Page 46 - INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020

30 IMR Annual Report 2020

Herbal Medicine

Research Centre (HMRC)

The Herbal Medicine Research Centre (HMRC) continues to provide evidence-based information
on herbal medicine and focusses on herbal-derived drug discovery. The centre is made up of
the Integrative Health Information Unit, Toxicology and Pharmacology Unit, Phytochemistry Unit,
Bioassay Unit and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Section.
Herbal Medicine Research Centre (HMRC) The centre’s objectives are:

To conduct research to determine the effectiveness and safety
of herbal products and traditional and complementary medicine
(T&CM) treatments by following a standard system

O
To coordinate research activities related to herbal medicine and
B
T&CM treatment in Malaysia.

J

To contribute in the discovery and authenticity of herbal medicine
and T&CM treatment which has scientific information in Malaysia for E
better commercial value to penetrate the overseas market.
C

To collect various information on herbal medicine and T&CM T
treatment in Malaysia and overseas through research by preparing
databases, monographs, compendiums and also building-up of an
electronic information web portal for integrated medicine known as I
the Global Information Hub on Integrated Medicine (GlobinMed).
V

To give advice to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other agencies on E
matters related to herbal medicine and T&CM use.
S

To conduct diagnostic tests for the determination of heavy metals and
drug addiction as well as coordinating the Malaysian External Quality
Assessment Programme (MEQAS) and National Drug Quality Control
Programme (NDQCP) for laboratories in MOH.