Dr. Mohd Aizat Bin Mohd Zain is a dedicated Senior Lecturer and researcher whose work investigates the molecular and behavioral mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders. His long-term goal is to develop a new theory on the pathophysiology of mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, which may help in developing more effective treatments. To achieve this, he is particularly interested in the areas of neurophysiology and psychiatry. Education and Foundational Research Dr. Aizat's academic journey is rooted in the University of Malaya, where he obtained his Bachelor of Biomedical Science (2009). He continued his specialization at the institution, earning his Master of Medical Science (2013) with a dissertation focused on "Gene Expression and Association Analyses of HTR2A and PDLIM5 Genes in Bipolar Disorder." He completed his doctoral studies, achieving a PhD in Medical Science (2019) in the specialized field of behavioural cognitive neuroscience, Pharmacology, and Molecular Biology. His PhD thesis, "Investigation on the Role of PDLIM5 Gene in Cognitive Function Using Mouse Models," paved his expertise in translational neurobiology and the use of sophisticated animal models to study human mental disorders. Research Focus, Impact, and Publications Dr. Aizat's core research investigates how dendritic spine abnormalities contribute to cognitive impairment observed in neuropsychiatric conditions, specifically depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. He employs a multi-faceted approach, specializing in rodents cognitive behavioral testing, animal model development, and molecular profiling to identify brain region-specific changes and potential biomarkers. His contributions to the field are evidenced by several publications and citations in reputable, peer-reviewed Q1 and Q2 journals. He has earned competitive funding, including the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) and the Tun Ahmad Sarji Research Endowment Grant (TASREF) to pursue his research interests. Beyond publication, Dr. Aizat is an active member of the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences and regularly engages with the global scientific community. This includes serving as an Invited International Keynote Speaker and Webinar Speaker on the neurobiology of learning and memory, and acting as a scientific judge and external reviewer for international conferences and academic institutions. Professional Experience Currently, Dr. Aizat serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (since August 2025). His professional career includes significant academic leadership, previously holding roles as a Senior Lecturer and Head of Programme at University College MAIWP (UCMI), and as a Lecturer and Head of Department at Mahsa University. He has also successfully completed a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Malaya and contributed to vital public health initiatives, including coordinated research on nicotine addiction; breast and colorectal cancers; AIDS among fishermen in northern Malaysia; and investigating health status among coastal communities in Sabah. This highlights his commitment to applying his scientific knowledge to address societal needs and challenges.  

Associate Professor Dr. Santha Chenayah has demonstrated sustained excellence across academic scholarship, institutional leadership, and societal engagement for over three decades. Her intellectual contributions to the fields of environmental economics, operations research, and sustainability reflect a trajectory of deep expertise, policy relevance, and global impact. Holding a Ph.D. and Master’s in Economics from Osaka University, Japan, and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Universiti Malaya, she possesses a foundation rooted in both analytical rigor and regional policy insight.Dr. Chenayah’s research output includes over 40 peer-reviewed publications, many in high-impact journals indexed by Web of Science, Scopus, and ESCI. Her body of work addresses climate change mitigation, green disposal behavior, electric vehicle adoption, and solid waste management, demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach to contemporary environmental challenges. She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Researcher on more than 20 funded projects supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, University of Malaya, and global institutions such as the World Bank. Her scholarly excellence is recognized through prestigious accolades, including the Outstanding Paper Award by Emerald Literati (2019), multiple Excellent Service Awards from University of Malaya, and the JSPS RONPAKU Fellowship awarded by Japan (2003–2007).Dr. Chenayah has contributed extensively to academic development through course instruction, programme coordination, and postgraduate supervision. She has taught more than 15 undergraduate and postgraduate modules covering macroeconomics, environmental economics, welfare economics, Environmental Management and Planning. Between 2020 and 2025 alone, she was appointed as internal examiner for over 40 postgraduate theses. Her leadership in academic quality assurance includes contributions to curriculum redesign and assessment at faculty and national levels.In addition to her pedagogical responsibilities, Dr. Chenayah has held key administrative roles, including multiple terms as Head of the Department of Economics at Universiti Malaya. She has served on more than 70 institutional and faculty-level committees, ranging from safety and health boards to steering panels on strategic policy and curriculum development. Her editorial leadership includes current appointments as the Chief Editor and Associate Editor of Institutions and Economies, and