WASHINGTON: Malaysia wants further collaboration with the University of Maryland to tap its human and animal healthcare expertise and research capabilities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was briefed by senior university officials during his visit to the campus here yesterday, said he was impressed with the scope of programmes and the medical, agricultural and biotech research work being undertaken.

“Malaysia is placing emphasis on food safety, biotechnology and herbal cures and this is an ideal university to work with on all these fronts.

Seeking links: Muhyiddin speaking to Malaysian journalists after his visit at the Maryland University in Washington on Monday. — Bernama

“We should have an over-arching MoU to cover these spheres as the University of Maryland is certainly well-positioned,'' he said in response to briefings led by Dean of the Regional College of Veterinary Science Cheng I-Wei.

The focal point of the discussion involved research for a vaccine Bifor Newcastle Disease and Avian Influenza that are two of the most dangerous poultry diseases.

The last Avian Influenza outbreak in Malaysia occurred in 2007, with hundreds of thousands of poultry culled to contain the spread of the virus.

The University of Maryland's laboratories are among the best in world in producing matching vaccines for both diseases using genetic engineering.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had witnessed the signing of an MoU between the university and Universiti Putra Malaysia during his visit to New York last month.

Muhyiddin, who is here to attend the Bio Washington 2011 exhibition, directed relevant Malaysian agencies to network with the university on specific scientific needs and issues.

“We don't need to re-invent the wheel as the university already has the expertise,'' he told representatives of Malaysian agencies who accompanied him on the campus visit.

Cheng welcomed Muhyiddin's call and said things were moving fast since Najib's recent visit to the US.

There are 18 Malaysian students pursuing courses at the university, which has a biomedical research park to drive the commercialisation of new drugs, diagnostics and devices.

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