On 27th August 2020, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) became the first university in Malaysia to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the consortium of laboratories under Pathology Asia Holdings (PAH) which consists of Gribbles Pathology Malaysia, Quantum Diagnostics, and Clinipath Malaysia.
UiTM signed the MoU mainly to promote a sustainable partnership on public diplomacy and collaborative research endeavors between the consortium laboratories and UiTM.
Witnessed by the Core Laboratory Manager of the consortium laboratories under (PAH), Mr. S. Sivasooriar, and the Dean of the Faculty Medicine, Prof. Dr. Mohd. Zamrin Dimon, the MoU was signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gribbles Pathology Malaysia, Quantum Diagnostics and Clinipath Malaysia, Dr. Nelson Nheu, and UiTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Emeritus Datuk Ir Dr Mohd Azraai Kassim in UiTM Shah Alam. Also present were Mr. Martin Giddy, and Dr. Izzhar Putra, Group Project Management Officer and Commercial Director for PAH, respectively.
Pathology Asia Holdings (PAH) is the largest network of laboratories in Southeast Asia. The company began life as an amalgamation of existing pathology businesses across Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. They trade under the names of Innovative Diagnostics and Quest Laboratories in Singapore and Gribbles Pathology, Quantum Diagnostics and Clinipath in Malaysia.
Quest Laboratories also operates in Vietnam. This network of laboratories is a partnership to achieve the vision of building a platform to consolidate a very fragmented industry across South-East Asia, driving economies of scale and scope as well as enabling better health outcomes by delivering actionable diagnostic insights across South East Asia and beyond.
One of the goals of the consortium laboratories is to establish and nurture a research culture and active exchange of knowledge in the field of laboratory medicine between industry and university.
The consortium laboratories have worked with the Faculty of Medicine prior to the MoU, through Associate Professor Dr. Thuhairah Hasrah Abdul Rahman, with respect to research engagements and sharing of knowledge in the field of laboratory medicine. MoU aims to solidify this synergistic partnership.
This is the first collaboration between a Malaysian public university with the private consortium medical laboratories under PAH, currently amongst the largest laboratory groups in South East Asia, a healthcare portfolio company of TPG Capital Asia.
In line with the Faculty of Medicine’s strategies to strengthen research collaborations with industry, this alliance will bring together both parties’ existing research infrastructure and expertise towards building a more impactful research dynamism.
The bridging between a public institution with industry is instrumental in establishing effective exchange of knowledge and practices between the parties. UiTM looks forward to building constructive cooperation with the consortium laboratories in the interest of enhancing knowledge and innovation within the field of the diagnostic laboratory.