Associate Professor Dr. Chen Yeng is an expert in cancer biomarker discovery, biosensor development, and natural therapeutics, with a multidisciplinary approach that bridges nanotechnology, molecular biology, and biomedicine. Her expertise is particularly evident in her work on innovative diagnostic technologies and personalized therapeutic solutions, targeting both cancer and infectious diseases. Her research interests span several cutting-edge areas. One of her primary focuses is the identification and characterization of cancer biomarkers, particularly through novel approaches targeting at immunogenic host proteins. This line of research explores how immunogenic proteins’ interventions might modulate cancer risk, representing an innovative intersection of microbiology, proteomics, and oncology. Dr. Chen is also deeply engaged in developing advanced diagnostic tools, including nanobiosensors with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. These devices, designed to detect critical biomarkers such as those associated with tuberculosis, blood clotting disorders, and oral cancer, are transformative for early disease detection. Her work in biosensors, utilizing materials like gold nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanolayers, has set new standards in diagnostic accuracy and reliability. Another cornerstone of her research is the study of natural plant extracts for therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment. She investigates the biochemical and pharmacological properties of these extracts, focusing on their mechanisms of action, such as inducing apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, and promoting mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells. Her exploration of natural products' roles in modulating microRNAs further highlights her innovative approach to cancer research. Dr. Chen’s expertise also extends to the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and genoprotective properties of herbal compounds, offering potential preventive and therapeutic solutions for chronic diseases. These studies underline her commitment to sustainable and natural approaches in healthcare. Her contributions to genomics and proteomics, particularly in large-scale screening for biological markers, further demonstrate her role as a leader in translating complex biological data into meaningful clinical applications. By combining her deep understanding of molecular biology with a focus on real-world impact, Dr. Chen has established herself as a pioneer in her field. Dr. Chen’s academic influence is demonstrated by her impressive h-index of 28 (ResearchID) and 39 (Scopus), with over 4,500 citations to her name. Her extensive publication record spans high-impact journals, contributing significantly to advancements in dentistry, oncology, and biomedical engineering. She is recognized as a top scientist in Malaysia, ranking among the leading figures in dentistry according to the AD Scientific Index.As a respected peer reviewer for prestigious journals, including Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Periodontal 2000, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and Cancer Letters, Dr. Chen plays a critical role in maintaining the quality of research within her fields of expertise. Her contributions extend to academic leadership, where she had supervised and graduated over 20 postgraduate students, including 12 PhD candidates, nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders.Her leadership in dental education accreditation has further solidified her impact on academic excellence. She has played pivotal roles in the reaccreditation of dental programs at the University of Malaya and other institutions, ensuring that these programs meet global standards.Through her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Chen has partnered with industry leaders to translate research findings into practical healthcare solutions, such as rapid diagnostic tools and personalized treatments. These collaborations exemplify her ability to bridge scientific discovery with real-world applications.In summary, Dr. Chen’s expertise and research interests reflect a holistic approach to biomedical science, integrating cutting-edge technologies with sustainable practices. Her work not only pushes the boundaries of knowledge in cancer research and diagnostics but also has the potential to transform patient care and public health globally.  

Dr. Nur Hairani Abd Rahman has been a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and Administration at Universiti Malaya since 2017. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Universiti Sains Malaysia, a Master of Public Administration from Universiti Malaya, and a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dr. Nur Hairani is highly regarded for her expertise in social policy, with particular focus on social care, governance, social inclusion and exclusion, inequality, and well-being. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Nur Hairani plays an integral role in academic leadership. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Public Administration and Governance and sits on the Editorial Board of the Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her membership in the Social Policy Association in the United Kingdom further amplifies her influence on an international level. In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Nur Hairani is actively engaged in administrative roles, including coordinating both the Outbound Mobility Program and the Master of Public Administration Program. She is also a member of various faculty and university committees, where she contributes to policy development and strategic planning. Nationally, Dr. Nur Hairani serves as a Field Expert for the Malaysian Research and Development Classification System (MRDCS) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). She has also been involved in consultancy projects aimed at poverty eradication, funded by Malaysia’s Economic Planning Unit. Her international experience includes serving as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Messina in Sicily, Italy. In 2023, she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, allowing her to join the University of California, Berkeley, as a Visiting Scholar. Dr. Nur Hairani’s dedication to her field has earned her numerous accolades, including the Excellent Service Award (2022) and the Certificate of Excellent Service (2021) from Universiti Malaya. She was also recognized with the Best Presenter Award at the Asian Universities Alliance & Universitas Indonesia (2021). Her research has been published in high-impact journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus, including Public Policy and Administration and Ageing International. For more information on Dr. Nur Hairani Abd Rahman’s work, please visit her profile at UM Expert, or reach out to her directly at nurhairani@um.edu.my.

                Dr Moy is a Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, attached with the Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  She teaches Epidemiology, Nutritional Epidemiology, Research Methodology and Evidence-Based Medicine to both undergraduate and postgraduate candidates.   Her research interests include Translational Research in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the community setting, Workplace Wellness and the effects of obesity and lifestyle behaviours (diet, physical activity etc ) on NCDs.                    Dr Moy is an established researcher and she has been included in the prestigious World’s Top 2 % Scientists in the Stanford University’s list for the last five conservative years (2019 to 2023).  Her expertise in obesity research is ranked top 2.8% among the published authors worldwide on Obesity from 2010 through 2023 (ExpertScape).       Dr Moy has vast experience in running cohort study.  Currently, she heads a cohort study comprising of almost 15,000 teachers from the Peninsular Malaysia (CLUSTer).  A biobank with serum, plasma and buffy coat was set up.  The study aims to determine the temporal relationship between lifestyle practices (diet and physical activity) and stress with cardiovascular diseases with repeated measurements over time.    This cohort study started in 2013 and up to date, a total 14 PhD/DrPH and one MMedSc (Research) candidates worked on this cohort study and ten of them have graduated.  Eighteen ISI articles are published from this cohort.                   Dr Moy is also actively involved in another study that works on the development of a mobile diet app using image capture as the dietary assessment method. This project is in collaboration with co-researchers in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Behavioural Science.  The goal is to have users monitor their diet and for researchers in the nutrition field to have a better tool in dietary assessment. This mobile diet app has registered for patent and copyrights.  Efforts to further refine it for commercialisation is ongoing.                   Dr Moy has generated research grants amounting to more than RM2.5 million. She published more than 100 manuscripts in peer review journals. She is also active in supervising research candidates.  To date, she has successfully supervised to completion more than 50 DrPH, PhD, MMedSc (Research) and MPH candidates.                    Dr Moy initiated and established the University of Malaya Wellness Program in 2008 and coordinated the program until 2013. She also co-ordinated the implementation of Clinical Epidemiology-Evidence Based Medicine module in the MBBS curriculum in 2008.  She was the coordinator for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program from 2018 to 2022.                  Currently, she is the Head of the Centre of Epidemiology and Evidence Based Practice (CEBP), one of the top ten research centres in Universiti Malaya.  She is a certified Cochrane Trainer and actively conducts workshops on Cochrane Systematic Review Protocol Development.    She serves as associate editors for international and local journals. She also reviews manuscripts for both local and international journals.                   She actively engages with the media in health advocacy especially in the prevention of obesity and NCDs, promotion of healthy lifestyle and lately in the preventive measures of COVID-19 as well as promotion of vaccination for COVID-19.                    In summary, Dr Moy has a rich portfolio in teaching, research, mentorship and health advocacy.