrain and ashes are produced simultaneously from theindustrial combustion processes, an attractive andeconomical solution to this problem is to utilise the ash toabsorb these pollutants.

Working on this challenge, the team at UniversitiSains Malaysia have successfully developed a technologyto produce a highly active sorbent/catalyst from the ricehusk ash that is efficient in simultaneously removingthree important industrial pollutant gases (i.e. N2O, NOx,and SO2,).

Mass Cloning of PlantsThis new system can produce tissue-cultured plantletsfaster than the conventional gel culture medium.

Improvements to the speed at which plants areproduced can impact on the competitiveness and cost-effectiveness of the agricultural industry. Scientists inMalaysia have developed a system which increases thespeed at which plantlets can be cultivated.

The new system is made up of two glass vessels.The bottom vessel holds the culture medium and the topcontainer holds the plantlets. The culture medium ispumped into the upper container a number of times aday, depending on the plant species.

Tests performed on Alocasia x Amazonicaornamental plantlets showed growth after immersion inthe culture liquid for just thirty minutes per day. Aftertwo weeks, multiple shoots were seen and the plantletswere ready to be transferred to an outdoor environment.

For further information contact:Dr Lee Keat TongSchool of Chemical EngineeringUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:(Pepper harvester)Mohammed Shahril OsmanDepartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering University Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

(Pepper waste pelletisation)Siti Nor Ain MusaDepartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering University Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Associate Professor Chan Lai KengSchool of Biological SciencesUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

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Ceramic glaze from oilpalm wasteAs a leading exporter of palm oil, Malaysia has anabundance of agricultural waste from the processing ofthe oil. This project looks at using the waste products tocreate value-added products for the ceramics industry.

The research by the Universiti Sains Malaysia hasshown that the use of oil palm waste in the developmentof glazes can make a significant contribution to the localceramics industry and reduce reliance on non-renewableraw materials. The glazes produced from the oil palmwaste can be used for a wide variety of ceramic productssuch as tiles, tableware, decorative items and sculptures.

Soil mapping to reducefertilizer usePrecise monitoring of soil properties can assist farmerswith soil and fertilizer management, reducing fertilizerinput costs and environmental impact.

The characteristics of agricultural land are generallyvariable. To practice precision farming, traditional field soilsampling and laboratory tests, which are costly and timeconsuming, can be replaced by a more rapid and intensivesoil-sampling techniques.

Scientists in Malaysia have developed a mappingsystem known as RETECS (real-time electrical conductivityof soil). The electrical conductivity of the soil is measuredat various points in the field giving a reading of thenutrient content of the soil. The results are displayed inreal-time on a computer screen in the tractor cab.

Once the electrical conductivity data has beencollected, another system known as MAZDEC(management zone delineation using soil-apparentelectrical conductivity) developed by the same researchgroup is used to produce a detailed soil-variability map foridentifying areas of contrasting soil properties.

This enables the farmer to determine different ratesof fertilizer required according to the needs of the crop andsoil. The systems enable precision farming of rice whileimproving fertilizer management in paddy fields whichsaves money and reduces pollution.

For further information contact:Professor Ir Dr Mohd Amin Mohd SoomSmart Farming Technology Laboratory Universiti Putra Malaysia Email: [email protected]

For further information contact:Shamsu MohamadDesign Department School of Arts,Universiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Nor Aini ShukorInstitute of Tropical Forestry and Forest ProductsUniversiti Putra MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

8A G R I C U L T U R E

Increasing childbirthand healing herb stockLabisia pumila is used by Malay women to induce andfacilitate childbirth as well as to help healing after theevent.

Three varieties viz pumila, alata and lanceolata arefound in Malaysia but only two are commonly availableand logging and forest encroachment activities areaffecting their ability to grow. Researchers at UniversitiPutra Malaysia are investigating whether raising plantedstocks of selected cuttings using different methods canhelp increase stocks. The team is testing the threevarieties in different systems; misting vs. non misting,river sand vs. sawdust vs. sand and sawdust mix, and soon. They have shown so far that L. pumila var alatausing stem cutting is the most viable genotype thatcould be propagated vegetatively through rooting ofcuttings especially when raised on river sand mediumwith misting system.

Multi-spectral imagingfor oil palm plantationsUse of satellite imagery will allow new opportunities foreffective plantation management.

The use of satellites enables the capture ofinformation about crops grown over a large area andmulti-spectral imagery taken by satellite is able to detectproperties of plants which are not visible in standard orinfra-red photography.

