UTAR Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) and Centre for Cancer Research (CCR) jointly organised the Joint Scientific Meeting 2022 for Stem Cell and Cancer Research at Sungai Long Campus on 19 and 20 September 2022. Themed Exploring New Horizons in Stem Cells and Cancer Research, the meeting served as a platform for researchers, academics and practitioners to discuss as well as exchange knowledge, experience and the latest clinical applications related to stem cell and cancer research.

M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS) Dean Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng said during the opening of the conference, “Developing innovative strategies using stem cells to treat various disorders and generating intelligent solutions in cancer therapy by studying and understanding the pathogenesis of cancer are important for the continuous development of impactful medical therapies that will be beneficial to many people whose lives are profoundly affected by their illnesses. This meeting has put together a comprehensive scientific programme ranging from research developments to clinical applications in the field of stem cell and cancer.”

Welcoming the participants were Organising Chairperson and MK FMHS Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Prof Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat. He said, “It is heartening to see and experience the continuous interest and opportunities for the sharing of stem cell and cancer research findings and discussions in this joint scientific gathering.”

The plenary session for the two-day meeting featured various speakers; Prof Dr John Rasko from the University of Sydney, Australia presented on Plenary “Cell- and Gene-based Therapies in Blood Disorders”; Dr Francesca Lim from Singapore General Hospital, Singapore presented on “The Clinical Challenges of Car T Cell Therapy”, and Professor Dr Chua Chee Wai from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China presented on “An Integrative Genetically Engineered Mouse Model-Organoid-Allograft Approach for Identification of the Cell-of-Origin for AR-independent Prostate Cancer”.

Other invited speakers for the lecture series were Universiti Sains Malaysia Advanced Medical & Dental Institute Assoc Prof Dr Badrul Hisham Yahaya with his presentation titled Cell-Based Gene Therapy for Pulmonary Diseases and the Challenges; Malaysia National Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Research Dr Shaik Ahmad Kamal B. Shaik Fakiruddin with his presentation titled Anti-tumour Efficacy of MSC Expressing TRAIL in Lung Cancer Cell Lines-derived Cancer Stem Cell; Singapore A*STAR, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology Dr Adrian Teo with his presentation titled Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Diabetes Disease Modelling: Advantages and Limitations; Cancer Research Malaysia Dr Lim Kue Peng, UTAR Adjunct Prof Dr Leong Chee Onn, UTAR Adjunct Prof Dr Seow Heng Fong, Plutonet (M) Sdn Bhd Mr Timothy Lim Say Wai, Cytopeutics Malaysia Dr Chin Sze Piaw, Taipei Veterans General Hospital Dr Wang Mong-Lien, Xian Medical University China Assoc Prof Dr Li Ke, Singapore Health Science Authority, Cell Therapy Facility Dr Eddie Tan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute Assoc Prof Dr Tan Jun Jie, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Centre for Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine Assoc Prof Dr Angela Ng Min Hwei, National Yang Ming University Prof Dr Chiou Shih-Hwa and Cryocord Malaysia Dr G. Vijayendran.

The scientific meeting also featured talks by company representatives who set up booths at the event. Nurul Farhana from ESCO Micro (M) Sdn Bhd presented a talk titled Introduction to Tide Motion Technology for Adherent Cell Culture while Dr Tan Jey Sern from Gaia Science (M) Sdn Bhd presented a talk titled Automating Your Cell Culture Research.