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The Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre (CDNRC) was established on 16 April 2001 when the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) underwent a restructuring exercise. Presently, the Centre comprises the Cardiovascular Disease Unit, the Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Unit, and the Nutrition Unit.
The Cardiovascular and Nutrition Units represent a “dichotomy” from the former Division of Human Nutrition and appropriately, still carry on the research thrust areas of the former said Division, namely i) community nutrition, ii) impact of government intervention programmes, eg. water iodisation on iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), iii) update of the Malaysian food/nutrient database which includes dietary fibre, sugars and antioxidant nutrients, iv) effect of dietary factors and lifestyles on cardiovascular disease, and v) development of an in-house lipoprotein(a) ELISA test kit for the assessment of CVD risk.
The above Units of the CDNRC continue to provide expert technical advisory services in the areas of Food Laws and Regulation, national and international Codex issues, food safety, Malaysian dietary guidelines and recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), palm oil nutrition, concept and measurement of food poverty line, nutritional biochemical analysis, and food analysis.
The Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Unit was the former Division of Endocrinology of the IMR. After April 2001, the Unit expanded its scope of activities to include research into the chemotherapeutic effects of herbal extracts [especially that of “Kacip fatimah” (Labisia sop) and “Hempedu bumi” (Andrographis paniculata)] using cell-culture assays, metabolic effects of specific interventions in diabetes and obesity, and post-doctoral training in laboratory endocrinology.
The CDNRC carries out the four core functions of the Institute for Medical Research (research, consultancy and technical advisory services, specialised diagnostic services, and training) and has the following as its objectives:
i) to monitor and assess the impact of government intervention programmes such as the water-iodisation programmes on IDD;
ii) to act as the national reference laboratory for iodine assays in urine and water;
iii) to be a centre of excellence in conducting pre-clinical research in endocrinology and metabolism, and provide post-doctoral training in these areas;
iv) to collaborate in producing a low-cost in-house ELISA test kit for the efficient diagnosis of CVD risk;
v) to provide consultative and advisory services to the Ministry of Health and other government agencies, particularly on matters related to Malaysian Food Laws and Regulation, national and international Codex issues, food safety and food analysis, national dietary guidelines and RDAs, food poverty line, and palm oil nutrition.
vi) to provide training in food analysis and specific nutritional biochemistry for undergraduates from the local universities and staff of government agencies.
Metabolic Syndrome
• Dyslipidemia
• Hypertension
• Obesity (BMI >30)
• Insulin resistance
• Impaired glucose tolerance
Diabetes & Cardiovascular diseases
To look for biochemical markers for early detection & monitoring intervention
The Centre will include research projects such as:
Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders Unit
