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Originally trained as an algal molecular taxonomist and phylogeneticist, Dr Poong has a diversified research portfolio specializing in gene and metabolites expression studies using omics tools, genetic diversity and population structure of fish and seaweed, algal physiological and biochemical stress response and adaptation to climate changes, and shifts in microbiome using metagenomics.  Dr Poong is the Deputy Developing Country Partner leader for the Malaysian team of GlobalSeaweedSTAR consortium funded by UKRI. Dr Poong plays a key role in developing research proposals to attract local and international funding, managing research grants, organization of international conferences and workshops.

My research involves imaging and microscopical analysis of various biological process involved in health and disease.It involves live cell imaging with differential interference contrast (DIC), multi-channel fluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscope, and scanning and transmission electron microscopes. I have worked on various subjects such as neurobiology (Parkinson's,), metabolic disorder (diabetes), inflammation (hepatitis), immunology (macrophages) that invovled the use of the techniques listed above. I am interested in imaging mitochondria and  cytoskeleton in various disease models in vivo and in vitro.

Dr. Chong Pan Pan is highly qualified with B.Sc. (Hons) Microbiology (2001), M.Sc. Biochemistry (2004) and successfully completed Ph.D. (2013) on her research on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and skeletal tissue engineering. After that, she worked as a post-doctoral research fellow (2013-2016) and was later inducted as a senior lecturer (2016-now) at the National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence in Research and Learning (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. Additionally, she is in charge of setting up the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Laboratory in NOCERAL. She has also been put in charge of the newly provided clinical service using platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (P-EVs) to treat lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, osteochondral defect, delayed union, and knee osteoarthritis, etc. The P-EVs service is provided in the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and the University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC). Her research interest involves the current and innovative area of tissue engineering and manipulation of adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for future use as biological therapies for poorly regenerating tissues. Her work focuses on driving the adult MSCs from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and adipose tissue along chondrogenic lineages for later transplantation to replace worn-out joint cartilage in patients suffering from joint disorders, including trauma or osteoarthritis. To attest to her work, Dr. Chong has published in several high-quality (Q1/high impact factor) peer-reviewed journals and presented her works extensively and globally at numerous international level conferences. At that time, she has also won a number of awards, including top prizes at the regional level, such as the Young Investigator Awards, Young Investigator Best Paper Award, L’Oréal Malaysia for Women in Science, Best Poster/Oral Presentations and travel fellowships, etc. In addition, she has participated in several biotechnology exhibitions and business idea competitions. Furthermore, she won many innovation awards for her work on MSCs and P-EVs as biological therapies for tissue regenerations. She has also developed intellectual property related to the novel work, which has been successfully patented.