This research aims to develop an algorithm for theidentification of oil palm by modelling the spectralsignature of these plants. This will lead to thedevelopment of a prototype that is able to identifyindividual oil palm trees in a satellite image. Thus allowingdifferentiation and classification of non oil palm and oilpalm plantation areas leading to better plantationmanagement across Malaysia.

For further information contact:Wang Hui Hui - Faculty of Computer Science andInformation Technology, Universiti Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

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9 E N V I R O N M E N T

This study, conducted by EEPSEA, identifies the regionsmost vulnerable to climate change in Southeast Asia.

"Based on this mapping assessment, all the regions ofthe Philippines; the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam; almostall the regions of Cambodia; North and East Laos PDR; theBangkok region of Thailand and West Sumatra, SouthSumatra, Western Java, and Eastern Java of Indonesia areamong the most vulnerable regions in Southeast Asia"(Yusuf & Francisco).

A report on this mapping project is available online athttp://www.eepsea.org

Climate Change vulnerability map for SEA

Improving climatechange predictionsGravity waves play an important role in the globalcirculation and climate systems.

Scientists in Japan are studying the mechanisms ofgravity wave radiation from jet streams in the atmosphere.The results will help reduce uncertainties in global climatemodels, thus further improving climate change predictions.

For further information contact:Dr Norihiko SugimotoDepartment of PhysicsKeio UniversityEmail:[email protected]

For further information contact:Dr Herminia A. FranciscoEconomy and Environment Program for Southeast AsiaInternational Development Research CentreEmail: [email protected]

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Absorbing landfillpollutantsLeachate pollution of chemicals such as ammonia andheavy metals from landfill sites is being tackled by thedevelopment of a new adsorbent.

Current technology for removing pollutants fromleachate is expensive because it involves many stages oftreatment and available absorbents only remove specificpollutants.

Researchers are using low cost and waste materialsto develop a new material which can absorb and removemany pollutants leaching from landfills, resulting in adischarge which complies with the Department of theEnvironment standards. This single stage treatmentsignificantly reduces the cost of treatment especially fordeveloping countries.

Cement Kilns toremove toxicchemicalsHigh temperature incinerators, the recommendedtreatment for organic hazardous chemicals areexpensive for developing countries. Cement kilnshowever are readily available and offer an affordablealternative to treat certain persistent organicpollutants.

Hazardous waste issues are now a priority in Asiadue to the toxic effects on human health and theenvironmental risks posed by inadequate managementof these pollutants. Understanding of the safe andeffective management of hazardous wastes is key toensuring that the risks associated with these productsare minimized and enable to Asian countries to complywith international legislation.

One means of doing this is by demonstrating thepotential for clean-up of hazardous waste by co-processing in existing cement kilns. The Asian Instituteof Technology will be conducting real-life pilotdemonstration projects to show the use of cement kilnsin the management of hazardous chemicals.

For further information contact:Professor Chongrak Polprasert School of Environment, Resources and DevelopmentAsian Institute of TechnologyEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Associate Professor Hamidi Abdul AzizSchool of Civil EngineeringUniversiti Sains Malaysia.Email: [email protected]

Making recycling paperenvironmentally friendlyThe use of recycled paper reduces the need for virginresources to be used. Yet the de-inking processutilises many chemicals which contribute toenvironmental pollution.

There is a huge global demand for recycled paper,which reduces the need to cut down trees for our paperneeds. Yet the recycling process is far from beingenvironmentally friendly. The current de-inking processresults in a high concentration of polluting chemicals,which also diminishes the strength of the pulp fibre. Inorder to tackle this issue, scientists in Malaysia havedeveloped a low cost environmentally-friendly processusing enzyme systems which significantly reduces theimpact of chemical pollution.

For further information contact:Professor Darah IbrahimSchool of Biological SciencesUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

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Challenging the ‘Out of Africa’ theoryArchaeologists in Malaysia reveal early human existencein South East Asia dating back to 1.83 million years,calling into question the date of the "Out of Africa"theory.

The "Out of Africa" theory is based on fossils of earlyman found in Georgia dating back between 1.7-1.8 millionyears, but new findings by Universiti Sains Malaysia showevidence of human existence in South East Asia datingback 1.83 million years. The discovery suggests that the"Out of Africa" theory ought to be earlier than 1.8 millionyears ago.

The study at Bukit Bunuh in Lenggong in the state ofPerak, Malaysia by Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Centre forArchaeological Research (CARM) uncovered stone toolartefacts like hand axes and flake tools preserved insuevite, a type of rock formed by meteorite impact. Therock dated in Japan using fission track dating revealed adate of approximately 1.83 million years old.

