Multiple wins at the 15th Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science 2025

Five students from the UTAR Faculty of Science (FSc) excelled at the 15th Malaysian Symposium on Biomedical Science 2025, hosted by the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya (UM) from 31 May to 1 June 2025.

Izen Ch’ng Phang Zhe and Hooi Jia Qi won first and third place respectively in the Poster Presentation under the Natural Products category, while Song Peng Yen clinched third place in the Oral Presentation for the same category. In addition, Cho Chen Rong secured second place in the Oral Presentation under the Communicable Disease category, and Renee Low Chiew Li achieved third place in the Poster Presentation under the Others category.

Ch’ng received the award for his presentation titled Larvicidal Bioefficacy of Black and Oolong Tea against Aedes sp. Mosquitoes and was awarded a cash prize of RM100. Hooi’s presentation, Antifungal Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) Leaf Extracts, earned her a cash prize of RM50. Song was recognised for his presentation titled Larvicidal Bioefficacy and Histopathological Midgut Examinations of Artemisia scoparia Essential Oil-Treated Aedes sp. Mosquitoes, and received a cash prize of RM100.

Cho’s presentation, Evaluation of Mechanism of Action of Modified PAM-5 with End Tagging b-Naphthylalanine and C-Terminal Amidation (b-Naphthylalanine-PAM-NH2) on Selected Pathogenic Bacteria, earned her a cash prize of RM150. Meanwhile, Low received a cash prize of RM50 for her presentation titled Evaluation of Antibacterial Efficacy and Haemolytic Effect of Modified PAM-5 with N-Terminal Tagging b-Naphthylalanine and C-Terminal Amidation (b-Naphthylalanine-PAM-5). All winners also received AEON vouchers, trophies, and certificates.

As a flagship event in the field of biomedical science, this year’s symposium, themed From Lab to Life: Biomedical Breakthroughs Changing the World, attracted 231 students from 11 public and private universities. These universities were UM, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), City University Malaysia, MAHSA University, Monash University Malaysia, Taylor’s University, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), and UTAR.

The event provided a valuable platform for students, researchers, and professionals to present research, engage in discussions, and network with experts. It featured keynote lectures, student oral and poster presentations, as well as a forum on emerging trends in biomedical science.

The symposium saw the participation of 60 students from the UTAR Bachelor of Science (Honours) Biomedical Science programme, who were guided by three lecturers, namely FSc Department of Allied Health Sciences Head Dr Ng Wen Jie, and academics Dr Ho Lai Yee and Dr Yuen Hawk Leong. Out of these students, 10 presented their research in the oral and poster sessions.

As in previous years, the scientific presentations were categorised into Oral and Poster Presentations across four categories: Communicable Disease, Non-Communicable Disease, Natural Products, and Others. UTAR students went on to win five out of the 24 awards presented, marking another consecutive year of outstanding achievement and upholding the University’s proud tradition of excellence in biomedical science research.