Download Issue 4 2016 - Innovation Park Muscat

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Issue 4 - April 2016
“A Science park like IPM
will help in improving
the healthcare system
in Oman”
-H.E. Dr. Hilal Al Sabti
Knowledge Economy
Interview
Feature
News
Science parks stimulate
knowledge based economy | 01
with H.E. Dr. Hilal Al Sabti
CEO of Oman Medical Speciality Board | 02
TED | 03
IPM receives Iranian
delegation to encourage
investment opportunities | 04
01
From the Director’s Desk
Innovation Park Muscat (IPM) has
managed to establish good
relations with private companies
within a short period after its
inception. Apart from organizing
local and foreign events, it also
participates in events to promote
available investment opportunities.
It was also a part of the 5th Omani
Economic Forum which was held
under the theme 'Gulf Asian
Partnership'. The participation
provided an ideal opportunity to get
an overview on the roles,
responsibilities
and
services
required for better commerce
between Asian and Gulf nations. It
also provided an idea about the role
IPM can play in promoting scientific
research and knowledge sharing for
turning ideas into products. At the
event, the IPM team spoke about the
lifecycle and the various stages of
turning an idea into a finished
product.
IPM also hosted a delegation of
Iranian
companies
at
its
construction site in Al Khoudh to
promote investments and create
awareness on the opportunities
within the park such as the leasing
lots for the R&D Centre, incubation
spaces and other associate
facilities.
Dr.Abdulbaqi Ali Al Khabuori
Director of Science Parks
Science parks stimulate
knowledge based economy
In many parts of the world, the
health and the success of a
knowledge-based economy depends
on its science parks. Investment in
these kind of institutions is one of the
main features that drives such
economies and keeps them
competitive.
This
requires
commitment to scientific research,
innovation and creativity with a focus
on technology. And these factors are
responsible for knowledge sharing
and creation of new companies
which can contribute to the national
economy. IPM too has been setup
keeping these factors in consideration.
Many successful discoveries and
inventions of knowledge based
economies have arisen from special
incubators of science parks. These
bodies convert the outcome of the
scientific research into products and
services which can compete in world
markets, and this is one of the goals
sought after by IPM.
Knowledge economy is an economy
which is driven by a skilled workforce in
traditional and new economy sectors,
who are powered by innovative
technology and communication
systems. It is considered as the main
engine of a nation’s growth and
improves productivity in all industries,
regardless of the type, size and the
level of advancement.
Source - The World Bank 2004
02
Does Oman Medical Specialty Board support R&D
activities?
Interview with
H.E. Dr. Hilal Al Sabti
CEO of Oman Medical
Speciality Board
About H.E. Dr. Hilal Al Sabti
The previous Director General of the
Administrative and Financial Affairs for Medical
Affairs at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, and
Head of the cardiac surgery unit at the College of
Medicine in Sultan Qaboos University. He was
appointed as the CEO of Oman Medical Specialty
Board on May 25, 2015 by a royal decree.
Dr. Al Sabti led the team which performed the
first heart left ventricular assist device implant
surgery on a patient who was suffering from heart
failure.
In Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, he and his
team managed to save a mother and her foetus by
conducting a first-of-its-kind operation. The team
planted a valve inside the aortic and mitral valves of
the heart, through a catheter with an opening less
than 5 cm.
What are the new innovations in healthcare
sector?
Innovation and new technology have created
positive inroads in the health care sector and
pharmaceutical sector in terms of protecting
patients against diseases. The technology has
progressed rapidly and it has led to better
management of diseases, pharmaceuticals now
have reduced side effects and patients now undergo
shorter recovery periods after surgical operations.
These advancements have saved many lives and
helped people return to a normal life quickly.
As a doctor, one is required to find an innovative
solution to patient's problems. For example, we
have utilized modern techniques to save a pregnant
woman and her unborn child, by performing a
first-of-its-kind operation where we planted a valve
inside the aortic and mitral valves of the heart,
through a catheter with an opening less than 5 cm.
The operation has been very successful.
Also modern science has helped us to explore
new treatment options for existing diseases. The
question is how to innovate more? This may be
through reducing the size of incision during surgery
or finding a non surgical solution. We may also
explore treatment with stem cells. Our ultimate goal
should be to bring the patient back to normal,
mental and physical conditions, as soon as possible
and with the least suffering.
Where are these outcomes published and how are
they shared?
We submit reports to foreign suppliers to
improve or modify the medications or medical
technologies. These companies are usually
interested to receive feedback. We also present 3D
models or conduct clinical investigations before we
perform any trials on humans to ensure optimum
safety for patients. Further, many of our work has
been published in scientific journals which have
changed the way patients have been treated.