These discoveries at Bukit Bunuh provide newevidence that human life existed in Malaysia 1.83 millionyears ago and revise previous theories that the earliesthumans in the region inhabited Java, Indonesia from 1.2 to1.7 million years ago. It suggests that early man lived inMalaysia before migrating to Java as a result of thedestruction of Bukit Bunuh by meteorite impact. Thediscovery of the hand tools also clearly disputes theMovius Line theory that the use of hand axes did not occurin South East Asia until much later.

Meanwhile, on another site, researchers from CARMunearthed the remains of a sophisticated iron smeltingsite, dating back to the 3rd Century AD.

The discovery at Lembah Bujang, Kedah is furtherproof that early human civilization in the region was farmore advanced than was first believed. The site was usedfor iron smelting and tools to pump oxygen into the ironsmelting process were found alongside artefacts such asrooftops of buildings, beads and pots. Carbon dating of acoal sample from the site was carried out, placing thedate of the site around the 3rd century AD. The remains ofan administration building or port complex were alsodiscovered nearby.

For further information contact:Associate Professor Dr. Mokhtar SaidinThe Centre for Archaeological Research Malaysia Universiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Insight into pre-historic PhilippinesOngoing research of Palawan Island aims to create astone tool classification system and a clear picture ofthe pre-historic Philippines.

Palawan Island in the South-West Philippines, is thesite of the some of the oldest human remains in theregion. The Palawan Island Prehistoric Project havediscovered evidence of burials and artefacts showing theuse of the site dating back 15 000 years. One of the sitesexcavated, Ille Cave, has revealed a number of stonestools, which are currently being analysed. To date, veryfew stone-age tools found in the Philippines haveundergone any detailed analysis and this project willprovide the opportunity to gain a clearer picture of thepre-history of the islands.

The study aims to reconstruct the methods used formanufacturing stone tools and to conduct a microscopicuse-wear analysis of the artefacts to identify theirfunctions and activities that took place at Ille duringprehistoric times. A classification system will beestablished which can be used as a standard for therecording and evaluation of prehistoric stone tools in thefuture.

The team have uncovered evidence that earlyanatomically modern Homo Sapiens came to Germanyinhabited by Neanderthals, probably from the near-East, and introduced their technologies 80 000 yearsearlier than previously assumed.

On another project, archaeologists from theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman and the RhinelandRegional Council in Germany have collaborated on anexcavation project in Inden/Altdorf, Germany. Itemsfound include projectile implements for hunting spearsas well as various hafted working tools. The researchersfound residue on the stone tools which has beenidentified as tar produced by the distillation of birchbark. This is the earliest synthetic product in pre-historyand was used as an adhesive to attach stoneimplements onto wooden shafts.

For further information contact:Dr Alfred F. PawlikArchaeological Studies ProgramUniversity of the Philippines DilimanEmail: [email protected]

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3000 year old EgyptianprincessArchaeologists from Waseda University, Tokyo, discoverthe 3000 year old remains of an Egyptian princess.

The site at Saqqara, south of Cairo, is an ancientnecropolis which has been the subject of excavations bythe team from Waseda University since 1991. In earlyMarch 2009, a previously unknown tomb consisting of thebase of a pyramid, a monumental gateway, a colonnadedcourtyard, and an ante-chamber with three cult chapelswas found on a rocky outcrop on the edge of the site. Thecomplex measures 27 by 10 metres and dates back to theNineteenth Dynasty.

The tomb contained a broken limestonesarcophagus, inscribed with hieroglyphics in brilliant bluecolor indicating the title 'noblewoman', three mummiesand fragments of funerary objects.

The identity of the bodies is a mystery as the title ofNoblewoman is rare in this period. It was used forwomen from the royal family or of outstanding stature.The Japanese team believes that the tomb belongs toIsisnofret, daughter of Prince Khaemwaset andgranddaughter of Ramses II, the famed 19th dynastyPharaoh who reigned over Egypt for about 66 years from1279 to 1213 BC.

For further information contact:Office of Information & Public RelationsWaseda UniversityEmail: [email protected]

The Sarcophagus of Isisnofret

Relief decoration on the exterior wall of the sarcophagus ofIsisnofret

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13 I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E L A T I O N S

Japan-US partnershipreviewed from a globalviewpointUS studies in Japan are now at a crucial turning pointand a more comprehensive understanding is required.

Waseda University has a long history of internationalexchange with the United States. The recently launchedOrganisation for Japan-US studies will focus onrelationships between the US and the internationalcommunity with a particular emphasis on Japan and itsposition in Asia. It will pioneer new research areas bybringing together researchers with diverse expertise towork on projects focusing on society, globaldevelopment, security, environment and business toname just a few examples. The intention is that theOrganisation will make relevant policy proposals aimedat problem-solving.

