Associate Professor Dr. Tang Swee Seong is an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya. He obtained his B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry and M.Sc. in Microbiology from Universiti Malaya, and completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology at The Australian National University in 2013. His research expertise lies in bacteriophage biology and phage therapy, with a strong focus on developing sustainable, antibiotic-free solutions against multidrug-resistant pathogens in both human and aquaculture settings. He has led multiple research projects on bacteriophage isolation, genomic characterization, host–phage interaction, and therapeutic applications, with particular interest in polyvalent phages, phage cocktails, and phage-based diagnostic platforms. Associate Professor Tang is recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions to translational phage research. His team was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) 2025 for the innovation titled “Microcapsule Containing Bacteriophages for Sustainable Infection Treatment in Aquaculture.” This work introduces an eco-friendly, targeted phage delivery system aimed at reducing antibiotic reliance in aquaculture and addressing global antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Building on this innovation, his project “AquaPhage – Targeted Phage Therapy for Sustainable Aquaculture” has been selected for the Universiti Malaya Deep Tech Accelerator Programme, with two intellectual property (IP) applications filed on the encapsulation process and the encapsulated phage product. These efforts reflect his commitment to translating laboratory research into industry-relevant, commercialization-ready solutions. In addition to research innovation, Associate Professor Tang plays an active leadership role in academic talent development. As the national team leader for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2025, he guided Team Malaysia to achieve one Silver and one Bronze medal — the highest achievement in Malaysia’s IBO history to date. He has published 29 scientific papers, including 24 Web of Science–indexed journal articles in reputable journals such as Aquaculture, Pharmaceuticals, The Journal of Virology, Phytochemistry, Journal of Bacteriology, and PeerJ. His work has accumulated over 512 citations with an H-index of 10. He has also authored review articles consolidating advances in phage therapy and antimicrobial resistance. Associate Professor Tang actively contributes to the academic community as a manuscript reviewer for numerous international journals, including Aquaculture, Life Sciences, Phytochemistry, Scientific Reports, PLoS ONE, PeerJ, and Microbial Drug Resistance. He has also served as an EXCO member of the Microbiology Society of Malaysia and currently holds the position of Assistant Secretary for the Malaysian Society for Lactic Acid Bacteria. His research vision is to position Universiti Malaya as a regional leader in sustainable biotechnology and phage-based innovation, bridging fundamental microbiology with translational impact to address antimicrobial resistance and global food security challenges.      

Dr Lim Quan Hziung is serving Medical Lecturer in Universiti Malaya (UM) / Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). He obtained his basic and postgraduate medical degrees, and completed his Endocrinology subspecialty training at UM.  He is a council member of the Malaysian Obesity Society, and an active committee member in the Diabetes Care Unit in UMMC. His clinical work focuses on comprehensive care for patietns with clinical obesity, diabetes and various endocrinology conditions.  He has supervised numerous masters and undergraduate medical students and is actively involved in multiple research projects. His research interests includes type 1 and type 2 diabetes, population metabolic health, obesity and its related comorbidities. He has published in multiple international medical journals including The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, Journal of Diabetes Investigation among others. His work has been presented at international conferences including the United States Endocrine Society annual conference (US ENDO), ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Society (AFES) Congress, and the International Diabetes Epidemiology Group biennial symposium.  He is regularly engaged for talks with healthcare workers and the public to share on topics on Endocrinology and Diabetes. He has been invited for national media appearances, and has had articles published in various local media. 

After obtaining his PhD in High Resolution Spectroscopy from Imperial College London in 1995, Dr. Sharifuddin began his academic career as a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Chemistry at Universiti Malaya. His research interests are broadly centred on the integration of computational tools in chemistry research and education, with particular emphasis on chemical data analytics and computational chemistry. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Sharifuddin is an active advocate of the maker movement, contributing significantly to the promotion of maker culture within both the university and the wider community. He currently serves as the Director of Makerspace@UM, where he leads initiatives that foster innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on learning.