Dr. Nurhafiza Binti Zainal is an Associate Professor 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. She also holds an MRes in Biotechnology from Imperial College London, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Universiti Malaya. Her areas of expertise are immunology and virology, with research focusing on virus–host interactions and the role of host factors, including protein expression and genetic variation, in shaping disease outcomes. Her work also investigates cross-reactive immunity and antibody-dependent enhancement, with the broader aim of informing vaccine development and antiviral strategies, particularly for emerging and re-emerging viral diseases. Dr. Nurhafiza has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Researcher on national research grants funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), MOSTI, and Universiti Malaya. She is also a recipient of the IEIF International Education Innovation Fund – ASEAN Research Collaboration Project, hosted by The University of Adelaide, supporting research on the development and evaluation of inactivated vaccines for viral diseases, with potential applications in animal health. In addition to her research, she contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives in One Health and sustainability, including projects addressing health and environmental responsibility.