Preparing for ASEANin 2015The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)and Canada have something big in common – both aresituated adjacent to economic giants. ASEAN has Chinaand India as neighbours; Canada has the United States.

ASEAN, a regional grouping of Brunei, Cambodia,Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, is embarking on a boldand ambitious plan to integrate the economies of the 10member countries and establish an ASEAN EconomicCommunity by 2015. There are lessons that can beshared from the Canadian experience with the NorthAmerican Free Trade Agreement and from ASEAN’ssteps toward greater economic integration through theASEAN Free Trade Area.

To explore issues arising from these sharedcircumstances, the Institute of South East Asian Studiesin Singapore initiated the launch in 2008 of the ASEAN-Canada Forum, which aims to provide a platform forpolicy dialogue and promote greater intellectual andresearch exchange. More broadly, the Forum seeks tostrengthen ASEAN-Canada partnerships and buildstronger economic, political and socio-cultural andresearch linkages.

Canada’s International Development ResearchCentre is supporting this initiative, which is to include anannual forum, collaborative research, seminars,publications, and the creation of an Internet portal. Thefirst ASEAN-Canada Forum Conference, held inSingapore in November 2008, focused on the challengesof regional integration in the main areas of trade andinvestment, institutional development, governance andaccountability, dispute resolution approaches and labourmobility and cross-border migration issues.

Comparative study ofthe Basque and Moroseparatist movementsFor separatist movements around the globe the use ofelectoral politics as a means of problem resolution is anemerging phenomenon.

In liberal democracies there is a view that problemsposed by separatist movements can be resolved throughthe practice of political representation, particularlythrough electoral politics. To examine this, researchers atthe University of the Philippines Diliman are comparingthe experience of two separatist movements, the SpanishBasque and the Moro in the Philippines, with regard tothe use of electoral politics as a means to resolve theproblem of separatism.

The study will look at the nature of political partieswhich have emerged to address the concerns of theBasque and the Moro separatist movements as well asassessing the impact and limitations of electoral politicsto tackle the challenges posed by these separatistmovements.

The researchers will also look at the similarities anddifferences in the use of electoral politics by the twoseparatist movements in a developed (Spain) and adeveloping (the Philippines) nation. They will also examinealternative frameworks to electoral politics as a means ofseeking solutions to end separatist conflicts.

For further information contact:Dr Denis HewRegional Economic Studies Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Email: [email protected]

Dr Evan DueGlobalization, Growth and Poverty Program International Development Research Centre Email: [email protected]

For further information contact:Dr Teresa S. Encarnacion TademDepartment of Political Scienceand Third World Studies CenterUniversity of the Philippines Diliman Email: [email protected]

For further information contact:Professor Shiro YabushitaOrganization for Japan-US StudiesWaseda UniversityEmail: [email protected]

I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E L A T I O N S

Seekingtheessenceof Islamacrossregional

diversityFive Japanese research

institutions are collaborating ona project investigating the impact of

globalisation on the essence of Islam.In the present day the ethnic groups, religion and

culture of Islam are found from East to West, startingfrom South East Asia, passing through the Middle Eastand Eastern Europe and extending through to WesternAfrica. Many Muslims have immigrated to the countriesof Europe, the United States and Japan and theseimmigrants are an important element of the varioussocieties in which they live.

Until now, the various encounters and conflicts ofeach region were localised problems. However, uponentering the internet age, regional events began tospread throughout the entire world, and theseencounters and conflicts are now shared as globalissues. Against this background of "Islamicglobalisation", the phenomenon of "Islamic radicalism",symbolised by the September 11th terrorist attacks onNew York City, has emerged as an issue whichconcerns the entire world.

With a focus on the issues of Islamic globalisationand Islamic radicalism, Islamic Area Studies is a jointresearch project that searches for the essence of Islamamong the diversity which has become rooted in eachregion. This is an interdisciplinary project which drawson the research expertise of each participating institute.It approaches Islam by combining almost all researchfields including politics, economics, religious studies,history, cultural anthropology, social sciences,architecture and geography and

The Organisation for Islamic Area Studies consistsof researchers from Waseda University, The University ofTokyo, Sophia University, Kyoto University, and The ToyoBunko (Oriental Library). The Waseda UniversityInstitute of Islamic Area Studies functions as the centralinstitute for the entire project and is responsible forunifying the actions of the multiple partners. Theresearch group also collaborates actively withresearchers based in Islamic regions outside Japan.

