ASSOCIATE PROF. IR. DR. LIM KOK SING

Kok-Sing Lim received his B.Eng in Telecommunication from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya in 2008 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the same university in 2012. Currently, he is an Associate Professor at Photonics Research Centre, University of Malaya. His research interests include Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), Optical Measurement and Instrumentation, Spatial Division Multiplexing Technology and medical laser devices. Currently, he is actively involved in the development an optical remote sensor for oil palm fruit ripeness assessment. He is a corporate member of Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), a registered Professional Engineer (Telecommunication) with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and a senior member of IEEE. He was given the ICO/ICTP Gallieno Denardo Award in 2020.

show more »
PROF. DR. ALIMOHAMMAD SHARIFI

Prof. Ali Mohammad Sharifi is a scholar with over 27 years of experience in Molecular Pharmacology at the Iran University of Medical Sciences and currently joined as a professor of regenerative Medicine in the Tissue Engineering Group at NOCERAL, department of Orthopedics Surgery, School of Medicine. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow in 1992 and in 2018, he further enriched his expertise by acquiring a Tissue Banking Diploma from the National University of Singapore. Throughout his career, Prof. Sharifi has undertaken international research, including working at McGill University in Canada and at Max Plank Institute in Germany. His research output includes over 100 publications in high-impact journals, along with several patented innovations. He has held various administrative and editorial roles in academia, and has served as a peer reviewer for numerous high-impact journals. His dedication to education is evident through his mentorship of undergraduate and postgraduate students, particularly Ph.D. candidates specializing in molecular medicine, tissue engineering, molecular pharmacology, and cell therapy.  Prof. Sharifi's research expertise involves the fields of cell therapy and regenerative Pharmacology, with a particular emphasis on translational medicine. His extensive body of work includes pioneering studies on pharmacological priming, therapeutic angiogenesis, and innovative strategies to enhance the effectiveness of stem cell therapy by manipulating HIF-1α stabilization, especially in the context of diabetes. Additionally, his research activities include bone and cartilage regeneration, employing a diverse array of strategies such as stem cells and biologically derived products like amniotic membrane extract and mesenchymal stem cell-derived secretome. He has also explored the potential of herbal agents in regenerative medicine.  His contributions extend to the development of custom-made bio-implants for addressing large bone defects and the design and production of various wound dressings, with a specific focus on diabetic wound healing. In recent times, Prof. Sharifi has harnessed the transformative power of CRISPR gene editing technology to combat synovial fibrosis induced by osteoarthritis. In summary, Professor Sharifi is an active scientist in the field of Molecular Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, exemplifying innovation, and dedication to advancing scientific knowledge for improvement of healthcare and human well-being.  

show more »
ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. FOONG CHAN CHOONG

Dr. Foong Chan Choong is an expert in educational psychology, interdisciplinary studies, curriculum design, and psychometric. Dr. Foong, an Associate Professor at the Medical Education and Research Development Unit (MERDU) of the Faculty of Medicine at Universiti Malaya, is an educator and researcher in the field of health professions education. He is a member of the Young Scientist Network – Academy Sciences Malaysia (YSN-ASM) and has been conferred the honor of Fellow of the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER) PSG Regional Institute, India. He holds a first-class honors bachelor's degree in Science with Education from Universiti Malaya, where he also obtained his PhD in Education. Dr. Foong joined MERDU in 2013 and played a crucial role in the development of the university's new undergraduate medical curriculum. He initiated a new curriculum development project at the post-graduate level and in 2016, he developed the Master of Medical Education, which commenced in 2018 and he has been serving as the founding program coordinator until now. He is also responsible for teaching educational psychology, instructional design, and research methodology for the master's program. His proficiency and deep understanding of the development, implementation, and improvement of outcome-based education (OBE) academic programmes have led to his appointment as the Programme Quality Assurance Expert (ProQAE) at Universiti Malaya. In this role, he regularly advises and evaluates accreditation for academic programs as the chairperson of the accreditation panel. Dr. Foong Chan Choong is an educationist of great accomplishment, who has dedicated his career to teaching and research. With a passion for interacting with students and teacher trainees, he finds great satisfaction and motivation in his work. Currently, he is involved in teaching the Postgraduate Diploma of Education (Physics specialisation) at the Faculty of Education. In addition to his role in medical education / health professions education, Dr. Foong has also ventured into the field of engineering education. He is a lifelong learner, constantly seeking out new knowledge and experiences. His current research is multidisciplinary in nature, spanning the medical, dental and other health professions, engineering, physics and music education. Dr. Foong's research interests are diverse, with many of his publications focusing on educational psychology and psychometric. To date, he has published more than 70 publications. He holds several editorial positions, including editor for the Annals of Medicine (Medical Education section) (WoS Journal Citation Report 2024 Quartile 1), executive editor for the Malaysian Journal of Qualitative Research (Scopus indexed), and editorial board member for BMC Medical Education (WoS Journal Citation Report 2024 Quartile 1). Dr. Foong plays an active role in the academic community. At present, he is the executive treasurer for the Qualitative Research Association Malaysia and also serves as an executive committee member for the Malaysian Association of Education in Medical and Health Sciences (MAEMHS). In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Foong is also an innovator, with several of his projects receiving recognition at the university, national, and international levels. He is also involved in community service, coaching the debate team at his alma mater, a secondary school in Perak. The school has achieved recognition at the state, national, and international levels.

show more »

RECENT PUBLICATION

LATEST AWARDED GRANT