Over 200 participants converged at UTAR Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng Lecture Theatre in Kampar Campus from 3 to 4 June 2023 for the 13th Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science 2023, organised by the Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Science (FSc), and the Centre for Biomedical and Nutrition Research, UTAR.

Aimed at providing a platform for all undergraduates under the Biomedical Science programme from various educational institutions across Malaysia to meet and share their most updated research findings, the symposium also hoped to cultivate strong passions and interest among the participants towards biomedical research and development through the academic oral and poster presentations.

Additionally, the symposium also aimed to enlighten its participants with various research topics and cutting-edge biomedical technology as well as build up the research network among academicians and students of Biomedical Science from various universities in Malaysia.

Themed ‘Recharge, Reset and Redefine’, the annual affair was hosted by UTAR for the second time after being organised for the first time at UTAR Kampar Campus in 2015. This year’s theme signifies the comeback of biomedical research with new perspectives and ideas after a life-changing pandemic.

Participating universities in the symposium included the International Medical University Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, and Taylor’s University.

Invited to officiate the symposium was UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ts Dr Faidz bin Abd Rahman. He said, “Welcome to the 13th Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science 2023. I would like to extend my warmest greetings to all our keynote speakers, presenters, distinguished academics and guests from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Monash University, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, International Medical University and the industry. Thank you for your participation and support. I would also like to thank the organising committee, sponsors, and participants as well as the FSc lecturers and students who have made this symposium a success.”

Head of Department of Allied Health Sciences Dr Teh Lai Kuan emphasised, “Biomedical Science has long been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering medical equipment, diagnostic tools, and lifesaving treatments. With each passing year, the field only grows in importance and complexity, bringing about new discoveries that address some of the biggest challenges faced by society, from global epidemics to chronic illness and debilitating conditions.”

Also, present to welcome the participants was the Organising Chairperson of the 13th Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science, Marcus Teh Wei Jie, a third-year undergraduate student at UTAR. In his speech, he enthused, “The Malaysian Symposium of Biomedical Science is a high-profile event that was organised annually by different universities offering Biomedical Science programmes across Malaysia. This year, UTAR has once again been appointed as the host university of this prestigious annual event after the previous symposium organised in 2015 by UTAR. The theme, ‘Recharge, Reset, Redefine’ was created based on the significance that this symposium will be the first symposium to be held physically after the two years of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

He added, “The process of organising such a major event has benefitted the organising committee with self-improvement and valuable experiences. I would like to thank all the organising members for their effort and hard work which contributed to the success of this event.”  

The symposium kick-started with two educative keynote addresses, namely “Are induced pluripotent stem cells a promising choice of alternative treatment modality?” by UTAR M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Deputy Dean Assoc Prof Dr Leong Pooi Pooi, and “ABC in undergraduate research” by USM School of Health Sciences Assoc Prof Dr Wan Amir Nizam Wan Ahmad on the first day. Subsequently, another additional keynote address titled “miRNA as diagnostics and treatment of Cancer” was delivered on the second day by Prof Ts Dr Cheah Yoke Kqueen from Universiti Putra Malaysia. The symposium also saw a technical talk titled “Energy and protection— Essential supplementation” by UNAM Pharmaceutical (M) Sdn Bhd by Choo Li Cheong.

The two-day symposium also saw the participants actively engaging in discussions including the oral and poster presentations by fellow students.

The symposium ended on 4 June 2023 with UTAR Faculty of Science Dean Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng gracing the closing ceremony. This was followed by the announcement of the winners of the Oral Presentation and Poster Presentation. The list of winners is as follows: