Dr. Lai Meng Yee graduated with Bachelor of Science degree (Microbiology) in 2006 from Universiti Sains Malaysia. She obtained her Master of Biotechnology in 2011 and Doctorate degree in 2018 from Universiti Malaya. She served as post-doc research fellow at the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine from 2019 to 2024. She is currently serving as a senior lecturer at the same department since July 2024. Dr. Lai’s area of expertise are molecular parasitology, molecular epidemiology and diagnostic kit development. Dr. Lai carries out host parasite interaction study to investigate the relationship between parasites and its’ host cell receptors/ligands. She successful find out the potential host cell binding partner of Toxoplasma gondii during the invasion. Dr. Lai is also interested in exploring the mechanisms of malaria infections and the interactions between infected patients and malaria parasite invasion using a molecular epidemiology approach. She also interested to investigate the distribution of zoonotic malaria parasites, originally transmitted from non-human primates through mosquito bites. Other than that, Dr. Lai also works on the identification and differentiation of human malaria and zoonotic malaria parasites using various molecular techniques, such as real-time PCR analysis, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). By employing these molecular techniques, Dr. Lai has developed numerous diagnostic methods for malaria, SARS-CoV-2, and dengue. These methods and primers had been patented. Dr. Lai’s dedication and hard work have resulted in more than 40 ISI-Cited publications, making substantial contributions to science and technology. Dr Lai also also have been awarded a few times for the innovation in research including Gold, and Medal prizes from Korea Creative Invention Contest, CIC 2017, Cabaran Inovasi  Inklusif 2018 Zon Tengah, World Invention Innovation Contest (WiC) 2018, International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada, iCAN 2022 and Innovasi Kreativiti Teknologi Keusahawanan dan Masyarakat (organized by Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan). To date, she has published more than 40 ISI-cited publications with total citations index of 470 and H-index of 13. Also, she has assisted more than 25 PGs in their research projects. 2 Master and 1 PhD students have completed their study. Recently, she is awarded a research grant from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, to further her zoonotic malaria research. Overall, Dr. Lai’s steadfast dedication to scientific research and innovation has propelled significant progress in disease detection and prevention, highlighting her as an outstanding young scientist and a role model for the scientific community.

Dr Song Sze Looi is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), Universiti Malaya. She obtained her PhD in 2013 from the Universiti Malaya in the field of Algal Biotechnology. She later received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Westminster International College. Currently, she is the Coordinator for the Degree Stacking and Mixed Mode programmes. Dr Song has gained expertise in genomics, bioinformatics, molecular phylogenetics, systematics and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) such as NextSeq, MiSeq, HiSeq and Ion Torrent. Her research includes seaweeds, oysters, nematode parasites of public health importance, insects of agricultural importance and microbiomes. She has published more than 50 papers in ISI journals for example Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, Acta Tropica, Genetica, Phycologia, Journal of Applied Phycology and Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. Her current H-index is 13 in Publons and 14 in Scopus. Dr Song has also established research collaborations with local and international researchers. Aside from academic achievement, she is also active in sports. She won second prize in the Isometrik Challenge organized by UM's Sport Centre in 2021. She has also achieved podium finish in several marathon events such as the Brooks Kuantan Run (Champion in 10 km Women's Open) and Taiping Cross Country Run (Second Runner-up in 7 km Women's Open).

Nor’azim Mohd Yunos is a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya and a Consultant Intensivist at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). He is the Head of Critical Care Services Unit of UMMC and the President of the Malaysian Society of Intensive Care. He obtained MBBS in 1994 and Master of Anaesthesiology in 2001 from Universiti Malaya. He then proceeded to undergo specialty training in Intensive Care Medicine and in the process, obtained the European Diploma in Intensive Care (EDIC) in 2004. A pursue of research interest in intravenous fluids for the critically ill led to his PhD from Monash University in 2017. His thesis by publications for the PhD earned him the 2017 Mollie Holman Award for best doctorate thesis in Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.   Since starting his academic career with Universiti Malaya in 2001, Nor’azim has served in various academic, research and clinical roles. He was with Monash University Malaysia between 2006 and 2020 and was one of the pioneer staff members of the University's Clinical School Johor Bahru when it was established in 2006. He was the Deputy Head of the Clinical School from 2016 until his return to the Faculty of Medicine Universiti Malaya in early 2020. In the clinical specialty of Intensive Care Medicine, Nor’azim was an Intensive Care Registrar at Alfred Hospital (2002-2003) and a Registrar and Research Fellow at Austin Hospital (2009-2011) in Melbourne and has served as Intensivist in several hospitals in Malaysia, namely Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru and Hospital Sultan Ismail Johor Bahru. Since April 2020, Nor’azim has been with the Intensive Care Unit of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.  Nor’azim has highly cited publications in the area of intravenous fluids and electrolytes in the critically ill. These include first-authored publications in leading journals like JAMA, Intensive Care Medicine, and Critical Care Medicine. He has also delivered plenaries and lectures at major international scientific conferences, which include the International Fluid Academy Days, SG-ANZICS Intensive Care Forum, American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week and World Congress of Intensive & Critical Care Medicine. His current collaborative research works include being the site Principal Investigator for Respiratory Infections Research and Outcomes Study, RESPIRO, under the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response, PREPARE (National Research Foundation, Singapore), site Principal Investigator for Corticosteroid Domain of Randomized, Embedded, Multifactorial, Adaptive, Platform Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia, REMAP-CAP, and co-investigator for Evaluation and Recommendation for Infection Control in Malaysia, MY-ERIC (TRGS, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia).  His education portfolio spans applied physiology, acute care teaching, Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and Patient Safety. He has also been involved as Clinical Simulation facilitator in sessions for MBBS undergraduates, as well as in those held for Anaesthesiology and Critical Care practitioners.