Associate Professor Dr. Chen Yeng is an expert in cancer biomarker discovery, biosensor development, and natural therapeutics, with a multidisciplinary approach that bridges nanotechnology, molecular biology, and biomedicine. Her expertise is particularly evident in her work on innovative diagnostic technologies and personalized therapeutic solutions, targeting both cancer and infectious diseases.  Her research interests span several cutting-edge areas. One of her primary focuses is the identification and characterization of cancer biomarkers, particularly through novel approaches targeting at immunogenic host proteins. This line of research explores how immunogenic proteins’ interventions might modulate cancer risk, representing an innovative intersection of microbiology, proteomics, and oncology.  Dr. Chen is also deeply engaged in developing advanced diagnostic tools, including nanobiosensors with enhanced sensitivity and specificity. These devices, designed to detect critical biomarkers such as those associated with tuberculosis, blood clotting disorders, and oral cancer, are transformative for early disease detection. Her work in biosensors, utilizing materials like gold nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanolayers, has set new standards in diagnostic accuracy and reliability.  Another cornerstone of her research is the study of natural plant extracts for therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment. She investigates the biochemical and pharmacological properties of these extracts, focusing on their mechanisms of action, such as inducing apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, and promoting mitochondrial dysfunction in cancer cells. Her exploration of natural products' roles in modulating microRNAs further highlights her innovative approach to cancer research.  Dr. Chen’s expertise also extends to the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and genoprotective properties of herbal compounds, offering potential preventive and therapeutic solutions for chronic diseases. These studies underline her commitment to sustainable and natural approaches in healthcare.  Her contributions to genomics and proteomics, particularly in large-scale screening for biological markers, further demonstrate her role as a leader in translating complex biological data into meaningful clinical applications. By combining her deep understanding of molecular biology with a focus on real-world impact, Dr. Chen has established herself as a pioneer in her field.  Dr. Chen’s academic influence is demonstrated by her impressive h-index of 28 (ResearchID) and 39 (Scopus), with over 4,500 citations to her name. Her extensive publication record spans high-impact journals, contributing significantly to advancements in dentistry, oncology, and biomedical engineering. She is recognized as a top scientist in Malaysia, ranking among the leading figures in dentistry according to the AD Scientific Index. As a respected peer reviewer for prestigious journals, including Coordination Chemistry Reviews, Periodontal 2000, Biosensors and Bioelectronics, and Cancer Letters, Dr. Chen plays a critical role in maintaining the quality of research within her fields of expertise. Her contributions extend to academic leadership, where she had supervised and graduated over 20 postgraduate students, including 11 PhD candidates, nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders. Her leadership in dental education accreditation has further solidified her impact on academic excellence. She has played pivotal roles in the reaccreditation of dental programs at the University of Malaya and other institutions, ensuring that these programs meet global standards. Through her commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. Chen has partnered with industry leaders to translate research findings into practical healthcare solutions, such as rapid diagnostic tools and personalized treatments. These collaborations exemplify her ability to bridge scientific discovery with real-world applications. In summary, Dr. Chen’s expertise and research interests reflect a holistic approach to biomedical science, integrating cutting-edge technologies with sustainable practices. Her work not only pushes the boundaries of knowledge in cancer research and diagnostics but also has the potential to transform patient care and public health globally.

Surinderpal Kaur is a Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at the Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. She holds a PhD from Lancaster University, UK. With a career spanning over three decades, she has made significant contributions to the fields of linguistics, critical discourse studies, and multimodality. Her expertise lies in Critical Discourse Studies and Multimodality, with research interests spanning discrimination and prejudice, particularly in migration, Islamophobia, far-right extremism, terrorism, gender, and sexuality. She has been invited to speak by the Director-General of the OIC on Islamophobia at the UN for the International Day Against Islamophobia in 2024. She has also been invited to speak on Islamophobia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. She has published extensively in reputable journals, contributing to the global understanding of how discourse shapes and reflects social realities.​ Currently, her work centres on climate change communication and education, reflecting her commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. She is also the Co-Chair of the University Malaya Committee for Climate Change which functions as a part of the technology advisory panel for Climate Change for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. As Co-Chair, she is focused on ensuring that UM obtains observer status at the Conference of Parties for Climate Change, and also for UM to take the lead in climate-related research in the nation. She is also the SDG Champion for Climate Change for Universiti malaya. She has represented Malaysia and UM at COP29 (UNFCCC) in Baku on Humanising Sustainability. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics at UM. She is also the Acting Chair, and Vice-Chair for the Malaysian Language Deans Council, and is leading the taskforce for all public universities on Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL). She is committed to embedding digital humanities in the teaching and learning of languages and is focused on establishing a Digital Humanities Centre at the faculty, which will be the hub for TELL for the nation and ASEAN.  Beyond academia, she is actively involved in capacity-building initiatives for Punjabi and Sikh youth in Malaysia, fostering leadership and community development.  Her career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the application of linguistics to address pressing social and environmental challenges. She continues to shape national and international discourse on the critical role of language in society.  

Professor Sr Dr. Hafez Salleh , a former Deputy Dean (Undergraduate) and former Head at Department of Quantity Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Malaysia. He has an educational background in quantity surveying and IT in construction. Currently, he is Head of Centre for Building, Construction & Tropical Architecture (BuCTA) Research. He has a BSc, MSc and PhD Degree from School of the Built Environment and top rated, 6* Research Institute for the Built and Human Environment, University of Salford, United Kingdom. He has 30 years’ experience in both academia and industry practice and has been an active researcher and research supervisor. He is the recipient of Excellence Service Award by University of Malaya in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2022 and recipient of Loyal Service Award 20 Years in 2017. He has supervised a wide range of undergraduate and post graduate research students in various research themes. His main research interest is IT/IS strategic management in construction and sustainable design. His previous research was the development of IT/IS Readiness Model that focuses on evaluation of organizational readiness prior IT/IS investment. He is currently working on the theme of IT/IS evaluation in construction with interest in the links between ‘hard’ & human issues and BIM Implementation in construction industry. He is a Registered Consultant Quantity Surveyor (CQS) with Board of Quantity Surveyor Malaysia (BQSM), Fellow of Royal Institute of Surveyor Malaysia (FRISM), the technical committee member of Malaysian Construction Industry Master Plan (CIMP) 2005-2015, Strategic Thrust 6: Leveraging Information Technology, Editorial Board Members, Journal of Surveying, Construction & Property, Associate Editor for Journal of Design and Built Environment (JDBE) and Lead Auditor for QMS ISO 9001:2008, University of Malaya. He was a Member of Quantity Surveying Accreditation Council (QSAC), BQSM, for Session 2019-2021, Auditor for QMS ISO 9001:2015 (BQSM) 2021,2022, 2023 and he is also a regular Assessor Panel of Accreditation for Quantity Surveying Programme for both RISM and BQSM and has been appointed as an External Examiner for more than 28 thesis of Master and PhD examinations.