With the aim to explore areas for cooperation for the UTAR Hospital project, UTAR and NeoGenix Evo Sdn Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) via Zoom on 10 November 2021.

Under the collaboration, UTAR and NeoGenix will work together to initiate joint projects that involve the provision of medical diagnostic services. Apart from that, UTAR and NeoGenix will also facilitate the exchange of ideas and facilities, staff attachment and mutual visits by staff members to pursue research besides facilitating participation in seminars, conferences and workshops relevant to the industry.

The signing ceremony was held online to commemorate the collaboration between both parties. UTAR was represented by its President Ir Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat and NeoGenix was represented by its Managing Director Dr Kuan Chee Sian. Also present to witness the virtual signing ceremony were Non-Executive Chairman of Hong Seng Consolidated Berhad Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min, Director of Hong Seng Bio Group Shane Tan Ooi Jin, Executive Director of Hong Seng Consolidated Berhad Lester Chin, Operation Director of NeoGenix Joveen Neoh Wan Fen and Laboratory Director of NeoGenix Dr Yew Su Mei.

Staff from UTAR included Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng, FMHS Deputy Dean for Student Development and Industrial Training Assoc Prof Dr Leong Pooi Pooi, FMHS Chief Administrative Officer of Hospital Project Chor Choy Yook Director of Division of Community and International Networking (DCInterNet) Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn, Deputy Director of DCInterNet Dr Chen, I-Chi, and UTAR staff.

Welcoming NeoGenix into UTAR’s MoU fraternity of more than 500 international and local partners, Prof Ewe said that the collaborative initiatives explored through the MoU will be mutually beneficial to both parties.

“With the signing of this MoU, I am glad to note that UTAR and NeoGenix Evo Sdn Bhd will work together to initiate collaborative research and share expertise and joint development of research. Through the combination of knowledge and expertise from the academic and industry, we will expand the scope of research and maximise its impact. UTAR Hospital will provide medical care and services in Western Medicine and Traditional and Complementary Medicine including Chinese, Ayurvedic and Traditional Malay Medicine and also clinical training for its medical and health sciences students. UTAR Hospital is set to start operations in stages and the TCM Centre will be the first to begin by offering its services in Chinese and Integral Medicine in February 2022. This MoU will foster mutual understanding and cooperation, resulting in more exciting and mutually beneficial outcomes. I look forward to seeing our collaboration grow and provide excellent results in the near future,” enthused Prof Ewe, who also expressed his delight that the MoU will allow FMHS to share knowledge and expertise, as well as establish possible collaborative research and development projects.

Lauding UTAR as a prominent and progressive university with enormous achievements, Dr Kuan said, “We are very honoured to be at this signing ceremony today and also look forward to working with UTAR to promote in research and development.”

“The collaboration will provide students of UTAR with adequate experience in actual industry work operations and the latest developments, as well as education in the field of biomedicine through their industrial placements at Neogenix Lab in relation to the application of the company’s research and development (R&D) and technology,” he added.

The ceremony reached its highlight with the virtual presentation of the MoU documents signed by Prof Ewe and Dr Kuan.

A diagnostic and research laboratory service provider, Neogenix Evo Sdn Bhd has vast knowledge and experience in R&D in life sciences, particularly in the studies of molecular diagnostics, next generation sequencing, genetics and genomics.