Curriculum Vitae

DR. YAMUNAH DEVI A/P APALASAMY

Social Research Officer
  • Social Wellbeing Research Centre
  • 0379673612

BIOGRAPHY

Yamunah Devi Apalasamy is currently a research fellow at Social Wellbeing Research Centre, University of Malaya. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) from the University of Malaya. She was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya since 2012. Her main research areas are non-communicable disease, particularly obesity as well as wellbeing and ageing. Her research interest also includes pharmacogenomics of preterm birth, cancer, and hepatitis B as well as health economics. She has also served as a consultant for a project funded by the National Institutes of Health, United States entitled “Global Genomic Medicine”. She has published extensively in many acclaimed international journals such as British Journal of Dermatology, Human Genetics, Pharmacogenetics and Genomics, Pharmacology, Annals of Human Biology, Molecular Biology Report, Journal of Perinatology, Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, Biomedical Reports, etc. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • WELLBEING;NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE; AGEING; HEALTH ECONOMICS; SOCIAL PROTECTION

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

  • Ph.D (Pharmacogenomics) U. of Malaya, (PHARMACOLOGY)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)
  • First Degree (Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) U. of Malaya, (Biomedical Science)
    Universiti Malaya (UM)

MEMBERSHIPS

  • MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF OBESITY , LIFE MEMBERSHIP
    Since 2013 (National)
  • OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF OBESITY METABOLIC SYNDROME, EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER
    2018 to 2019 (International)
  • FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION, REFERENCE BUDGET FOR MALAYSIAN (HEALTH), EXPERT PANEL MEMBER
    2018 to 2018 (National)
  • GLOBAL GENOMIC MEDICINE INITIATIVE, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH US, CONSULTANT
    2015 to 2016 (International)
  • MEDICAL FACULTY RESEARCH WEEK 2015, ORGANISING COMMITTEE
    2015 to 2015 (University)
  • GOLDEN HELIX SYMPOSIA, ORGANISING COMMITTEE
    2015 to 2015 (International)

AWARD AND STEWARDSHIP

  • University Malaya Excellence Awards (ACUM 2012)
    University of Malaya, 2012 (University)

