AGU to train a medical staff in Jamaica

Manama, Oct. 15 (BNA): Arabian Gulf University (AGU) has signed another cooperation agreement with the Swedish company Modus Therapeutics, affiliate of the Karolinska Institute, for the provision of support, training, research and medical consultation to five hospitals in Jamaica. This follows the success of the Kingdom's clinical research project for alternative treatments for sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients. AGU President Dr. Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Ohaly welcomed this international assignment, pointing out that the Clinical Research Centre at AGU has acquired in-depth experience in field clinical research over the past period, which has increased its research credibility internationally. "The university's international assignment by the Swedish company Modus Therapeutics was the result of AGU's achievement, alongside its local and international partners, in the clinical research project on SCA patients over the past few years, to study the possibility of using the drug "Sevuparin" to reduce the pain of the sickle cell crisis," he said, affirming that the study is progressing smoothly in accordance with international standards for clinical research, in cooperation with the Genetic Blood Diseases Centre at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). "The research cooperation, in which Bahrain is a key partner has contributed to the progress of the project and the exchange of expertise between countries. Thanks to the cooperation of patients in Bahrain and other countries, experiments have proven the ability of the drug to relieve sickle cell crisis and reduce the recuperation period," Modus Therapeutics CEO, Ellen K Donnelly confirmed. "The agreement will entail sending a research team from AGU to five hospitals in Jamaica to train the medical staff there on project management, assessment of the patients participating in the study, research gaps and correct steps and measures for the project to proceed. This is the first time for AGU's Clinical Research Centre to offer its expertise and research services outside of Bahrain, which confirms the feasibility of expanding the framework of international partnerships," AGU’s Director of Clinical Research Centre Dr. Adel Mazkour said. "The success of the project could have only been achieved through the integration of efforts among all parties dealing with patients in Bahrain. He also pointed out that the door is still open to SCA patients to volunteer to enter the study sample, which presently amounts to 140 cases in all participant countries, lacking only 10 additional volunteers to be completed," he explained, assuring compliance with ethical standards and international requirements that preserve the rights of the patient while volunteering. The participating countries are Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Turkey, the Netherlands and Jamaica. All have made significant progress in the project, the Kingdom has recorded a pioneering medical research experience through its excellence in project management and its adherence to international ethical standards and requirements.