Has there been any attempts to test results and
develop new local products?
In medical field, you have to be very cautious
when dealing with inpatients and outpatients. You
have to have integrated medical and clinical
experience. You may use local workshops to design
medical equipment but we have to make sure that
they have the proper infrastructure for integrated
clinical experiences. We should also have the drive
to search and acquire more knowledge. Until date,
we do not have a company that can do all this and
can meet the requirements for doing such tests.
This is the reason we send reports to suppliers
outside the Sultanate. We mainly deal with research
and development centers.
Have you come cross students, researchers or
Biomedical engineers who show interest in
improving a product or medicine?
We usually have bio medical engineers who seek to
develop new tools. We have many researchers on the
other side. New medical advances should be clinically
tested before applying them on patient. This is not the
practice here yet.
We do not have the modules for transferring the
research findings from the clinical state to prototyping
and production. Hence, a science parks like IPM will
play a vital role in supporting the growth of innovation in
medicine, subsequently, improve the healthcare
system in the Sultanate.
Do you have policies in place for conducting
clinical trials?
We are trying to set these policies because
clinical tests should be done through the ethics
committee. All activities should be planned well and
should be gradually implemented in a structured
manner to ensure patient safety.
We have the simulation center, which is located
near Sultan Qaboos University. The outcomes of the
center can be commercialised in affiliation with the
hospital or now with IPM. Further, research and
innovation are one of the important pillars of the
Board and it is part of our main strategy.
Are there any gaps which should be addressed to
enhance the R&D activities and improve the health
system in the Sultanate?
We need to develop innovative therapeutic
technologies and medicines that address our
genetic and local diseases such as Sickle Cell
Disease and Thalassemia. We must also consider
the use of stem cells which could hold the cure for
such disorders.
What is the future outlook of OMSB?
As you know, that OMSB is a 10-year old
organization that took on its shoulders the provision
of training of specialized physicians in the country.
Currently we are developing the 2040 strategy for
OMSB. Out of the four strategic areas that we are
going to embark on is "Knowledge translation &
Innovation".
The aim is to link health care professionals,
researchers and innovators to create products and
services that improve the quality of health-care and
medical education. So beside improving the current
capacity of publishing the first peer review journal in
the country, i.e Oman Medical Journal, we are
hoping to set up research and innovation projects
and programs to leverage applied research and
innovation in health care in the sultanate.
"Science parks like
IPM will play a vital
role in supporting the
growth of innovation
in medicine,
subsequently,
improve the
healthcare system in
the Sultanate."
03
TED Talk on Health
New ways to understand, diagnose
and treat Cancerous tumors
What if we could find cancerous tumors years before they can harm us,
without expensive screening facilities?
Physician, bioengineer and entrepreneur Sangeeta Bhatia leads
a multidisciplinary lab that searches for novel ways to understand, diagnose
and treat human disease. Her target, she says “Two-thirds of deaths due to
cancer are fully preventable”. With remarkable clarity, she breaks down
complex nanoparticle science and shares her dream for a radical new
cancer test that could save millions of lives.
Watch this video and share your views of how the future
will look like with such a technology.. Your views will be
featured in our next newsletter.
Here are some of the opinions that we received about the video in the previous issue.
(Views expressed here are those of the reader) Will this technology change the current way
of communication? Will the emergence of digital devices lead to the demolition of social
barriers? It’s expected that when you visit public places you will see people interacting with
each other by moving their hands and laughing in the outdoors, and seeing the world will be
through the augmented reality glasses. In the future, will researchers study the social impact
of these glasses and when are they expected to appear? How old a should a child be when
he/she uses these glasses to interact with the world? What are the future influences this
technology can have on the environment and the economy while we appeal to reduce the
use of mobile devices and computers?
04
IPM receives Iranian delegation to
encourage investment opportunities
In cooperation with the Isfahan Science and Technology Town
(ISTT), the Innovation Park Muscat (IPM) received a delegation of
Iranian investor representatives who are interested in various
research and development activities taking place at the centre.
The meeting included a presentation of a variety of special
offers from Iranian companies and their areas of interest with
regards to investments in the Sultanate. In addition, the
economic feasibility and the upcoming plans were also
discussed. Presentations were also done by Ithraa and The
Research Council.
The visit was concluded with a tour of IPM’s innovation
building,
entertainment
centre,
workshops
and
manufacturing building.
IPM attends Oman Economic Forum
The purpose of the participation was to explain investment
opportunities in the field of research and innovation, network with
partners, benefit from the experiences of the other countries
participating in the forum and respond to visitor queries.