PUBLICATIONS

Article in Journal
WoS
  1. Apalasamy, Y. D., Awang, H., Mansor, N., AbRashid, N., Kamarulzaman, N. D., & Yoong, T. L. (2021). Factors Associated With Obesity and Abdominal Obesity Among Malaysian Older Adults. Asia-Pacific journal of public health, 33(5), 547-554. doi: 10.1177/10105395211014634
  2. Chong, H. Y., Mohamed, Z., Tan, L. L., Wu, D. B. C., Shabaruddin, F. H., Dahlui, M., . . . Chaiyakunapruk, N. (2017). Is universal HLA-B*15:02 screening a cost-effective option in an ethnically diverse population? A case study of Malaysia. British Journal of Dermatology, 177(4), 1102-1112. doi:10.1111/bjd.15498
  3. Riazalhosseini, B., Mohamed, R., Apalasamy, Y. D., Langmia, I. M., Mohamed, Z. (2017). Circulating microRNA as a marker for predicting liver disease progression in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical, 50(2), 161-166.
  4. Langmia, I. M., Apalasamy, Y. D., Omar, S. Z., Mohamed, Z. (2016). Impact of IL1B gene polymorphisms and interleukin 1B levels on susceptibility to spontaneous preterm birth, Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. 26(11505-509), Article
  5. Langmia, Immaculate M.; Apalasamy, Yamunah D.; Omar, Siti Z.; Mohamed, Zahurin (2016). Impact of IL1B gene polymorphisms and interleukin 1B levels on susceptibility to spontaneous preterm birth, PHARMACOGENETICS AND GENOMICS. 26(11), 505-509. doi:10.1097/FPC.0000000000000243
  6. Langmia, Immaculate Mbongo; Apalasamy, Yamunah Devi; Omar, Siti Zawiah; Mohamed, Zahurin (2016). Interleukin 1 receptor type 2 gene polymorphism is associated with reduced risk of preterm birth, JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE. 29(20), 3347-3350. doi:10.3109/14767058.2015.1125466
  7. Riazalhosseini, B., Mohamed, Z., Apalasamy, Y. D., Eng, H. S., Mohamed, R. (2016). Association between microRNA-196A2 and microRNA-146A polymorphisms and progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral hepatitis B, Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. 26(274-79), Article
  8. Apalasamy, Y. D., Mohamed, Z. (2015). Obesity and genomics: role of technology in unraveling the complex genetic architecture of obesity, Human Genetics. 134(4), 361-374
  9. Apalasamy, Y. D., Ming, M. F., Rampal, S., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2015). Gender-Dependent Association of a beta(2)-Adrenergic Gene Variant With Obesity Parameters in Malaysian Malays, Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health. 27(2), NP154-NP165
  10. Apalasamy, Y. D., Rampal, S., Salim, A., Moy, F. M., Su, T. T., Majid, H. A., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2015). Polymorphisms of the Resistin Gene and Their Association with Obesity and Resistin Levels in Malaysian Malays, Biochemical Genetics. 53(4-6), 120-131
  11. Langmia, I. M., Apalasamy, Y. D., Omar, S. Z., Mohamed, Z. (2015). Association of VEGFA gene polymorphisms and VEGFA plasma levels with spontaneous preterm birth, Pharmacogenetics and Genomics. 25(4), 199-204
  12. Langmia, I. M., Apalasamy, Y. D., Suki, S. Z., Omar, S. Z., Mohamed, Z. (2015). Genetic association of AKAP10 gene polymorphism with reduced risk of preterm birth, Journal of Perinatology. 35(9700-704), Article
  13. Langmia, Immaculate Mbongo; Apalasamy, Yamunah Devi; Omar, Siti Zawaih; Mohamed, Zahurin (2015). Progesterone Receptor (PGR) gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to preterm birth, BMC MEDICAL GENETICS. 16. doi:10.1186/s12881-015-0202-1
  14. Poniah, Prevathe; Mohamed, Zahurin; Apalasamy, Yamunah Devi; Zain, Shamsul Mohd; Kuppusamy, Shanggar; Razack, Azad H. A. (2015). Genetic polymorphisms in the androgen metabolism pathway and risk of prostate cancer in low incidence Malaysian ethnic groups, International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine. 8(10), 19232-19240
  15. Apalasamy, Y. D., Moy, F. M., Rampal, S., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2014). Genetic associations of the INSIG2 rs7566605 polymorphism with obesity-related metabolic traits in Malaysian Malays, Genetics and Molecular Research. 13(3), 4904-4910
