iPROMISE is a Centre of Excellence instituted at Universiti Teknologi MARA in 2013. It was previously known as Pharmacogenomics Centre (PROMISE) with Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Zaki Salleh as the Founding Head in 2008 and was appointed as the Director of iPROMISE in 2011.

 

There are Two research clusters in iPROMISE, namely (i) Artificial Intelligence and (2) Integrative Omics. The niche area of iPROMISE is Precision Health which focuses on understanding the genetics, environmental cues/ pressures and life-styles that affect the overall well-beings of human and responses towards exogenous substances. Diseases or disorders which affect the wellness of an individual or the nation which are investigated by the researchers at iPROMISE include both the non-communicable (cardiovascular, metabolic diseases, dental health) and communicable diseases (parasites, bacteria, viruses). We also studied the genetics of psycho-cognitive which affect the well-beings of individual. The genetics of residual ridge resorption in dental health was also investigated. The basic and integrative omics (metabolomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics) are the tools being used to understand the mechanisms or pathways related to these diseases. We had developed methods for detection and quantitation of biomarkers (genetics, metabolites and proteins) for screening that may help diagnosis and monitoring of disease progress or drug responses. In building the nation, we had also developed expertise in sport genomics which uses genomics to identify talents of elite athletes, and which can help tailor training programmes. Local databases (such as whole genome sequences and metabolomes of the Orang Asli in Malaysia and Malays) were set up which are useful local source for further basic study on the novel variants that had not been studied by other counterparts. The research team on the artificial intelligence at iPROMISE aims to innovate and develop new applications and softwares using the local databases we had developed in house to enhance the precision of prediction and preventive potentials of the genetics or genomics tests. We also ventured into the search for multi-receptors targeted lead compounds with a wider safety window as the potential new chemical entities preventing or inhibiting inflammatory disorders and cancers. Our team had also developed dental implants using newly innovated materials and process. We had translated the research output to community through our start -up company which provide Direct-to-Customer genetic tests using arrays and whole genome or exome sequencing. We had established collaborations with the industries partners as well as researchers from both local and overseas.