Lahore, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) announced a significant collaboration with Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd. and iHART (Innovations in Healthcare Advocacy, Research and Training) to enhance research and training in clinical studies. The partnership was formalized in a ceremony where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, launching the ‘Ferozsons Initiative for Research Excellence’.

According to Lahore University of Management Sciences, was signed by Aamir Zafar, Chief Commercial Officer of Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd., and Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Acting Vice Chancellor and Provost of LUMS. The initiative aims to develop courses focusing on clinical research and research processes, covering biostatistical and epidemiological methods, study design protocol preparation, and ethical and legal issues in clinical research.

Ferozsons Laboratories, a leading pharmaceutical company in Pakistan, and iHART, a service provider for healthcare challenges, will contribute to this initiative by providing facilities and resources for training clinical and basic scientists in conducting clinical and translational research. The collaboration will result in the development of the ‘Clinical Research Design Course,’ which Dr. Shaper Mirza of LUMS detailed as crucial for designing targeted interventions to lower disease burdens in the local context.

The initiative aims to address the lack of systems and training in translational research methods, essential for understanding and addressing healthcare needs. It will offer comprehensive training, laboratory space, data analysis tools, and mentorship. The collaboration is seen as a step towards potentially developing a full MS degree program in the field, reflecting LUMS’s commitment to innovative education and its partnership with healthcare institutions for broader impact.