Dr Gopinath Venkatraman is a Biotechnologist and Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and is associated with Universiti Malaya Centre for Proteomics Research (UMCPR). He is also an adjunct professor of Biochemistry at Saveetha Institute of Science and Technology, India and Molecular Medicine at Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, India. His research focuses on biomedical (tissue engineering, antimicrobial, anticancer drug delivery applications) and environmental applications of metal, polymeric nanomaterials, and natural compounds.

Kong Kin Weng holds the position of a senior lecturer in the Department of Molecular Medicine. He joined Universiti Malaya in 2011 as a SLAI Fellow and was honoured with the esteemed Bright Spark Scholarship, which enabled him to pursue his PhD in Molecular Medicine. This marked a turning point as he delved into the molecular intricacies underlying the relationship between food and health. Kong's passion for his field drove him to explore various facets of nutritional sciences, including food analysis, food chemistry, nutritional biochemistry, nutrigenomics (transcriptomics and lipidomics), traditional medicine, and natural products. His work aimed to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern scientific advancements, uncovering the hidden potential of nature's bounty. Kong's dedication to research and commitment to advancing the field did not go unnoticed. During his tenure, he received a travel award for the Japan Medical Innovation Programme (2017) established by Kyushu University that sponsored by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. He experienced as a visiting researcher at the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College sponsored by International Joint Research and Academic Exchanges (One Belt, One Road Project) (2019) and Jeffery Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia (2023). He was the Specially-invited Expert (2017-2020) and the Research Consultant (2019-2024) of Agro-food Science and Technology Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China. Kong is actively involved in many international journals, he was the Review Editor of Frontiers in Nutrition (2017-2024) and was the Lead Guest Associate Editor of Frontiers in Nutrition and Frontiers in Chemistry (Research topic: Phytochemical and nutritional properties of underutilised plants, 2017-2018), Guest Associate Editor of Frontiers in Microbiology (Research topic: Discovery of novel plant-derived compounds with antibacterial actions against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, 2018-2019), and Editorial Board Member of Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science (2017-2021). Currently, he is serving as the Associate Editor of Frontiers in Nutrition (2024-Present), Editorial Board Member of Discover Food (2024-Present) and Editorial Board Member of Food as Medicine (2025-Present). Kong is an eminent reviewer for many journals, he was honoured with the Publons Peer Review Awards, attaining the distinction of being among the “Top 1% peer reviewers in Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 2017” and “Top 1% of Reviewer in Agricultural Sciences, 2018”. Kong has acted as an external examiner of PhD/MSc theses from different universities. His research on medicinal and functional foods has been published in many reputable peer-reviewed journals as well as book, chapters and patents.

Professor Ir. Dr. Yau Yat Huang obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude Honors degree, in 1994 from Wichita State University, Kansas, USA, and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1996 from the University of Science Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. Professor Dr. Yau obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering in 2005 from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He was a prestigious NZAID (New Zealand Agency of International Development) PhD scholar from 2001 to 2004 at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. Ir. Dr. Yau is also the Carter Bronze Medal holder of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, United Kingdom (CIBSE), for the years 2013 and 2015. He is a well-known international M&E Engineering expert and has been practicing as an M&E engineer for the past thirty one years. He has also published numerous technical papers in reputable thermal science and mechanics journals, such as the International Journal of Refrigeration, Indoor Air, Applied Thermal Engineering, International Journal of Thermal Science, International Journal of Energy Research, Applied Mechanics Reviews, Energy and Buildings, Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, Building and Environment, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Experimental Heat Transfer, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Indoor and Built Environment, Building Services Engineering Research & Technology of CIBSE, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress and Polymer Testing. Professor Yau is listed as one of the World’s top 2% Scientists Career-Long Citation Impact, as well as one of the top 2% Scientists for the years 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024 by Stanford University. Ir. Dr. Yau is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya. He is currently the Principal Researcher and Coordinator at the well-known UM-Daikin Laboratory and the UM-JAF (Japan Air Filter) Laboratory. In 2024, Professor Yau served as a host professor for the Fulbright Specialist Program at the University of Malaya, facilitating a collaborative project with Professor John Zhai, a renowned academic from the University of Colorado, USA. This project focused on improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and occupant health in affordable housing within hot and humid climates, emphasizing interdisciplinary research and fostering cross-institutional relationships. Professor Yau was the former Associate Editor of the Journal of Indoor and Built Environment from 2012 to 2017. Additionally, Ir. Dr. Yau was the Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Malaya from 2009 to 2011 and the Deputy Dean (Development) from 2011 to 2012 at the Faculty of Engineering. Furthermore, Professor Yau is a registered mechanical Professional Engineer with a Practising Certificate in Malaysia [PEPC] and a Chartered Professional Engineer in Australia [FIEAust, CPEng, NER]. He is also a registered mechanical professional engineer with APEC and EMF (International Professional Engineer) and a Fellow corporate member of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (FIEM) and the Institution of Engineers, Australia (FIEAust). He is a full member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), and a life member of the Tau Beta Pi and Golden Key scholastic honor societies of the USA.