PROFESSOR DATO' DR. APRIL CAMILLA ROSLANI

Professor Dr. April Roslani is a Professor of Colorectal Surgery, and was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya from 2020 - 2024. She graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1995, and was awarded Universiti Malaya’s Master of Surgery in 2003. In 2007, she established University Malaya Medical Centre’s (UMMC) Colorectal Surgery Unit, which is now the largest in the country, and a key stakeholder in colorectal training and services nationally and regionally.   Her areas of expertise include surgery for colorectal cancer, proctology, surgical training and professionalism. She established the first Malaysian Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) and Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) service in UMMC, which is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team.   Prof. April is an influential driver of postgraduate medical training nationally, regionally and internationally. She has chaired the Conjoint Committee for Postgraduate Medical Degrees, which oversees, aligns and coordinates medical specialist training programmes across all higher education providers in Malaysia. Recognizing the need to standardize training across institutions in order to meet the country’s need for healthcare specialists, she led the development of a new national training curriculum for general surgery under the National Postgraduate Curriculum Project. As chair of the Train-the-Trainers Steering Committee, she led the development of a blended curriculum for train-the-trainers modules, which has been rolled out across all specialties, nationally. She has advocated against toxic workplace environments, generating the evidence base and incorporating training modules in both trainee and trainer curricula.   Her leadership credentials are undisputed. She is currently a Director for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's International Office, has been Regional Ambassador for the Association of Academic Health Centers International, and hosted the ASEAN Medical Deans Summit in 2023. She is a Councillor in the International Surgical Society, which champions outreach educational activities to improve access to surgical services globally, and was part of the team that successfully ran the International Surgical Week 2024 in Malaysia for the first time. She was Chair of the Steering Committee for the National Postgraduate Medical Curriculum Project. From a regulatory perspective, she leads the Malaysian Medical Council’s Specialty Subcommittee (Education) for General Surgery, which set the standards for recognition of training programmes, and she regularly evaluates programmes for accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency. She is the immediate Past-President for the Malaysian Society of Colorectal Surgeons, the College of Surgeons, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia and the Asia Pacific Federation of Coloproctology.   Through these and other related roles, she works towards advancing surgical standards, and fairness in the workplace. Her work has been recognized by the international surgical fraternity, through numerous Honorary Fellowship awards, including most recently from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

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ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. ASRUL MAHJUDDIN RESSANG BIN AMINUDDIN

Associate Professor Dr Asrul is currently in the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya,  Kuala Lumpur, and has worked for the past 20 years. Has extensive teaching portfolio included, but is not limited to, teaching responsibilities, academic leadership responsibilities, the design, development, and accreditation of curriculum for both the Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees, participation in research and scholarly activities, and involvement in teaching, learning, and qualified practise. As a result of his extensive background, he has been invited to join the non-executive council member in the board of Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM),  and has been Accreditation Board of Architects Malaysia (LAM). Dr Asrul has served as Deputy Dean of Research and Development. Additionally, he has been appointed as visiting lecturer in Universiti Islam Indonesia in the year 2018 among others and presented as keynote speakers in international conferences organised by Architectural Institutions as well as universities locally and overseas. Academic and Research Career: With a desire to delve deeper into the world of academia, Dr. Asrul pursued higher studies and obtained a Doctorate in Architecture from University of Nottingham UK. Their research work in this area garnered significant attention and acclaim, establishing in the domain on sustainabile architecture and urban habitat. Dr. Asrul's relentless pursuit of excellence extended beyond the confines of their research lab. He actively engaged with students and fellow researchers, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and scientific rigor. This dedication to the profession and commitment to academic excellence earned Dr Asrul the "Certificate of Excellence Services" in 2006, 2020, and 2022, and also "Excellent Service Award," 2021, signifying the profound impact he had on the academic community over the years. His academic journey is a testament to the power of dedication, passion, and a commitment to excellence. Their numerous overseas engagement awards and accolades, including the "Diamond Award" British Invention Show", "Certificate of Excellence Services," "Excellent Service Award," and the "Vice Chancellor Price," exemplify their exceptional contributions to academia, research, and the promotion of sustainable development. Dr. Asrul's has sat and contribute as internal/external/chairman of over 15 thesis proposal Defence (PD), Candidature Defence (CD) and also Thesis Seminar, he had scholarly impact on the academic community and the dedication to environmental stewardship will continue to shape a brighter and more sustainable future for new generation of academia. Dr. Asrul has accomplishments and contributions have created significant impacts both locally and internationally. Earlier in May 2022, he took on the role of External Examiner for the Architectural Programme at the International University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL). This position allowed him to apply his expertise to influence the quality and direction of architectural education in one of Malaysia's prominent universities. In August 2022, Dr. Asrul achieved a significant milestone when he became the first Malaysian RU lecturer to deliver a public lecture at the University of Mongolia. His participation in ARCHASIA 2022-Ulanbatar paved the way for international academic exchange and further showcased his thought leadership in the field of architecture. Furthermore Dr. Asrul was appointed as the only Malaysian coordinator for the Indonesian Universities Architectural School Validation at Universitas Islam Indonesia. This esteemed role, entrusted to him by the Board of Architects Malaysia, in October 2022, demonstrates his knowledge and skills in architectural education. Dr. Asrul's organizational skills and academic prominence were further recognized on June 24, 2023, when he was appointed as the sole Malaysian RU Academic staff joint conference coordinator for the World Architectural Forum, scheduled to be held in 2024. The Malaysian Institute of Architects, a highly respected professional body, entrusted him with this important responsibility. His international reach, Dr. Asrul was appointed as the only Malaysian External Examiner and Guest Lecturer for the 2023-2024 academic session at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin in Sulawesi, Indonesia. This appointment, effective from June 26, 2023, signifies the respect and trust placed in his professional judgment and educational capabilities. Dr. Asrul's career and profound contributions to architecture and education have contribute to Universiti Malaya, his department and the nation. His commitment to fostering international collaboration and promoting excellence in architectural field and education continues to inspire his peers and the next generation of academia.

