BIOGRAPHY : Dr. Chong Pan Pan holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Microbiology, a Master of Science in Biochemistry, and a Ph.D. in Tissue Engineering. Following the completion of her doctoral training, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow before being appointed as a Senior Lecturer at the National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence in Research and Learning (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia. Dr. Chong is actively involved in translational orthopaedic and regenerative medicine research, with a particular emphasis on tissue engineering and orthobiologic therapies. She has played a key role in the development and clinical translation of platelet-derived extracellular vesicle (P-EV)–based therapies, which have been implemented as clinical services for musculoskeletal conditions such as lateral epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, osteochondral defects, delayed union, and knee osteoarthritis at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC). Her research interests focus on adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their application as biological therapies for poorly regenerating tissues, particularly articular cartilage. Her work investigates MSCs derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and adipose tissue, with an emphasis on directing chondrogenic differentiation for cartilage repair and joint regeneration in patients affected by trauma or degenerative joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. Dr. Chong has published extensively in high-impact, Q1 peer-reviewed journals and has presented her research at numerous international scientific conferences. In recognition of her contributions, she has received multiple prestigious awards, including Young Investigator Awards, Young Investigator Best Paper Award, L’Oréal Malaysia for Women in Science, as well as Best Poster and Oral Presentation awards and competitive travel fellowships. She has also actively participated in biotechnology exhibitions and innovation-driven business competitions, earning several innovation awards for her work on MSC- and P-EV-based regenerative therapies. In addition, Dr. Chong has successfully developed and secured intellectual property, with patents granted for her novel innovations in regenerative medicine and orthobiologic therapies.

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.  

Dr. Yew Wei Lit is a senior lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Malaya. Prior to this, he was a lecturer at Hong Kong Baptist University and a postdoctoral fellow at Yale-NUS College in Singapore. Based disciplinarily in comparative politics and environmental studies, his research has focused on the politics of development and environmental contention, and more broadly on civil society dynamics in China and Southeast Asia. Dr. Yew obtained a PhD in Asian and International Studies from City University of Hong Kong. He received his MSc in Comparative Politics (Asia) from the London School of Economics and his BIT from Multimedia University (Malaysia).