  16. Apalasamy, Y. D., Rampal, S., Salim, A., Moy, F. M., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2014). Association of ADIPOQ gene with obesity and adiponectin levels in Malaysian Malays, Molecular Biology Reports. 41(5), 2917-29210301-4851.
  17. Apalasamy, Y. D., Ming, M. F., Rampal, S., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2013). Association of melanocortin-4 receptor gene polymorphisms with obesity-related parameters in Malaysian Malays, Annals of Human Biology. 40(1), 102-106
  18. Apalasamy, Y. D., Ming, M. F., Rampal, S., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. (2012). Genetic association of SNPs in the FTO gene and predisposition to obesity in Malaysian Malays, Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 45(12), 1119-1126
Scopus
  1. Apalasamy, Y. D., Awang, H., Mansor, N., & Peng, T. N. (2020). Post-retirement experience among retirees: A case study in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 28(3), 1995-2003.
Others
  1. Awang, H., Ab Rashid, N.F., Mansor, N., Apalasamy, D.Y. , L.Y., Tan & C.L., Tan (2022). Determinants of Loneliness among Mid-Aged and Older Adults, International Journal for Studies on Children, Women, Elderly and Disabled, 15 (1), 33-41
  2. B Riazalhosseini, Z Mohamed, YD Apalasamy & et al. (2018). Genetic variant in DLC1 gene is associated with increased risk of chronicity of disease in hepatitis B infection. Int J Clin & Exp Pathology
  3. B Riazalhosseini, Z Mohamed, YD Apalasamy & et al. (2018). Interlukine-6 gene variants are associated with reduced risk of chronicity in hepatitis B virus infection. Biomedical Report
  4. Prevalence of HLA-DQ Alleles and Haplotypes in Patients with Hepatitis B Infection. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS). (2018) Volume 43, No 1, pp 159-168. ISSN (Online) 2313-4402
  5. HY Choong, Z Mohamed, LL Tan, DBC Wu, FH Shabaruddin, M Dahlui, YD Apalasamy & et al. (2017). Is universal HLA-B*15:02 screening a cost-effective option in an ethnically diverse population? A case study of Malaysia. Br J Dermatol. 177 (4):1102-1112.
  6. IM Langmia, YD Apalasamy & et al. (2016). Impact of IL1B gene polymorphisms and IL1B levels on susceptibility to spontaneous preterm birth in Malay Women. Pharmacogenet Genomics, 26(11), 505-5095
  7. Apalasamy, Y. D., Rampal, S., Salim, A., Moy, F. M., Su, T. T., Majid, H. A., Bulgiba, A., Mohamed, Z. 2015. Polymorphisms of the Resistin Gene and Their Association with Obesity and Resistin Levels in Malaysian Malays. BIOCHEMICAL GENETICS 53(4-6) MAY 2015
  8. Immaculate Langmia, Yamunah Apalasamy, Siti Suki, Siti Omar, and Zahurin Mohamed. Genetic association of AKAP10 gene polymorphism with reduced risk of preterm birth.2015.Journal of Perinatology.
  9. Langmia IM, Apalasamy YD, Omar SZ, Zain SM, Mohamed Z. Protein profiling of women with spontaneous preterm birth. Pharmacology. 2015;96(1-2):44-8
  10. M Langmia, YD Apalasamy & et al. 2015. Interleukin 1 receptor type 2 gene polymorphism is associated with reduced risk of preterm birth. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.1-41
  11. Riazalhosseini B, Mohamed Z, Apalasamy YD, Eng HS, Mohamed R.Association between microRNA-196A2 and microRNA-146A polymorphisms and progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with viral hepatitis B.Pharmacogenet Genomics. 2015 Nov 2
  12. Yamunah Devi Apalasamy and Zahurin Mohamed. 2015. Obesity and Genomics: Role of technologies in unravelling complex obesity architecture. Hum Genet. 134(4):361-74 (Tier 1)
  13. Yamunah Devi Apalasamy, Moy Foong Ming, Sanjay Rampal, Awang Bulgiba, Zahurin Mohamed. 2013. Genetic Association Study of INSIG2 rs7566605 polymorphism with obesity-related metabolic traits in Malaysian Malays.Genetic associations of the INSIG2 rs7566605 polymorphism with obesity-related metabolic traits in Malaysian Malays. GENETICS AND MOLECULAR RESEARCH: GMR 13(3):4904-4910 JULY 2014 Impact Factor: 0.85 DOI: 10.4238/2014.July.4.4
  14. Apalasamy YD, Ming MF, Rampal S, Bulgiba A, Mohamed Z.2011. Gender-Dependent Association of a β2- Adrenergic Gene Variant With Obesity Parameters in Malaysian Malays.Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. [Epub ahead of print]