Associate Editor of the Singapore Economic Review (2024–2026), reflecting her influence in shaping scholarly discourse in economics across the region.A defining aspect of Dr. Chenayah’s professional portfolio is her international engagement and representation. As the Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian Economic Association (MEA), she has actively represented Malaysia at Federation of ASEAN Economic Associations (FAEA) conferences across ASEAN countries. These diplomatic assignments underscore her role in promoting regional economic integration, academic exchange, and multilateral collaboration. By fostering intellectual ties and facilitating joint dialogues on policy and development, her contributions have elevated Malaysia’s visibility in regional economics while expanding her own transnational scholarly networks. Such experiences enrich her academic leadership and position her as a regional ambassador of Malaysian economic thought.Complementing her academic and regional roles, Dr. Chenayah has contributed her expertise to national policy development and consultancy initiatives. She has led and participated in advisory projects for key institutions including the World Bank, MB Inc. Perak, and Malaysia’s Ministry of Environment, addressing strategic themes such as circular economy planning, rare earth supply chain resilience, and carbon mitigation. Her consistent engagement with media outlets, webinars, and public policy forums highlights her ability to translate research into actionable insights.Through the integration of research excellence, pedagogical innovation, academic stewardship, and ASEAN-level diplomatic engagement, Dr. Santha Chenayah exemplifies the ideals of a modern scholar whose work transcends borders and disciplines. Her sustained record of contributions aligns with Universiti Malaya’s mission to foster transformative education and globally relevant scholarship.

Lik-Voon Kiew obtained his Ph.D. degree in Biopolymer Technology and Therapeutics from the Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. His research interests and expertise are in the development of nano-sized complexes and particles for anticancer and organ-selective drug delivery and therapy. He also evaluates synthetic and bioactive compounds/materials for toxicity, physiology impact and disease treatment efficacy. He also assesses the acute and chronic impacts of intravenous administration of nano-drug-carriers and nanotherapeutics to the cardiovascular physiology of rats using radio-telemetry techniques. He has 22 years of research experience in nanomedicine and pharmacology, and has published over 65 research manuscripts and graduated 10 PhD students and 6 MSc students. He has also been appointed previously as the visiting Associate Professor to the National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (2020) and visiting scientist to the Principe Felipe Research Centre, Valencia, Spain (2014). Kiew is currently a Professor and the Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia. He is also a Jointly-Appointed Professor of the College of Engneering Bioscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), Taiwan. He has 15 years of experience as a pharmacologist and pharmacology educator, and has been appointed previously as the external examiner (Pharmacology) for the (i)  Second Professional Bachelor of Dental Surgery Examination 2021/2022, International Medical University, Malaysia, (ii) Second Professional Examination 2020/2021, Bachelor of Dentistry, National University of Malaysia (UKM), (iii) Second Professional Examination 2019/2020, Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Penang International Dental College-MASHA University, Malaysia, (iv) Pre-Clinical Professional Examination, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, Quest International University Perak, Malaysia (2019); the internal examiner for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program and the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS/UMMP) program, University of Malaya, Malaysia; a PhD thesis examiner for the National University of Singapore (2021) and the University of Nottingham Malaysia (2019), and an independent assessor for the Academic Promotion Exercise of Monash University Malaysia (2021-2022). He is also the Deputy head (Asia Pacific Region), Internationalization Unit, Faculty of Medicine; and the Protem Head, Centre of Excellence for Innovative Medical Devices, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. In the research community, Kiew serves as an International Committee of the Controlled Release Society (CRS, 2019 - 2022), a committee member for the (i) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 229 / Work Group 3 (ISO/TC 229/WG 03) "Health, Safety and Environmental Aspects of Nanotechnologies", and (ii) Technical Committee TC15 - Nanotechnologies (Work Group 3 - Safety and Health), Department of Standards Malaysia, Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (2019 – present), a member of The Ministry of Education Malaysia Research Fund Evaluation Committee (2019-2020), a committee member of the Malaysian Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (MyCRS), and a scholarship panellist for the Human Life Advancement Foundation (2016-2017, 2019-2020). He s also an editor for the Journal of Health and Translational Medicine (2017- present), a guest editor for the Journal of Drug Delivery and Translational Research (2018), and a manuscript reviewer for Theranostics, Nanomedicine NBM, the Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, RSC Advances, International Journal of Nanomedicine, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology A: Chemistry, Journal of Materials Chemistry B and BMC Nephrology.