FOR THE ALBUM...Adenan (centre) with (from left) SAUA vice persident Henry Lau, Turnbull, Taplin, Sebuyau assemblyman Julaihi Narawi (third right) and Dr Buckley (far right).

KUCHING: The research on stem cells by researchers from the University of Adelaide has received praises from Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Dato Sri Adenan Satem.

Praising the researchers for their tireless efforts in their research works for the benefit of mankind, Adenan, who is the deputy president of the Sarawak Alumni of the University of Adelaide (SAUA), said researches such as the stem cell research on possible regeneration of brain cells and nerve cells would be a scientific breakthrough once successful.

"Such research will benefit many people who had suffered physical limitations after strokes or those who had injured their spinal cord or brain cells," he said, referring to a research mentioned in a presentation by Associate Professor Dr. Pat Buckley who is the Associate Dean (International) of Faculty of Sciences from the University of Adelaide.

He was speaking at a free health forum cum information session organised by SAUA at a leading hotel here last night.

Dr Buckley, also the discipline head of psychology in the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science of the university presented a talk on `Improving Life in the New Millennium'.

Adenan lauded the research as a "fantastic research" and expressed his relief that the research did not use embriotic cells as only adult cells were used.

On another topic, he said the alumni had been collaborating with one of the lecturers of the university and had to date published the first volume of a book on the constitutional history of Sarawak.

"The second volume is one the way; the books will be a research covering 200 years of the history of Sarawak till recent times," he said.

Earlier, the health forum saw presentations by distinguished professors from the University of Adelaide.

Apart from Dr Buckley, Professor John Taplin who is the head of the Department of Psychology at the university presented a talk on `Showcasing Research in Psychology'.

The talk touched on mental speed, intelligence and primary mental health services.

Also present to answer questions from the audience were Associate Professor Deborah Turnbull, who is Associate Dean (International), Department of General Practice, Dean of Dentistry Associate Professor Viv Burgess and International Student Advisor and Manager, Department of Psychology, Iris Liu.