Department of Neurosciences Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Infobox generic
style0 = class="infobox" border="1" cellpadding="4" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; width: 25em; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; clear: right;"
name = Department of NeurosciencesUniversiti Sains Malaysia
img1 = Logo neurosains usm.jpg
width1 = 400px
lbl1 = Motto
row1 = Memantapkan Sains Neuro
lbl2 = Motto in English
row2 = To strengthen Neuroscience
lbl3 = Established
row3 = August 17, 2000
lbl4 = Head of Department
row4 = Professor Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah
lbl5 = Location
row5 = Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia

The Department of Neurosciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was initially established as a unit under the Department of Surgery on 17 August 2000. The unit was growing and so was separated from the Department of Surgery in order to fulfill its clinical and academic goals. The idea for the establishment of the department originated from Professor Mohd Roslani Abdul Majid, the first dean of the School of Medical Sciences. Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah became the first Head of Department and later was made a professor. Appointment of Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah marked a new era in neurosciences at USM. Besides being a state-of-the-art centre for neurological conditions, the Department also played an important role in providing a centre for postgraduate training in neurosciences, and as a research hub for fundamental and clinical neurosciences.

Mission & Research Goals

In the year of 2008, a Brain-Mind Nexus USM has been introduced which consists of Neuro Cognitive Centre, Human Development Lab and Department of Neurosciences. The objectives of the formation of the Brain-Mind Nexus are to promote a transdisciplinarity and innovative approaches to brain science research, integrating fundamental, development and clinical research, e.g., fundamental mechanisms of neuronal function at the molecular level, clinical research in cognitive neuroscience, humanities and education. Its vision is to consolidate brain science research and profile the university as centre of excellence in brain science research and development both nationally and internationally.

Department of Neurosciences has been actively involved in various basic sciences as well as applied clinical sciences research in the field of neurosciences. The department basic goal is to study the function and dysfunction of the nervous system, and to train and recruit postgraduate students and medical students, so they can become leaders of a new generation of neuroscientists. Major areas of research interests include evaluation of neuro-therapeutic potential of some of the indigenous plant sciences, neuromolecular genetics, cell culture, mitochondrial disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders, brain tumours and vaccines as well as behavioural neurology.

Department of Neurosciences USM has always strongly committed to providing an interdisciplinary and broad-spectrum research program at M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels in which students are exposed to the most widely accepted technical approaches to solve the critical problems of nervous system function and disease.

In February 2006, the department has launched the Neurosciences Research and Teaching Laboratory and acquired state of the art equipment e.g. Palm Laser Micro-dissection and Laser Scanning Microscope, Stereomicroscope and Patch Clamp System.

The department research activities have been fully supported by the Brain Research and Information Network (BRAINetwork) Cluster. Initiated in 2005, this research cluster aims to promote top-level research in neurosciences. The cluster has been structured around several research areas.

1) Fundamentals (study of neuronal function at the molecular and cellular levels and the study of the CNS at the system level and encompasses a wide variety of subjects, in areas including cellular and molecular biology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, psychophysics, and pharmacogenetics)

2) Interventional Strategies (involving clinical and diagnostic research involving patients with brain-related disorders. This includes neurosurgery, neuroradiology, oncology, psychiatry, psychology, pathology, pharmacology and all other related clinical areas)

3) Neuroinformatics (artificial neural networks, neural modeling, adaptive systems, machine learning and neural computation focused on the computer-brain interface with the aim of developing artificial systems that interact intelligently with the real world)

4) Mental Health and Rehabilitation (behavioural studies, the sociocultural and socioeconomic consequences of brain dysfunction, developmental disorders, drug addiction and the criminal mind)

5) Brain mapping (Using techniques such as ERP, MEG and neuroanatomical tools to assess the functioning of the brain and the application of these techniques to study normal and pathological states of the brain: such as neurocognitive disabilities, drug-addicted brains, digital brain atlas of language disability and brain tumours)

6) Teaching learning (Research related to the understanding and management of brain-based learning and mind-brain learning principles. It includes neuro-developmental research and various other aspects of brain research and its implications on education)

7) Instrumentation (Studies on the biophysical properties of the brain related to both normal and abnormal function including the development of novel clinical diagnostic, therapeutic, and prosthetic devices based on advances in the biophysical and engineering sciences. This can include the development of: Non-invasive diagnostic devices such as Biosensors, Nano probes, medical imaging and hardware)

The Brain-Mind Nexus has made an excellent effort in terms of international collaboration with Cuba, Belgium and Germany in the areas of brain mapping, mental health and rehabilitation, interventional strategies in the treatment of neurological disorders as well as fundamental neurosciences.

References

*Badrisyah Idris, Sani Sayuti and Jafri Malin Abdullah. (2007). History of neurosciences at the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. "Journal of Clinical Neurosciences". 14(2). 148-152.

External links

* [http://www.usm.my Universiti Sains Malaysia]
* [http://www.medic.usm.my Health Campus]
* [http://www.medic.usm.my/~neurosciences/ Department of Neurosciences, USM]
* [http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabatan_Neurosains Jabatan Neurosains, USM (Bahasa Malaysia version)]