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ASSOCIATE PROF. DR. ZUBAIDAH BINTI YA'COB

Dr. Zubaidah Ya’cob is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), Universiti Malaya, whose academic career has been defined by a strong commitment to advancing One Health principles, impactful infectious disease research, transformative education, and community engagement. In recognition of her international collaborations and academic contributions, Dr. Zubaidah was appointed in 2025 as an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the School of Infections and Microbiomes, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, strengthening her global research engagement and fostering long-term collaboration in vector ecology and emerging zoonoses. Her research expertise lies in medical and veterinary entomology, with a specialization in public health vectors, particularly ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, sandflies, blackflies, and biting midges (Culicoides), and their roles in transmitting vector-borne diseases such as scrub typhus, rickettsioses, onchocerciasis, simian malaria, and leishmaniasis. A major focus of her current research is understanding the population dynamics of dipteran vectors, including mosquitoes, biting midges (Culicoides), and sandflies (Phlebotomus), across changing tropical landscapes, emphasizing how environmental disturbances and land-use transformation influence vector ecology, host–parasite interactions, and disease emergence in tropical ecosystems. Dr. Zubaidah has published over 70 ISI-indexed articles in reputable international journals such as One Health, Insects, PLOS ONE, Scientific Reports, Acta Tropica, Insects, Journal of Medical Entomology, and Pathogens. She has successfully secured a range of competitive national and international research grants, reflecting her strong research credibility and global engagement. Among her internationally funded projects, The Royal Society (UK) supported her work titled “Mites with Wings”, which investigates the role of avian hosts in the spread of scrub typhus–carrying mites. Through funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, UK), she explored pathogen detection in Simulium black fly populations associated with Onchocerciasis transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. She is also an international member of a global research consortium on Onchocerciasis elimination in sub-Saharan Africa, working collaboratively with experts from the University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, New England Biolabs (USA), and the University of Sheffield, contributing entomological expertise in vector identification, pathogen detection, and disease transmission ecology. Her collaboration under the International Science Partnership Fund (UK) has led to groundbreaking research on rodent genomics and the prevalence of Orientia bacteria in domestic poultry, revealing complex zoonotic transmission pathways. Domestically, she was awarded the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) to study black fly–filarial parasite associations in Malaysia and has partnered with the Institute of Research for Development (IRD), France, to examine zoonotic disease risks in oil palm agricultural landscapes through a One Health lens. Her partnership with UMCARES extends her impact to underserved communities, delivering vector-borne disease awareness programs for primary schoolchildren and Orang Asli families, translating scientific knowledge into actionable public health benefits. Her multidisciplinary research integrates field entomology, molecular diagnostics, ecological modeling, and population genetics, demonstrating her capacity to lead innovative, solution-oriented research that advances both scientific understanding and disease control strategies. Her future work aims to investigate genetic determinants of vector competence, ecological drivers of disease emergence, and sustainable, ecologically sound vector management under the One Health framework. As an educator, Dr. Zubaidah has shown excellence in teaching and mentoring at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She teaches Biology of Organisms, Biostatistics, Statistics, and Research Methodology, promoting active learning and scientific inquiry while nurturing students’ analytical and critical thinking skills. She currently supervises five PhD candidates (two graduated) and eight Master’s students (three graduated, five ongoing). Beyond academia, Dr. Zubaidah is a science communicator and public health advocate, frequently featured on TV1’s Selamat Pagi Malaysia and Bernama TV, offering expert commentary on vector-borne diseases, particularly during flood seasons. Her community-driven initiatives, delivering health education to Orang Asli and B40 communities, earned her the Universiti Malaya Excellence Award (ACUM) in 2023 for impactful community engagement. Dr. Zubaidah also plays an active role in Malaysia’s professional entomology community. She serves as Secretary of the Entomological Society of Malaysia (ENTOMA) and is an Academic Associate Member of the Public Health Entomology Association (PEKA), reflecting her dedication to advancing entomological science and promoting national and international collaboration. Her ability to integrate science, policy, and community action continues to enhance Universiti Malaya’s reputation as a leader in public health engagement, societal impact, and One Health research excellence.

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RECENT PUBLICATION

LATEST AWARDED GRANT

  • Characterization of Anatomical, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Species from Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya for Sustainable Applications


  • Rural Youth Perception and Intention to Engage in Agri-entrepreneurshi


  • Feasibility Assessment of Direct Air Capture (dac) for Aviation Decarbonization At Kuala Lumpur International Airport (klia) and Any Potential Airports in Malaysia


  • Integrating Bone Health and Fall Risk Care for Post-menopausal Women With Hiv At a Tertiary Academic Centre: a Pre-implementation Study


  • Military Brand Identity and Institutional Branding: a Comparison Between The UK and Malaysia


  • Aligning Leadership, Values and Outcomes: Examining Healthcare Professionals' Workplace Experiences in Malaysia and Australia


  • The Impact of Capital Expenditure On Esg Performance in Asean Firms: The Moderating Role of Sustainability Committees


  • A Health Economic Analysis of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (szc) Use in The Emergency Department Treatment of Hyperkalaemia Patients in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital ? a Pilot Pre- and Post-matched Study