With the aim to open doors for new opportunities specifically in the advancement of Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) research into clinical application on cancers, inflammatory diseases, osteoarthritis, mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, Covid-19 and other screening services, UTAR and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation officially exchanged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at UTAR Kampar Campus on 28 April 2021.

With the exchange of this MoU, UTAR and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation will officially begin their strategic partnership to initiate collaborations in terms of industrial placement, research projects, staff and student exchanges, study visits and etcetera. The MoU will enable both parties to work even more closely in creating platforms that will enrich both staff and students’ academic experience, as well as empowering them to explore learning opportunities.

Exchanging the MoU agreements were UTAR President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation Chairman Lai Soo Kow, while witnessing the exchange were UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation President Leong Chi Yuen.

Also present were UTAR Faculty of Science (FSc) Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng, FSc Head of Department of Allied of Health Sciences Dr Tan Gim Cheong, Director of Division of Community and International Networking Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn and his Deputy Director Dr Chen, I-Chi, FSc lecturer Dr Teh Lai Kuan, Low Jook Yuen from Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation, UTAR staff and students.

Reaffirming UTAR’s internationalisation commitment and appreciation towards its 460 over collaborative partners, Prof Ewe professed that it is essential for university-industry collaboration in this day and age to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends. “This is a good opportunity for both parties to come together to share knowledge and expertise for a win-win partnership in research projects together. This is also our University’s initiative to explore collaborations to facilitate and promote academic co-operations in exchanging ideas while enriching staff and students with industry-related experiences to stay relevant to the developments in the industry. Aside from that, we are also thankful to Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation for the possibility of allowing our students to be attached to them for industrial placements and study visits. This will help our students gain the necessary real-life skills, experience and knowledge required for their employment later on.”

Thanking UTAR for having trust in Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation, President of Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation Leong enthused, “We envisage this collaboration between UTAR and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation could expand and strengthen biomedical/biopharmaceutical research and development on early risk detection of cancers, heart attack, stroke and other diseases to implement evidenced-based targeted prevention and intervention. Today, UTAR and Bionexus Gene Lab Corporation commence a historical synergistic partnership, driving a paradigm shift in the healthcare arena. This evidence-based scientific research aims to help the healthcare fraternity to understand the emergence of major scientific paradigms shifts, transitions from one era to the next on new ways of handling healthcare. We would like to see the continuation of our joint efforts in building a long-term and strategic partnership. Today’s event comes at an important juncture, where we use this MoU to further advance our partnership and support to become a truly world-class research and development hub.”

The event reached its highlight with the exchange of MoU documents, followed by an exchange of souvenirs and a group photograph.

BioNexus Gene Lab Corporation (BGLC) is a company that applies non-invasive blood-based dynamic genome screening, analysing changes in ribonucleic acid (RNA) and predicting predisposed of certain diseases even before they show any symptoms. This blood test provides very early detection of a person’s susceptibility to certain diseases enabling the person to take appropriate measures to stay healthy.