Research Administration and Compliance

The Research Facilities Management (RFM) serves as the central coordinator for physical facilities integral to diverse research activities. It aims to ensure the seamless functionality, safety, and efficiency of these facilities, encompassing laboratories and specialized spaces in the Research Services. RFM is tasked with maintaining and equitably allocating resources, ensuring optimal support for internal and external stakeholders’ research projects, clinical trials, and commissioned studies. Additionally, it actively engages in safety inspections and audits by disseminating relevant information to maintain a secure research environment.

RICS oversees the ethical, regulatory, and safety compliance of all research activities involving human, animal, microbiological, and phytochemical studies. It manages the review of research protocols and ensures alignment with national and international standards.

RICS supports the research review and oversight committees: Institutional Ethics Review Committee (IEC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC), and Technical Review Board (TRB). Through its review services, it works closely with researchers to uphold research integrity, prevent misconduct, and promote responsible

research practices.

Services

• Technical Review of Research Protocols. Ensuring the highest standards in research methodology by providing comprehensive evaluation and guidance to enhance the integrity and rigor of research proposals.

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Protocol Review. Upholding ethical standards and animal welfare in research by ensuring compliance with regulations and promoting responsible and humane treatment of laboratory animals.

• Independent Ethics Review. Safeguarding the rights and well-being of research participants by ensuring ethical decision-making and adherence to ethical principles and guidelines in research.

• Biological Safety and Biosecurity Review. Protecting researchers and the community from biological hazards and maintaining a safe laboratory environment in accordance with biosafety regulations.

BSL serves as the central hub for bioscience research, including microbiological testing, food and water analysis, phytochemical extraction, and animal bioassays. It houses specialized laboratories such as the animal facility, microbiology, and chemical analysis labs. BSL also provides services to academic and hospital units, including culture media preparation and cryopreservation of biological specimens.

Services

• Animal Bioassays. Tests that involve living organisms in assessing the effects of substances, such as drugs, chemicals, or toxins, typically conducted to determine their safety or toxicity 

• Use of Laboratory Animal Facility. Providing access to controlled environments housing laboratory animals for experimentation, ensuring optimal conditions for research involving live specimens.

• Cell and Tissue Studies. For examining cellular and tissue-level responses to various stimuli, aiding in understanding biological processes, disease mechanisms, and potential therapeutic interventions.

• Microbiological Tests. Tests that involve the analysis of microorganisms such as bacteria, and fungi, often conducted to identify pathogens and assess antimicrobial susceptibility.

• Bacterial Culture. Maintaining a collection of bacterial specimens cultured from various sources, serving as a resource for research, diagnostic, and educational purposes.

• Food and Water Analysis. Testing food and water samples for contaminants, pathogens, nutritional content, and other quality parameters, ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Phytochemical Extraction and Analysis. For the isolation and analysis of bioactive compounds from plant materials, exploring their potential applications in medicine, nutrition, agriculture, and other fields.

• Microbiological Culture Media Preparation. Preparing specialized growth media tailored to support the cultivation and isolation of specific microorganisms, facilitating microbiological research and diagnostics.

• Cryopreservation of Microbiological and Biological Specimens. Maintaining microbial cultures, cell lines, tissues, and other biological materials at ultra-low temperatures, enabling long-term storage and conservation of valuable research resources.

BPL contributes to drug development through the evaluation, monitoring, and advancement of both prescription medicines and generic products. The analytical services, which are integral to pharmaceutical safety, include bioequivalence/bioavailability testing and the conduct of clinical pharmacokinetic studies. The laboratories also provide analytical services to pharmaceutical companies and other industries, offering expertise in the quantitative analysis of compounds.

Services

• Bioavailability/Bioequivalence Testing. Our laboratory conducts rigorous assessments to compare the bioequivalence or bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of generic medications.

• Clinical Pharmacokinetic Studies. Through meticulous analysis of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion in the body, our laboratory provides invaluable insights into the optimal dosing regimens and pharmacological profiles of pharmaceutical products.