Currently serving as the Head of the Department of Parasitology at the Universiti Malaya (UM), Professor Dr. Lau Yee Ling has an impressive academic background. In 2008, while awaiting her PhD viva, she began her academic career as a lecturer at Monash University Sunway Campus. During her tenure at Monash University, she received two Monash University Research Grants, which allowed her to pursue her research in the field of molecular parasitology. In 2009, she returned to her alma mater, the Universiti Malaya, as a Senior Lecturer. Her dedication and contributions led to her receiving tenure in 2010, followed by promotions to Associate Professor in 2013 and Professor in 2019. She was appointed a fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia in 2019. Professor Lau's scientific pursuits have primarily revolved around the comprehensive investigation of Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic parasite known for its significant role in the development and transmission of malaria. Her research focuses on utilizing advanced molecular techniques to identify, detect, and characterize these parasites in both human and animal hosts. By employing state-of-the-art molecular methods, Professor Lau aims to advance our understanding of Plasmodium knowlesi and its interactions with its hosts, ultimately contributing to the development of effective control and prevention strategies. Throughout her career, Professor Lau has collaborated with local and international researchers, resulting in the publication of over 289 ISI journals. Her published work has accumulated a total WoS citation index of 5139 and an H-index of 36. Her exceptional research achievements have also enabled her to secure various international and local research grants, including the NIH R01, UKRI-MOHE, Wellcome Trust, Hubert Curien Partnership-Hibiscus (PHC-Hibiscus), ASEAN-India Collaborative R&D scheme, GCRF Global Impact Acceleration Account (GIAA) Impact Fund, High Impact Research Grant, University of Malaya Research Grant, FRGS, E-science, LRGS, among others. The cumulative research funding she has obtained exceeds RM10 million. Additionally, she has obtained multiple intellectual property rights for her work on the rapid molecular diagnosis of dengue, malaria, and COVID-19. Professor Lau’s dedication to mentoring and guiding students is demonstrated by her successful supervision of 17 master’s and 24 PhD students. She continues to shape the next generation of parasitology researchers, currently supervising 2 master’s and 11 PhD students, thereby making a significant contribution to their education and professional development. With her extensive background in grant management, she has held various administrative roles, such as Head of the Grant Management Unit in the Health and Translational Medicine Cluster and Faculty of Medicine. Additionally, she has served as a committee member for evaluating applications for FRGS, LRGR, and TRGS at both national and international levels. In 2017, she established the Science Café, which has become the primary platform for research communication between clinicians and scientists at the Faculty of Medicine. She has also been involved in multiple committees, including the University of Malaya Institutional Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (IBBC), Animal Experimental Unit, Faculty of Medicine Risk and Quality Management, and has served as an internal auditor for the Faculty of Medicine. She served as the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Health and Translational Medicine (JUMMEC) at the University of Malaya from 2009 to 2024. Currently, she holds the position of editor-in-chief for the Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and associate editor for BMC Infectious Diseases. Her contributions to the scientific field have led her to become a regular reviewer for prestigious international journals, such as Nature Scientific Reports, Lancet, PLOS One, Parasites & Vectors, Malaria Journal, International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health, and others. Due to her extensive experience and reputation in the field of molecular parasitology, Professor Lau is highly sought after as a speaker and consultant both locally and internationally. She has actively participated in professional societies, such as the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM), where she served as a council member in 2018-2019, and the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB), where she held the position of Honorary Secretary in 2017-2019 and the President in 2019-2023. She continues to serve on the MSMBB council to this day. Professor Lau's passion for research is equaled by her dedication to teaching and education. In her classes, she not only ensures that her lectures are easy to understand but also strives to engage students by incorporating recent articles and real-life scenarios to demonstrate the practical relevance of the subject matter. Due to her enthusiasm for education, she volunteered to be the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Phase II coordinator in 2011 and later became the PBL main coordinator in 2018. Recently, she has been actively involved in organizing PBL training workshops for the UMMP program. Professor Lau has received several prestigious awards, including the ASM Top Research Scientist Malaysia 2024; MSMBB Best Scientist Award 2023; MTSF's Science & Technology Award for Year 2020; the University of Malaya Excellent Service Award three times in 2011, 2013, and 2015; and the MSPTM Nadchadtram Medal in 2014. She has also been recognized multiple times internationally and nationally for her innovative research, including the "top 2% scientists" list for 2023, 2024 and 2025, published by Stanford in collaboration with Elsevier; Grand Prize in the National Exclusive Innovation Challenge Award 2018 and Korea Creative Invention Contest 2018. Updated on 11/18/2025

Dr Vairavan Narayanan is the Head of Neurosurgical services in University Malaya Medical Centre and the Head of Internationalisation Unit in the Faculty of Medicine, UM. He is a Professor and Consultant Neurosurgeon in University of Malaya. He did his basic medical degree as well as Masters degree in Surgery in the National University of Malaysia (UKM). He completed his Neurosurgical training in Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge in 2012, acquiring the FRCS (Neurosurgery) Fellowship from the Intercollegiate Board of Surgery in UK. He spent a further 6 months in 2012 doing an Honorary Fellowship in Epilepsy in University College London. He was recognised as a Malaysian National Specialist Registry (NSR) gazetted consultant Neurosurgeon in 2013. His clinical interest lies in Neuro Oncology, Epilepsy and Traumatic Brain Injury. He works closely with the adult and paediatric Neurologists in UM and has built up a successful Epilepsy surgery Unit which screens an average of 50 patients a year, of whom about 20 undergo surgery. With his fellow neurosurgeons and neuro-oncologists, he also runs a dedicated Neuro Oncology Unit which provides the highest standards of care for brain tumour patients. His research interests include genetic polymorphisms and mutations in primary and secondary brain tumors, traumatic brain injury and its sequeala, innovations in surgery and training. He has numerous publications in these fields. He is also actively involved in academic teaching and supervision of both undergraduate and post graduate Masters and PhD students. Dr Vairavan is a member of various National and International organisations including the Malaysian Medical Association, Neurosurgical Association of Malaysia, Malaysian Society of Neurosciences, General Medical Council of UK and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.  

Dr. Norhayati is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya in Malaysia. Holding a PhD from the University of Reading, UK, awarded in 2011 under the Indoor Environment and Energy Research Group, she has cultivated a strong academic and research background. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Norhayati holds the position of Registered Building Surveyor and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Malaysia (MRISM), bringing a practical and professional dimension to her research. Her leadership journey in academia encompasses her role as the Deputy Dean (Development) for the Faculty of Built Environment presently and prior roles as the Head of the Department of Building Surveying and the Head of the Research Unit for Building Science & Performance at the Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, from 2014 to 2018. Currently, she holds the position of Deputy Dean (Development) for the faculty. Her research contributions extend beyond academia, with active participation in SIRIM International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a Technical Committee of ISO/TC 146/SC2 for “IAQ and Workplace Atmospheres”. Dr. Norhayati has been actively involved in cutting-edge research in the fields of Indoor Environmental Quality and Zero Energy Buildings securing both national and international grants to support her research endeavors. Her work encompasses innovative approaches to enhancing indoor air quality, ventilation systems, and optimizing building energy and thermal performance. Her exceptional research efforts have earned her several awards, including the University of Malaya Excellence Service Award, Gold Awards at diverse International Research Innovation Competitions and the prestigious Hitachi Research Fellowship Award from The Hitachi Scholarship Foundation Japan. Demonstrating a notable research impact, she has published over 60 research articles with more than 1000 citations.