Dr Nishakanthi Gopalan is a Senior Lecturer at the Medical Humanities and Ethics Unit (MedHEU), a newly established unit within the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM). She is a biotechnologist by training with a PhD in research ethics and policy implication particularly looking at stem cell technology. During this time, she published her key findings in several reputable high-impact bioethics journals. Dr Nisha is the Programme Coordinator of the Master of Health Research Ethics (MOHRE), a programme developed incollaboration with the Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Besides teaching in MOHRE, she also provides ethics lectures in other programmes in the faculty. Dr Nisha also contributes as a member of the Universiti Malaya Research Ethics Committee (UMREC) as well as an external member of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Medical Research Ethics Committee. She is one of the instructors for the Introduction to Health Research Ethics, an online course in FutureLearn. She also facilitates the APRU Health Research Ethics course. Additionally, Dr. Nisha is an editorial board member of the Asian Bioethics Review. Dr Nisha’s research interest includes different aspects of ethics such as bioethics, research and clinical ethics on diverse topics ranging from emerging technologies (such as regenerative medicine, stem cells, and genetic testing), health research, and aesthetic medicine. She is an expert in qualitative research methods such as in depth interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), inductive and deductive analysis, thematic analysis,grounded theory, as well as narrative and scoping reviews. Currently, Dr Nisha is working on a bioethics training grant (Fogarty International Centre, NIH US) with Johns Hopkins University (JHU),  the ethics of genetic testing among Parkinson’s patients (USMC Care Fund), ethics and governance in AI in healthcare and understanding the ethics committee deliberarion process. She is constantly on the look out for collaborations with local/regional/international projects on various topics involving ethics. 

Vinnie Siow Wei Yin is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Education Center of Excellence (HICoE) specializing in molecular parasitology and entomology. She holds a PhD in Molecular Parasitology from Universiti Malaya, where her studies focused on the association of filarial parasites with their hosts and vectors. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science (First Class Honours) from Management and Science University, where she received an Industrial Award for her outstanding contributions. Dr. Vinnie’s primary expertise lies in  filarial parasites, insect vectors, molecular analysis, insecticide resistance, and proteomic analysis. Her current research interests focus on insect vectors that play important roles in both medical and veterinary contexts, along with their associated infectious disease agents. She is committed to unraveling the complex relationships between insects and their parasites, particularly in the context of public health. Additionally, she has experience in the detection of soil-transmitted helminth diseases among the Orang Asli communities. Her research aims to develop innovative strategies for controlling vector-borne diseases, striving to make a significant impact in the field and improve health outcomes in affected communities. In her future endeavors, She aspires to lead impactful projects that bridge research and practical solutions in the fight against infectious diseases.

Dr. Nur Ardiyana Rejab is a Senior Lecturer within the Genetics and Molecular Biology Program at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. Her research expertise lies in the functional analysis of plant development, specifically focusing on the molecular regulation of flowering and the genetic drivers of oil accumulation in high-value crops like the oil palm. Utilizing Arabidopsis thaliana as a primary model system, Dr. Ardiyana performs targeted functional analysis of genes of interest to translate fundamental molecular insights into tangible crop improvements. Her current research portfolio also emphasizes sustainable agriculture through the field identification and collection of wild banana germplasm for future crop diversification, alongside collaborative efforts to develop biological control strategies against Ganoderma pathogens in plantations. By integrating rigorous laboratory-based molecular approaches with essential fieldwork, Dr. Ardiyana seeks to advance innovative and sustainable solutions for global food security and crop protection.