For further information contact:Professor Tsugitaka SatoOrganisation for Islamic Area StudiesWaseda UniversityEmail: [email protected]

New support forresearchers inCambodiaWithin recent memory being a researcher in Cambodiawas risky and regarded as tantamount to spying. Now, aremarkable network is taking shape that promises toprovide opportunities for collaborative thinking andinteraction, as well as greater policy influence, forCambodian researchers

The idea of creating the Cambodian DevelopmentResearch Forum grew out of a meeting convened inPhnom Penh in 2007 by the International DevelopmentResearch Centre (IDRC) for all its research partners. At themeeting, the participants agreed that a national researchforum would be useful in bringing together Cambodia'sdiverse community of development researchers, scatteredin NGOs, government departments, and researchinstitutes, who otherwise might seldom meet.

Much of the development research in Cambodiacurrently takes place outside the universities. The Forumplans to commission a study to explore the opportunitiesfor building research capacity at the universities. TheForum will also administer a fund providing small grantsand research fellowships, and support the translation ofkey research documents from English to Khmer. An openplatform is being created to help researchers manageinformation and communicate with each other, as well aswith the broader development community.

The immediate objective is to support localresearchers in producing high-quality work that can helpinform public policies. Ultimately, it is hoped that theForum will lay the groundwork for a national researchcouncil in Cambodia.

For further information contact:Srey Marona/Serey RothaCommunity Based Natural Resource ManagementLearning InstituteEmail: [email protected] http://www.cbnrmli.org

Larry StrangeExecutive DirectorCambodia Development Research Institutehttp://www.cdri.org.kh

Richard FuchsRegional DirectorInternational Development Research CentreEmail: [email protected]

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hoto Credit: International D

evelopment R

esearch Centre

PhotoCredit: Waseda University

15 H E A L T H

Orthopaedic implantsto be produced locallyin Hong Kong A team of scientists in Hong Kong are designing andmanufacturing orthopaedic implants designed to fit theAsian bone structure

The ageing population in Hong Kong is experiencinga growing need for metal implants in orthopaedic surgeryto replace injured and defective joints. Research andclinical data have shown that knee and hip joints have alonger life expectancy if they are designed to fit the Asianbone structure accurately. However, almost allorthopaedic implants currently used in Hong Kong areimported from overseas. These do not always fit properly,are expensive and have a long delivery time.

A team of scientists from Hong Kong PolytechnicUniversity and the Chinese University of Hong Kong havebeen working together to establish local capability for thedesign and manufacture of orthopaedic implantsdesigned to fit the Asian bone structure better, promisinggreater longevity for the implant, greater comfort for theuser and shorter delivery time.

Devices for stroke andcerebral palsy patients Scientists in Malaysia have developed a prototypedevice which enables stroke patients to regainmovement in their fingers and hand by enabling themto perform extension and flexion exercises anytimeand anywhere .

Meanwhile, another group of researchers havedeveloped an intelligent axoskeletal arm-trainer forstroke patients which incorporates the majorrehabilitation procedures and training modes and a thirdgroup have designed an adaptive device to help childrenwith cerebral palsy carry on with their exercises withless dependence on their parents.

For further information contact:Professor Lee Wing Bun Department of Industrial and Systems EngineeringThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:S. Mohamaddan (Finger rehabilitation)Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing EngineeringUniversiti Malaysia SarawakEmail: [email protected]

Prof. Mohd Zaid Abdullah (Intelligent arm-trainer)School of Electrical and Electronic SciencesUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Kamarudin Saleh (Adaptive Device for Cerebral Palsy)Rehabilitation Unit Hospital USMUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Photo Credit: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

16H E A L T H

A fishy story aboutwound healing Channa striatus or the common snakehead fish isknown for its traditional healing uses. Now a group ofscientists in Malaysia are investigating its medicinalvalue, in particular with an view to replacing currentwound care films and dressings.

The common snakehead fish, also known as haruanis already traditionally used to enhance the woundhealing process, especially after an accident, operationor childbirth. Professor Saringat Baie and colleaguesfrom Universiti Sains Malaysia are examining themedicinal value of haruan as well as its commercialviability in body cream and other cosmetics.

With amino and unique fatty acids that acceleratehealing, using a biocompatible polymer, application byaerosol forms a skin-like layer over the damaged area.The size of the wound is unimportant as a spray-onapplication will cover the area better than a pre-sizedplaster.

As well as reducing pain from rubbing in a cream orgel the aerosol’s contents remain sterile and there is noneed for changing of bandages. The film created by thespray protects the wound from infection, acting as abarrier against foreign microbes, is comfortable and onremoval does not disturb the wound bed.

Regional partnership tofight avian influenza The Asian Partnership on Avian Influenza Researchgroup will help governments design new strategies notonly to control avian influenza but also protectvulnerable producers from loss of income and nutrition.

