FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Editorialfamous. So it is clear that the talents are there but Muslim countries do nothave the infrastructure to nurture and support the young scientists to makethem productive. The authors then submit a stepwise plan to correct thisglaring deficiency . This should be based on inculcation of research culture inthe medical students and the inculcation of Islamic values that propelled theadvancement in the early Islamic era. The suggested strategy includes, amongmany others, the following :1.establishing endpoints that is respectable research output from Muslimcountries.2. establishing Muslim medical institutions which include SPIRAL integrationof research and Islamic values with medical curricula. Students have to learnresearch as a standard subject not as an option or area of interest.Clearly, such efforts cannot succeed without commitment of the government.This means more financial support, and ensuring the independence of theuniversities. Funding can also be provided by private sources. I can add thatin the Gulf countries there is a movement in that direction. A University ofScience and Technology has been established in 2009 as well as stem cellresearch centers in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. New modern researchcenters have been established in Qatar, and in United Arab Emirates. Hopefullythis trend will continue and expand in other fields of medicine and to otherArab and Muslim countries. (4-7)As mentioned by Dr Hassan et al it is important to inculcate research culturein the medical curriculum. This should not stop there. Residents in trainingshould be asked to participate in research either basic or clinical. Facultymembers should be required to initiate meaningful research . They should besupported by their medical schools financially and by giving them dedicatedtime for research. Private practitioners can and should perform clinical research.Dr Faroque Khan in his article stresses that . He gives examples of his ownexperience as well as several other clinicians who made important discoveries.All that is needed is scientific curiosity, astute observation, persistence, andI may add hard work.In my article in this issue “ Ethics of Clinical Research: An Islamic Perspective”I reiterate the glorious history of research in the early Islamic period and thatIslam exhorts us to pursue learning and research. Then I draw attention tothe pitfalls that may occur while conducting clinical research i.e. dishonestyin reporting results or abuse of the research subjects. Unfortunately thesestill happen. Ethical principles have been articulated by the World MedicalAssociation in 1964 at a meeting in Helsinki, Finland; the Declaration of Helsinki.FIMA YearBook 2009XII