Neuroscientist returns to set up brain research centre

Star: PENANG: A scientist, who had made waves in the field of neuroscience and spent 30 years studying and working abroad, has returned home to set up a brain research centre in Malaysia.
“I came back as I have the opportunity to continue my research here,” said Prof Ishwar Parhar, 47, who had developed a technique to isolate single cell neurons.
He also has a personal reason to return to Malaysia.
“I want my year-old twin daughters to grow up in a multi-racial setting,” said the former director of the Molecular Neuroendocrinology Unit of the Nippon Medical School in Japan.
He is transferring his laboratory from Tokyo to the Monash University campus in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya, where his Brain Research Centre will be based.
The planned centre, at the university’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will be ready next year to study the brain and diseases of the brain.
“I have brought along five researchers from Japan to work here,” he said, adding that there should be concerted effort to attract more talents to the country.
Prof Ishwar said he would continue being a visiting professor to several world-renowned universities, including the Rockefeller University in New York, to maintain his research network.
He hoped to make the Malaysian centre also world-renowned.
“We plan to tie up the centre with all hospitals in the country to facilitate clinical research works,” he said, adding that the share in intellectual property rights had yet to be discussed.
“We are currently holding discussions with the Health Ministry on clinical research funding and future collaboration.”
The research works he will focus on concern genomic, proteomics, behaviour neurogenetic, nanomedicine, neuro informatics, brain imaging and brain diseases.
“For example, the study of behaviour neurogenetic will be useful to understand depression and anxiety,” said Prof Ishwar, who still maintains permanent resident status in Japan.
“Advances in nanomedical technology will pave the way for regenerative medicine.
“We may hit the jackpot if we can revive a paralysed limb using nano techniques to re-grow neurons in the right position.”
He commended the efforts by the Government to encourage the learning of Science and Mathematics in English.
“Even in Japan, English is being taught at the kindergarten level. The Japanese realise that it is important to master the language, as the mainstream scientific publications are in English.
Prof Ishwar, who returned home on Jan 1, brought his twins to the Vasakhi open house in Fort Cornwallis here on Saturday to celebrate their first birthday.
“My daughters were born in Penang, and I hope to raise them in Malaysia. I want them to be accustomed to Malaysian culture,” he said.
Prof Ishwar was among some of the brightest minds who spoke at the i2 (Innovation Initiative) seminar, organised by The Star in April last year.
He is an old boy of the St Xavier's Institution in Penang.