
Molecular
medicine is an emerging new field, which deals with the understanding
of the molecular basis of diseases and then developing appropriate strategies
for their early diagnosis, management and elimination. Knowledge of
human biology and disease mechanism at molecular level is the most important
step in developing effective disease prevention and treatment.
The
Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) is founded
through a generous support and patronage of Ms Nadira Panjwani in the
memory of her beloved father, Dr. Mohammad Hussain Panjwani, a leading
scholar and philanthropist. The PCMD will initiate scientific programs
that lead to possible treatments of often neglected prevalent diseases
of Pakistan, as well as associated human resource development.
The
main objective of the center is to train highly qualified manpower in
the emerging new fields of molecular medicine and drug development.
The academicians, clinicians and pharmaceutical researchers would be
brought together to translate basic scientific discoveries into new
therapies, vaccines and diagnostic tests. The efforts in the center
will mainly focus on developing greater and more comprehensive understanding
of the pattern and causes of most common diseases of Pakistan in order
to develop effective diagnostic tools and affordable treatments by using
molecular medicinal, chemical and computational methods.
The
mission of the center is to foster excellence and achieve international
recognition in the targeted areas of research, which are relevant to
national needs. To accomplish this mission, the center will be involved
in:
a) Enhancing the quality and quantity of
scientific training of graduate students in the area of molecular medicine
and rational drug designing.
b) Focusing on the development of new and
effective diagnostic, and treatment techniques for prevalent diseases.
c) Providing forum for information exchange
between academic disciplines and raising general awareness about the
diseases and their prevention, cure and treatments.