Dr. Asfarina's research lies at the confluence of computational and experimental pharmaceutical sciences, making significant contributions to the progression of drug discovery and the comprehension of molecular interactions. Her work incorporates computational methodologies such as docking and molecular dynamics simulations to craft and refine prospective drug candidates. She employs sophisticated simulation techniques to examine protein-ligand interactions, aiding in the prediction of molecular behavior within biological systems. She explores the binding mechanisms of drugs and other molecules to proteins, which is essential for grasping their therapeutic impacts and potential side effects. Additionally, she has played a role in studies addressing HIV-related stigma within healthcare environments and has contributed to the creation of metrics for assessing HIV activist identity. She genuinely welcomes the chance for collaboration and research partnerships with motivated individuals and academic research teams.

Dr. Nurhafiza Binti Zainal is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. She holds a Dual PhD in Medical Microbiology from Universiti Malaya and Medicine from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Additionally, she earned an MRes in Biotechnology from Imperial College London, United Kingdom, and a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Universiti Malaya. Her areas of expertise include immunology and virology. Dr. Nurhafiza’s research explores the intricate relationship between viruses and the host immune response, particularly the role of host protein expression and genetic factors in shaping disease outcomes. Her work also investigates mechanisms such as cross-reactive immunity and antibody-dependent enhancement to improve vaccine development and antiviral strategies. She has served as both Principal Investigator and Co-Researcher on numerous national-level research grants, including projects under the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), MOSTI, and Universiti Malaya internal funding schemes. Dr. Nurhafiza is also the recipient of the prestigious IEIF International Education Innovation Fund – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project, hosted by The University of Adelaide. Her awarded project focuses on the development and evaluation of inactivated vaccines for viral diseases, with potential applications in animal health. In addition to her scientific research, Dr. Nurhafiza is involved in interdisciplinary initiatives such as One Health programs and sustainability-focused projects related to menstrual health and environmental responsibility

Afiq received his First-Class Honors Degree in Biotechnology from the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2013. He received the MUST President's Award for academic excellence and being the most accomplished student in his class. In 2014, he decided to follow his passion for research and enrolled in an MSc program in Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Cell Biology at the University of Sussex, UK. After completing his MSc program, Afiq gained valuable research experience by working as a research assistant at the Cancer Research Center (CaRC), Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur. In 2015, he was awarded an Academic Training Fellowship (SLAB/SLAI) by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education to pursue his PhD at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His doctoral research focuses on the discovery of new antiviral HIV-1 and VSV restriction factors. His findings have been published in reputable scientific journals and have gained the interest of the global scientific community. After completing his PhD in 2019, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the MRC-Centre for Virus Research (CVR) at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. In 2020, he returned to Malaysia to work as a senior lecturer in the microbiology program at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Universiti Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur. He currently teaches public health microbiology, diagnostic microbiology, microbial pathogenesis, and virology to undergraduate students. In addition to teaching, he also conducts research on various aspects of microbiology, with a particular focus on viral diseases. His research aims to understand the mechanisms of viral replication and pathogenesis as well as develop novel strategies for the prevention and treatment of viral infections. He actively collaborates with other researchers, both locally and internationally, to contribute to the global understanding of infectious diseases. In 2023, he was awarded a prestigious ASEAN-India Research & Training (A-IRTF) Fellowship from the Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India for 3-month research attachment at the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi).