Page 27 - NIH Bulletin Vol. 21: January - June 2023 NIH Way Forward

Vol : 21 • January - Jun 2023 •

The ICR Director-Datuk Dr. Kalaiarasu
M.Peariasamy, gave the opening speech.
He summarised the many achievements
made by researchers at the Institute over
recent years, especially during the COVID-19
pandemic through several noteworthy
projects such as the I-TECH trial, which
generated strong evidence against the
usage of ivermectin for COVID-19 patients;
RECoVaM, which proved the effectiveness
of the COVID-19 vaccine; VIGILANCE, which
mapped the seroprevalence of COVID-19
antibodies among vaccinated healthcare
workers; and the Cof’e application. The
audience were then treated to a montage
that displayed the achievements made
by ICR in accordance to the Sustainable
Opening speech by the ICR Director Development Goals by the United Nations.
Professor Dr Rita Colwell was then invited to give a talk about her work and experience at the University
of Maryland and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As an environmental microbiologist
and scientific administrator, she intrigued the audience with her many projects which focused on global
infectious diseases that spread through water sources and the repercussions towards global health.

Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi was given the honour to deliver the closing speech. He stressed on the
importance of all research institutes to conduct health research in their respective niche areas to
address key national health concerns and priorities to ensure the wellbeing of Malaysians. He also
commended the remarkable efforts that NIH researchers have poured in to explore novel ideas and
establish themselves in innovative research.

On closing, Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi
sincerely thanked Datuk Dr. Kalaiarasu
for his outstanding efforts in leading
ICR over the past several years to attain
achievements that are worthy of national
and international recognition, and
wished him a very happy retirement,
which will be happening at the end of
March 2023. A cake was brought out to
show appreciation and celebrate Datuk
Dr.Kalaiarasu’s forthcoming retirement.
Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi then
presented a retirement gift on behalf of
NIH to Datuk Dr.Kalaiarasu. Following a
Closing speech by the then Deputy Director-General of Health
(Research and Technical Support) group photography session, the gathering
was adjourned at about 10.30am.

Cake cutting ceremony to celebrate the ICR Director’s forthcoming retirement

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NIH Bulletin | National Institutes of Health