DR. SAW SHIER NEE

Dr. Saw is an AI researcher specializing in healthcare applications, with a keen interest in leveraging machine learning and bioinformatics to improve disease detection and management. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Universiti Malaya in 2013, followed by the President’s Graduate Fellowship from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2015, which supported her doctoral research in artificial intelligence-driven healthcare solutions. Following her Ph.D., Dr. Saw worked as a Research Scientist at the Bioinformatics Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (BII, A*STAR), Singapore, under the mentorship of Dr. Hwee Kuan Lee. Her work focused on integrating AI, deep learning, and computational modeling to advance precision medicine and medical diagnostics. Dr. Saw has since returned to Universiti Malaya, where she continues to explore cutting-edge AI methodologies for healthcare applications, particularly in early disease detection, predictive modeling, and clinical decision support systems. Her research aims to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and real-world medical challenges, developing innovative solutions that enhance patient outcomes and optimize healthcare delivery.

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PROF. DR. VGR CHANDRAN A/L GOVINDARAJU

VGR Chandran is Professor of Industrial Development at the Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Business and Economics at University of Malaya. He has also worked as Principal Analyst of Economic and Policy Studies with Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics and his research interests are mainly on innovation, technology development, trade and globalization that relate to industrial development. His field research covers sectors such as electrical and electronics, automotive, food, chemical, oil palm, machinery, iron and steel, ICT, and the newly emerging sector - renewable energy. He had extensive fieldwork covering the Asian region that includes countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, India, China, Thailand, and Malaysia. In recent years, his research interest expanded into investigating newly emerging enterprises within the context of social innovation and social enterprises, as well as open innovation. His interest has also expanded in studying the issues of NTMs, mainly regulatory and procedural requirements that serve as a barrier for firms to integrate into the Global Value Chain. He has also worked as a consultant for international organizations such as UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNESCO, UNEP, ERIA, OECD as well as governmental organizations in Malaysia. He has published articles in international journals - Economics of New Technology and Innovation, Policy Modelling, as well as book chapters and books on industrial development and innovation. He is the recipient of various national and international grants – to name a few - European Union Horizon 2020 and IDR, Canada, among others. His work is widely quoted in government policy documents contributing to numerous policy changes. He has contributed to the Malaysian regulatory reform efforts, STI and Industrial policy development at national as well as state level. His work via Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Economic Planning Unit, Academic of Sciences, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, MIGHT, Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysian Productivity Corporation and Institute Darul Ridzuan (state level) was instrumental in making the policy changes. His engagement with the industry are mainly in the form of undertaking studies and providing expert opinions. He has received various awards, e.g., excellence in teaching award and outstanding paper award from Emerald and Elsevier. Details of his current projects as follows: (1) Catching-up along the GVC: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/214786/factsheet/en (2) Regional Economic Corridors: http://www.crisea.eu/researchers/chandran-vgr

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DR. NOORHAYATI BINTI IDROS

Dr. Noorhayati Idros holds a Bachelor’s degree (Hons.) in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Malaysia, and an M.Sc. in Nanoelectronics from The University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Her M.Sc. research at Manchester focused on the fabrication of polymer-based thin-film transistors (OTFTs), examining the effects of elevated temperatures on OTFT performance and the active layer's morphology. Following her M.Sc., Dr. Idros joined the Centre for Photonic Devices and Sensors Group at Cambridge University’s Department of Engineering as a Ph.D. candidate. Her doctoral research centered on developing biochemical sensors to detect water contaminants, specifically targeting explosives like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and heavy metals. This interdisciplinary work utilized aptamer/DNA and chemically functionalized nanophotonic crystal surfaces, integrating microfluidics paper-based devices, sensitive optical detection, and systematic colorimetric analysis in RGB-space via digital imaging and color calibration. Her sensors were designed for low-cost, portable applications. Dr. Idros is an alumnus of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge (UCAM), and was active in university sports, serving as netball team captain for the Cambridge University Malaysia Society and as a netball player for the Malaysian Students' Society of Manchester. Upon completing her Ph.D., Dr. Idros continued as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, where she developed fluorescence-based biochemical sensors for detecting heavy metals in water for Peruvian environmental projects. She also conducted environmental quality assessments in the Rio Cañete drainage basin, using Andean River Shrimp as a bioindicator species. This work involved DNA barcoding for species identification and dietary analysis of the shrimp. Dr. Idros also trained university staff and students in laboratory and field methods, presented her findings, and contributed to the PERU-UCAM staff and student exchange program. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Dr. Idros brings significant industry experience from her time as an engineer at Intel Microelectronics Sdn. Bhd., where she supported System Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) testing for Vista and XP PV milestones, executed CPU and platform test plans, and led Vista Debug installations for CPU Product Release Qualification (PRQ). She also contributed to the Mobile Internet Device (MID) project and gained expertise in Linux-based application porting, as well as electrical and electronics debugging. Currently, Dr. Idros is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Universiti Malaya and a Core Member of the Centre of Printable Electronics, specializing in the development of nanotechnology-based sensors for water quality and environmental monitoring. 

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