A PhD graduate in Human Molecular Genetics from University of Aberdeen, UK, with a special interest in researching DNA variations and Genomics in various organisms. Currently serving Universiti Malaya as an academic, a researcher, and also leading the Faculty of Science as Dean. As Dean, his main focus is to synergize linkages with industrial partners and agencies, and effort that is crucial to ensure graduate employability.

Dr. Karshini has a deep passion for diagnostic microbiology and parasitology. After earning her Master’s in Pathology (Microbiology) in 2022, she gained experience as a medical microbiologist at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu. Her interests focus on diagnostic tools and technologies that can identify pathogens causing parasitic illnesses in laboratories. In December 2023, she joined the Department of Parasitology, University Malaya.  Currently, Dr. Karshini is a medical lecturer in the Department of Parasitology at the University of Malaya and the coordinator of the Parasitology Diagnostic Unit at the University Malaya Medical Centre.

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 former programme coordinator of the Master of Health Research Ethics (MOHRE), a programme developed in collaboration 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 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. 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, she is working on the Fogarty International Centre (FIC), NIH bioethics training grant with Johns Hopkins University (JHU) as well as on the ethics of genetic testing among Parkinson’s patients (USMC Care Fund). She is constantly on the look out for collaboration on local /regional / international projects on the various topics involving ethics.