RESEARCH PROJECT

National
  1. 2020 - 2023, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    Malaysia Active Ageing Index: An Integrated Tool For Measuring And Monitoring Active Ageing ( Co-Researcher)
  2. 2013 - 2018, Geran Penyelidikan Universiti Malaya (UMRG) - HTM (Wellness)
    Pharmacogenomics Study Of Possible Anti-obesity Agent From Catha Edulis Plant Extract And Its Main Alkaloid Cathinone On Obese Animal Model ( Co-Researcher)
  3. 2013 - 2014, University Malaya
    PARTNER (Participatory Action Research Through Negotiation and Empowerment of the Residence)- Molecular And Biomarker Study Of Genes Related To Obesity And Metabolic Alterations In Low Income Urban Population In Kuala Lumpur ( Consultant)
  4. 2009 - 2012, Geran Penyelidikan Universiti Malaya (UMRG)
    ASSOCIATION OF CANDIDATE GENES PREDISPOSING TO OBESITY IN MALAYSIAN SUBJECTS ( Consultant)
  5. 2009 - 2011, Postgraduate Research Grant(PPP)
    Molecular Analysis of Genes Predisposing to Obesity in Malaysian Subjects ( Principal Investigator(PI))

PAPER PRESENTED

ORAL PRESENTER
  1. Yamunah DA, F.M.Moy, S. Rampal, A.M Bulgiba, Z.Mohamed. Association of a FTO Gene Variant with Obesity in Malaysian Malays. Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) 2011 Scientific Conference on Obesity, 28-29 June 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) 2011 Scientific Conference on Obesity, Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) (National) (28 Jun 2011 - 29 Jun 2011)
POSTER PRESENTER
  1. Y.D Apalasamy, S. Rampal, T.T Su, F.M.Moy, HA.Majid, A.M Bulgiba, Z.Mohamed. Association of GLP1R and HTR2A polymorphisms with obesity and metabolic traits in a Malaysian population. , European Human Genetics Conference, European Human Genetics Society (International) (06 Jun 2015 - 09 Jun 2015)
  2. Yamunah Devi Apalasamy, Thanet Sornda, Narong Jaturas, Moy Foong Ming, Sanjay Rampal, Awang Bulgiba, Zahurin Mohamed. Association of an ADIPOQ Polymorphism with Obesity Parameters in Malaysian Malays. 26th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology, 18-20 May 2012. Penang, Malaysia , 26th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology, Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology (National) (18 May 2012 - 20 May 2012)
  3. Mohamed Zahurin, Apalasamy Yamunah Devi, Rampal Sanjay, Bulgiba Awang, Moy Foong Ming. Association of INSIG2 RS7566605 Polymorphism with Obesity-Related Parameters in Malaysian Malays. 4th Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the Human Genome Meeting., 14-17 March 2011, Dubai, UAE , 4th Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the Human Genome Meeting, Human Genome Organization and the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (International) (14 Mar 2011 - 17 Mar 2011)
  4. Apalasamy Yamunah Devi, Mohamed Zahurin,Rampal Sanjay, Bulgiba Awang, Moy Foong Ming. Melanocortin 4 receptor gene polymorphism and association with cholesterol levels in Malaysian Malays. 4th Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the Human Genome Meeting, 14-17 March 2011, Dubai, UAE , 4th Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference and the Human Genome Meeting, Human Genome Organization and Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (International) (14 Mar 2011 - 17 Mar 2011)
  5. Y.D Apalasamy, F.M.Moy, S. Rampal, A.M Bulgiba, Z.Mohamed. G-2458A Lep Gene Polymorphism is associated with body mass index (BMI) in the Malaysian population. International Conference on Personalized Medicine, 5th Joint Conference on Pharmacogenetics of Central South University-Inje University-The Chinese University of Hong Kong held in cooperation with the Pacific Rim Association for Clinical Pharmacogenetics (PRACP), Central South University-Inje University-The Chinese University of Hong Kong held in cooperation with the Pacific Rim Association for Clinical Pharmacogenetics (PRACP) (International) (19 Sep 2009 - 20 Sep 2009)
PRESENTER
  1. STATISTICAL GENETIC WORKSHOP: APPLICATION IN GENOMICS AND PHARMACOGENOMICS, , Department of Pharmacology, University Malaya (University) (28 Oct 2013 - 30 Oct 2013)

ACADEMIC/PROF. SERVICES

Evaluation
  1. (2018) International Journal of Neuroscience, (Reviewer)
  2. (2018) Malaysian Ageing and Retirement Survey (Physical Health Measurement) , (Trainer and Certifier)
  3. (2017) Breast Cancer, (Reviewer)
  4. (2015) Reviewer for Molecular Biology Reports , (Reviewer)
  5. (2015) Reviewer for Annals of Human Biology , (Reviewer)
  6. (2015) Reviewer for International Journal of Endocrinology, (Reviewer)

SUPERVISION

Under Graduate Students
  1. (2015) Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Final Year Research Project)
  2. (2014) Bachelor of Biotechnology (Industrial Training)
  3. (2013) Bachelor of Biotechnology (Industrial Training)