Asia-Europe Institute has been appointed to be a part of a consortium consisting of the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom, Masstricht University, The Netherlands, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah to conduct the Services Sector Dialogue & Business Cooperation and EU Outreach & Visibility, Malaysia (MYEULINK) project.

The consortium which is headed by the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus, is awarded a full grant of 575,000 Euro by the European Commision, Malaysia to develop this projet within 3 years starting from 2010.

Through this project, AEI is elected as Partner 1 and the institution is given greater mandate and responsibilities compared to other consortium members from local universities;

• Coordinating the EU-related Teaching and Learning in Politics and Law.
• Contributing expertise as a coordinator in administering High Level Seminars and organizing a Europe / Malaysia Higher Education Fair (EMHEF).
• Delivering expertise as a coordinator in administering High Level Seminars and organizing a Europe / Malaysia Higher Education Fair (EMHEF).

The official launch of the project took place at the Prince Hotel & Residence, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur on March 30th, 2010, with H.E. Vincent Piket, Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the EU in Malaysia and YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, in attendance as guests of honour.

"We are hopeful that people will care because breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women," said UM vice-chancellor Professor Dr Ghauth Jasmon.

"We want to give life a chance. At the current rate, the fund is only enough to subsidise second line chemotherapy drugs like Taxanes and Capecitabine.

"The duration of treatment can be anything between six and 18 months and the cost could be between RM15,000 and RM150,000 per patient."

Based on UMMC's patient log, the number of breast cancer cases is increasing at a rate of five per cent every year.

Performing at the concert on March 6 at Dewan Tunku Chancellor will be singers Roy and Jaclyn Victor and the UM Orchestra.

"Breast cancer survivors will be putting up a show to prove that cancer can be overcome with proper treatment."

*Source from New Straits Times (6/02/2010)

• Dewan Tunku Canselor
• All Residential Colleges
• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Economy and Administration

Formulation science is of vital importance to the development of many products that make our lives more comfortable, safer and enjoyable – such as household and personal care products, foods, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and coatings. These products contain the appropriate quantity of several compounds, mixed, arranged, and structured to perform a specific application. But the development of new formulated products using novel materials – including nanomaterials – requires a careful evaluation of the environmental impact and toxicological effects. Nanoformulation is already helping with the development of more effective methods of drug delivery with in the body. In industry there is a huge demand for high performing, cheap and environmentally sustainable products – and formulation design has been identified as being key in their development.

Now researchers working on the three-year InForm project are aiming to bring together top scientific knowledge in this area to enhance understanding of the subject. At present, the design of formulated products is based on repeated cycles of measurements and testing, and the optimisation strategy depends to a large extent on the ‘experience’ of the formulator.

InForm will create appropriate platforms for dissemination between researchers from Europe, USA and Asia-Pacific working in academia, public research laboratories and industry in order to identify and enhance complementary interests. InForm will distribute its activities between six thematic lines that are of fundamental importance in formulations, using activities such as scientific and technical forums, networking events, fact finding missions and technical workshops to achieve its goals. A researcher exchange program will also enable seeding of new collaborations between partners in different world regions.

The project has been funded by the European Commission through the European Union Framework 7 programme.

The thematic lines are as follows:

• Formulation of nano-bio materials
• Handling and processing of nanopowders
• Process intensification and soft nanomaterials formulations
• Physical chemistry at the nanoscale
• The nanoscale and the formulation of smart and functional coatings, films and tapes
• Toxicology and health effects of nanomaterials

Activities planned including :

• Inform Connect, 13-15 January 2010, UM, Malaysia
• NanoFormulation2010, 9-11 June 2010, YKI, Sweden
• NanoFormulation2011, TBA, ICES, Singapore
• NanoFormulation 2012, TBA. CSIC, Spain
• Researcher exchange program

For more information please contact Rauzah Hashim (UM coordinator), Tel 03 7967 4009, rauzah@um.edu.my
http://www.nanoformulation.eu/index.php/home.html