Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with honors from Universiti Malaya in 1993, followed by a Ph.D. in Asymmetric Organic Synthesis from the University of Nottingham, UK, in 1999. Upon completing his studies, he returned to Malaysia and began his career as a young lecturer in the Chemistry Department at the University of Malaya. Over the years, he climbed the academic ranks, achieving the status of Associate Professor in 2003 and attaining the position of full Professor in 2016. From 2021 to 2022, Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin served as the Head of the Chemistry Department before assuming the role of Deputy Dean of Research at the Faculty of Science from 2022 to 2024. Currently, he holds the position of Deputy Dean of Development at the Faculty of Science. His research endeavors predominantly focus on organic synthesis, with a specific interest in developing bioactive compounds, including derivatives of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), oxadiazole, thiadiazole, and triazole for use as antioxidants. Additionally, he explores the synthesis of various derivatives of quinazoline for potential applications in anticancer treatments. Currently, his research involves the creation of carbazole derivatives for their utility in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) materials, with a focus on improving the C(sp²)-N bond formation through the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction under microwave irradiation. Professor Dr. Azhar Ariffin's contributions extend beyond his home institution, as he served as an Experienced Researcher at Kaunas University of Technology from 2019 to 2023 under the MEGA HORIZON 2020 PROJECT: MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION STAFF EXCHANGE.

Nuratiqah Aisyah Awang is a dedicated academic professional with a PhD in Facilities Management (Building) and a Bachelor’s degree in Building Surveying from the Faculty of Built Environment at Universiti Malaya (UM). She specialises in Facilities Management and is passionate about Healthcare and Inclusive Facilities Management. Her work focuses on optimising facilities management practices and enhancing quality of wellbeing, particularly for vulnerable groups such as individual with disabilities, the elderly, and children. Throughout her studies, she has received several awards, including the Hadiah Association of Building Engineers (ABE) in the UK, a Bronze award for her poster presentation at the International Research Innovation, Invention & Solution Exposition (IRIISE) 2018, and the Best Presenter award at the 11th ASEAN Postgraduate Seminar 2017.

Dr. Wong Won Fen is a faculty member at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Universiti Malaya, where she has served since 2012. She is an immunologist with research interests in host–pathogen interactions, immune regulation, and inflammation, with a particular focus on the immunopathogenesis of sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis and HIV. Her research integrates molecular and cellular immunology to understand immune dynamics and develop strategies for improving disease prognosis, vaccine development, and novel immunotherapeutic interventions. Dr. Wong received her early scientific training at Tohoku University, Japan, under the supervision of Professor Masanobu Satake. To date, she has published more than 115 peer-reviewed articles, with an h-index of 37 and over 5,200 citations. She has received several international recognitions, including the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowship, Fulbright Visiting Scholarship, and the Institut Mérieux Young Investigator Award. At Universiti Malaya, Dr. Wong teaches in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She serves as the Course Coordinator for Immunology in the MBBS programme and for Advanced Medical Microbiology in the Biomedical Science programme, in addition to her role as Ph.D. Programme Coordinator and Quality Management System (QMS) committee member contributing to institutional quality initiatives.