DR. ATIQAH BINTI AB AZIZ

Dr. Atiqah Aziz is a dedicated Senior Research Officer at the Tissue Engineering Unit (TEG) within the National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence for Research & Learning (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine in Kuala Lumpur. With a diverse and interdisciplinary academic journey, she has effectively bridged various scientific fields to advance research in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Science Malaysia (USM) in Penang, where she graduated in 2014. Her interest in applied biological sciences led her to pursue a Master's Degree in Applied Biology at the University of Technology MARA (UiTM), which she completed in 2016. Recognizing the importance of a strong chemical foundation in understanding biological systems, Atiqah earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Malaya.

Starting her service at the University of Malaya in 2008, she gained extensive experience at the Shidmadzu-Centre for Xenobiotics Studies (SUCXeS) in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, where she worked for six years. This role allowed her to develop a deep understanding of pharmacological and toxicological research, critical in her later work in tissue engineering. In 2015, she continued her service in the Surgical Simulation Lab at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, further diversifying her research skills and exposure to clinical applications.

After completing her Master’s degree, she accepted a position as a Research Officer under the TNC (Research & Innovation), where she worked for four years. During this period, she further honed her research skills and broadened her expertise.

At NOCERAL, her multidisciplinary expertise has been pivotal in exploring new alternative treatments for Osteoarthritis (OA). It was here that she developed a strong interest in gene therapy using CRISPR technology to combat cell death in OA. By integrating her knowledge of biology and chemistry, she contributes to the advancement of regenerative medicine, focusing on improving patient outcomes through cutting-edge research in tissue engineering.

Recently, she has been appointed as the Laboratory Manager for the Toxicology Testing Unit (TTU) for endotoxin testing in medical devices as part of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) accreditation establishment at the Faculty of Medicine. Additionally, she manages the Xtreme 3D Quantitative Computerized Tomography (QCT) system CT Lab, which measures bone density and quantifies the 3D microarchitecture of bone in human and animal tibia and fibula for research activities.

Dr. Atiqah has received several prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Universiti Malaya Scholarship throughout her studies, and the Swansea University Fulton Fellowship awarded by The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), London, United Kingdom. She also received a Scholarship for the Croucher Summer Course in Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine, a Travel Award for the same course, was the Winner for UM3MT at the Faculty level, earned a Gold Medal Award for the Smart Technology & System Cluster, best oral presenter, and a Certificate of Excellent Service in UM for year 2023.

Dr. Atiqah's journey is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary education and research. Her diverse academic background and extensive research experience uniquely position her to contribute to the field of regenerative medicine, driving forward innovative solutions for complex medical challenges.