The panic about avian influenza may be over in themedia, but the reality of the threat is still very much withus. The disease knows no borders, and collaboration iscrucial if it is to be contained in future. In this spirit AsianPartnership on Avian Influenza Research (APAIR) is anetwork of government ministries and researchacademies from the five Southeast Asian countrieshardest hit by H5N1 in both birds and humans.

Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnammake up the partnership, which is supported by Canada’sInternational Development Research Centre. The groupsaim to better understand how outbreaks may spread, whatworks best for containment and how working together canimprove pandemic planning and outcomes.

Many Asian countries have been affected by the H5N1epidemic and each has used a range of measures tocombat avian flu. One key group of APAIR researchers arecurrently evaluating and comparing these efforts.Similarities and differences between national policies, likepoultry vaccination and anti-viral drugs, can offer insightsthat researchers hope will strengthen efforts across theregion. Others are looking into the impact of pandemiccontrol measures, comparing methods used by farmersacross the region, the role of wild birds and more.

The results of the alliance’s work will helpgovernments design new strategies not only to controlavian influenza but also to protect vulnerable producersfrom loss of income and nutrition.

For further information contact:Dr Hein Mallee - Ecohealth ProgramInternational Development Research Centre Email: [email protected] www.apairesearch.net

APAIR Regional Coordinating OfficeEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Professor Saringat Baie School of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

17 H E A L T H

Diagnosing diseases indeveloping countries Tropical diseases threaten millions. Mosquito borneElephantiasis or Lymphatic filariasis puts over a billionpeople in more than 80 countries at risk. Bacillarydysentery, affects an estimated 164.7 million people ayear worldwide, while patients who have recovered fromtyphoid fever can continue to carry the illness, leavingothers exposed.

As new strategies are being developed to combatthese parasitic and bacterial diseases, one avenue that ishotly being pursued is improving diagnostics, with thecommon theme of ‘the simpler the better’. The diagnostickits need to be easy to transport, simple to use and ableto produce fast results. Early diagnosis means earlytreatment, and in cases of bacterial infection accuratediagnosis can result in interventions and limiting thespread of infection to others.

Elephantiasis - Elephantiasis is caused bymosquitoes transmitting one of three parasites:Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori.Symptoms range from fever and lymphatic damage, torenal damage, elephantiasis and pulmonary disorders.Researchers at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) havedeveloped BRUGIArapid which employs an antigen ofBrugia malayi (BmR1). It requires a small sample of bloodserum or plasma and responds in just 15 minutes. Thetest has proved useful in mapping the disease and hasbeen endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO)for this purpose.

Diarrhoea - Diagnosing the cause of diarrhoea inchildren can help with treatment and prevention oftransmission but many tests have long response timesand are complicated to carry out. Campylobacter jejuni isa leading cause of diarrhoea around the world, particularlyin children and USM researchers have developed a test inthe hope of providing an economical solution. EZCampy-DNA only requires a DNA sample, distilled water and candetect c. jejuni in just three hours. Researchers arebeginning to use it to detect the bacteria in food and watersamples for the food industry.

Dysentery - For bacillary dysentery, the teamdeveloped EZDysentry which can give results within 3hours, which is imperative as bacillary dysentery, fromShingella flexneri, sonnei and dysenteriae, is highlycommunicable. The kit can also be used to test forShingella in water and food samples.

Typhoid fever - Typhoid fever, a bacterial diseasecaused by Salmonella typhi is transmitted through food ordrink contaminated by faeces or urine of the infected.Researchers at USM have developed a simple test basedon a strip of paper coated with antibodies specific for anantigen of typhoid. Another test, TYPHIDOT, which wasdeveloped by the same group and patented in 1991, hasbeen used by more than 2 million people.

Drug Resistant Bacteria - Acquiring an infection fromhospital stays and drug resistant bacteria are seriousproblems in modern hospitals. Over the last decade therehas been a dramatic increase of antibiotic resistantenterococci in many countries. Enterococci cause urinarytract infections, surgical wound infections and more. InMalaysia, cases have been reported in poultry sampleswhich pose a high risk of transmission to humans duringhandling or consumption of meat. To limit spreading ofdisease, Enterococcus and its antibiotic-resistant

genotypes need to be rapidly and accurately identified butconventional methods can take up to four days, or requireskilled personnel and a temperature controlled supplychain. A team at USM have developed a kit (EZVRE Amp)that can detect 8 Enterococcus genes requiring only theaddition of boiled urine, stool, pus, blood, poultry or watersamples and take only three hours to produce results,instead of conventional 48-72 hours.

