The research contributions of the Faculty are impressive. The main research contributions in the 1950s and 60s focused on biomedical research. Original contributions in the fields of nutrition, neurophysiology, rhinosporidiosis and simian malaria are worthy of special mention and are widely quoted in scientific literature.

In addition clinical and epidemiological research on subjects of national interest contributed towards improving the health status of the country.

From the 1970s onwards areas of research widened to include several basic and applied research projects on a wide range of topics. Some contributed towards changing policy at the national level. e.g. studies on infant feeding provided background material to the revision of maternity leave.

Research in the 1980s and 90s focused more on clinical and epidemiological research and health services research and led to a substantial number of publications in peer reviewed journals both nationally and internationally. Many members of the academic staff presented their findings at local and international scientific meetings. Research topics included diarrhoeal disease, malaria, filariasis, health status of the elderly, drug utilisation patterns, renal disease, treatment of snakebites, health aspects of the elderly, health services research, nutrition, oncogenes and mental health.

In addition to funds from local sources such as the University and The National Science Foundation (NSF), research activities in the Faculty have been funded by UN organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and IDRC. Several link programmes have also been

developed. E.g. in 1986, through collborative efforts with the University of Uppsala, Sweden, a laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Technology was established in the Department of Biochamistry and Molecular Biology. Several postgraduates have read for masters and Doctoral degrees through this programme. The Malaria Research Unit which was set up in 1988 has international recognition as a centre for postgraduate research and has collaborative links with the University of Edinburgh and the Pasteur Institute. The Malaria Research Unit has in recent years undertaken the training of scientists from other countries as well. The OX-COL project between the Department of Clinical Medicine and the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford and the University of Liverpool has been a very successful one. These researches have developed a species specific anti venom against Sri Lankan snakes and an effective therapy for Kaneru (Yellow Oleander) poisoning.

The work has shifted to studies using poisoning. This year the Snake Bite Research Laboratory and Herpetarium has been set up to further enhance research opportunities.

The Faculty provides research training to medical and non- medical graduates leading to the research degrees of PhD, MPhil and DM. The Research and Higher Degrees Committee of the Faculty reviews the project proposals and monitors their progress periodically.

Clinical departments and the departments of Pathology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Forensic Medicine and Community Medicine are training centres for postgraduate courses at the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM). The Faculty also makes a significant contribution to training PGIM trainees in research methodology, and supervising research projects on courses, which include a research component and dissertation.

Postgraduate courses leading to a Diploma in Forensic Medicine, a Master of Science (Forensic Medicine), a Master of Science (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Gene Technology) and Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety (Community Medicine) are conducted by the Faculty.