For further information contact:Professor Rahmah Noordin (BRUGIArapid) Email: [email protected] Asma Ismail (EZCampy DNA, EZDysentry, TYPHIDOT)Email: [email protected] Professor Manickam Ravichandran (EZVRE Amp) Email: [email protected] Sains Malaysia

Children’s health inrural PhilippinesHow does poverty affect health choices made infamilies? Can parenting skills be enhanced throughchildren’s feedback? How can childhood illnesses,malnutrition and school absences be reduced?Researchers in the Philippines have been looking intoways of improving children’s health in rural areas.

The three-year long project is being carried out in themunicipality of San Juan, Batangas in the Philippines. Theoverall aim of the project is to develop community andfamily-based action in the municipality to addresscommon socio-economic and health needs and problems.

The first stage involves an assessment of theknowledge amongst mothers and caregivers of childhoodillnesses and how this impacts on care-seeking behaviour,especially in poorer households. This is followed by astudy looking at the capacity of families, day care andhealth workers to provide nutritional and psycho-socialcare to children aged 0-6 years, focusing on breastfeeding,complementary feeding and the ability to provide astimulating environment for child development. The finalstage of the project focuses on children’s health and theparticipation of children in community activities. The aimof this is to reduce incidences of childhood illness,malnutrition and school absence due to illness.

For further information contact:Rainier V. Almazan: [email protected] Milagros P. Querubin: [email protected] Ealdama: [email protected] of the Philippines Diliman

18H E A L T H

Stem cells: the brain game Stem cell research is the great hope of the moment andhas captured the imagination of the public around theworld. A team of scientists in Japan hope to develop newtreatments for brain disease and neural injury.

Stem cells are found in most multi-cellularorganisms and have the ability to regenerate or to becomedifferent specialised cell types. In this fast paced andexciting field, researchers at Keio University are trying topin down the exact mechanism of brain development; theformation of both neurons and glia from neural stem cells.They hope to add to a growing knowledge of diseases andinjury that occur in the brain, the most complex organ inthe body, in order to develop new therapeutic strategiesfor the treatment of brain disease and neural injury.

Upping the pace ofmetabolism researchScience in the 21st century is helping us get to gripswith the molecular mechanisms that maintain life in allits forms. Genome analysis and the mining of proteininteractions are beginning to explain disease statesand researchers hope to develop therapies and controlstrategies based on this knowledge.

Metabolism, or the set of chemical reactions thatoccur in order for life to grow, reproduce, respond toexternal influences or to maintain its structure, is littleunderstood, but a program at Keio University hopes tobreak down some of these barriers.

Metabolomics is the "systematic study of the uniquechemical fingerprints that specific cellular processesleave behind" - specifically, the study of their small-molecule metabolite profiles. The Keio group is usingmetabolomic systems biology to examine human tissuein an attempt to understand malignant and infectiousdiseases. In collaboration with Karolinska Institute inSweden and Boston University in the USA, the teamhopes to uncover unknown mechanisms of metabolicregulation under physiologic and pathological conditionsin vivo.

Conjoined TWIns March 2008 saw a brand new research institute springup in Kawada Town, Tokyo. Located next to the TokyoWomen’s Medical University Hospital, the joint venturewith Waseda University is focused on the advancementof biomedical science.

Named TWIns as a fusion of the names of the twoinstitutions, and fusing medicine, science, andengineering, the combination of the medical and generaluniversities works to encourage interdisciplinary research.The lack of walls between the two universities, the sharingof facilities are all intended to allow for true collaborationand lead to the creation of a new system for research,development and education.

As Mitsuo Umezu, Senior Director of the Center forAdvanced Biomedical Sciences, says: "By combining fieldsthat have never been combined before and fusing differenttechnologies, we will endeavor to find new treatments forillnesses that have hitherto been impossible to cure and todevelop technologies for preventing disease. By engagingour human resources in such challenges, we will developtheir knowledge and skills."

For further information contact:Professor Mitsuo Umezu Center for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns)Waseda UniversityEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:Professor Makoto Suematsu Center for Human Metabolomic Systems BiologyKeio UniversityEmail: [email protected]

Omics hits its stride Omics – the term given to large scale biologyproducing huge datasets – is a hot topic and set to geteven hotter as sequencing technology improves.TheOmics Science Centre (OSC) at Riken opened last yearwith the newest sequencers and intends to develop acomprehensive system called "Life ScienceAccelerator" for the advancement of omics research.

The equipment at OSC can read three billion basesevery five to ten days, more than 100 times faster thanconventional equipment. The technology also combinesa quality check of base sequence data, and mappingtechnology to fit new information into ready knownarrays.

Along with continued work on the Riken MouseEncyclopedia, a project to comprehensively collect andanalyze full-length cDNA to find the parts of theinformation written in the genome DNA that function asgenes, and their sponsorship of FANTOM, the FunctionalAnnotation of Mammalian cDNA, the team intend to dothe world’s first sequencing of an induced pluripotentstem cell this year.

For further information contact:Professor Hideyuki Okano School of MedicineKeio UniversityEmail: [email protected]

For further information contact:RIKEN Omics Science CenterEmail: [email protected]://www.osc.riken.jp

Photo C

redit: RIK

EN and FA

NTO

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onsortium

19 H E A L T H

Essential studiesMany species from the ginger– Zingiberaceae – custardapple – Annonaceae – families have been studied for theiranti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatoryproperties, but researchers at FRIM believe the potentialof these species is not yet fully understood. A currentproject aims to gather new information on beneficialbioactivities of the phytoextracts and essential oils of theplants with a view to developing new therapies.

Anti-oxidant identificationMoving away from medicine, researchers at FRIM areevaluating the chemical, biological and toxicity propertiesfor selected Syzygium species with a view to developing ahigh quality, safe and efficacious natural preservative fornutraceutical and cosmeceutical industry. Syzygium is agenus of about 500 species from the family of Myrtaceae,occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical rainforests.Plants of the genus are reported to be strongly antiseptic,astringent, and expectorant and with antioxidant and anti-viral properties, therefore selected species from the genushave been chosen for the research study.

For further information, contact

Abd Rashid Li (Diabetes Hopes)Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: [email protected]

Mazura Md.Pisar (Reducing inflammation)Medicinal Plants Programme Forest Research Institute Malaysia Email: [email protected]

Saiful Azmi Johari (The battle against drug-resistance)Medicinal Plants ProgrammeForest Research Institute MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Professor Chan Kit Lam (New weapons to fight malaria)School of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversiti Sains MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Mailina Jamil (Essential studies)Medicinal Plants ProgrammeForest Research Institute MalaysiaEmail: [email protected]

Ong Boo Kean (Anti-oxidant identification)Medicinal Plants ProgrammeForest Research Institute Malaysia Email: [email protected]

Dr Annabelle A. Herrera (Cutting off cancer’s blood supply)Institute of Biology College of Science University of the Philippines Diliman Email: [email protected]

Christine C. Hernandez (Seeking chemoprevention)University of the Philippines DilimanEmail: [email protected]

Plants to improvehuman healthDiabetes hopes

Diabetes is a chronic disease, predicted to affect 239million people by 2010. Currently patients can controlmany aspects of the disease, but their day to day lives canbe interrupted by distressing side effects. The ForestResearch Institute Malaysia (FRIM) are about to assess anextract from a Malaysian legume species as a safer anti-diabetic candidate.

Reducing inflammationAnother group from FRIM are analysing the anti-inflammatory activities of certain senna plants. Whilethere are already numerous medications available to treatinflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma andallergy, many can have side effects and traditionalremedies may offer potential for new therapies. The teamhope to assess the efficacy of senna species for their anti-inflammatory activities.

New weapons to fight malariaMalaria continues to be a major public health problemaround the world, killing between one and three millionpeople each year. Cell culture work at Universiti SainsMalaysia have demonstrated that constituents inEurycoma longifolia are effective against Plasmodiumfalciparum infection. Work in rats treated with the samepurified extract also shows promise.

The battle against drug-resistanceAt FRIM, scientists are trying to tackle multidrug-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using compounds fromChromolaena odorata, after several studies showed it haswound healing properties against human pathogens andpreliminary research has shown it to have some anti-MRSA traits.

Cutting off cancer’s blood supplyTeams in the Philippines are scouring their primary forestfor plants that may have useful anti-cancer properties.They are specifically searching for ways to induceantiangiogenesis – or the prevention of blood vesselsforming – which deprives the tumour of the nourishmentit needs in order to grow. They aim to evaluate theantiangiogenicity of local flora and, where results showpromise, the local indigenous Aeta community will sharein possible economic returns.

Seeking chemopreventionAlso in the Philippines, similar work is addressing thechemopreventative properties of local plants. Researchersare screening Canarium ovatum Engl., Premna odorata,Pouteria campechiana Baehni, Crataeva religiosaForst,and Syzygium samarangense along with many more.Cancer chemoprevention is considered one of the mostpromising areas in current cancer research with the goalof delaying or inhibiting the disease progression. Theproject will be directed toward the exploration of plantswith confirmed antimutagenic activity. The scientists hopeto isolate and determine the structure of the mostpromising compounds.

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