The Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Research and
Training Unit (N²RTU) project dissemination
meeting was held on 17 February 2023 at the National Institutes for Health
(NIH) in Setia Alam, Selangor. The session selectively showcased ongoing
research, issues, and challenges in implementing the precision nutrition
approach in Malaysia and the objectives in creating a healthier Malaysia.
The N²RTU aims to
create a nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics research eco-system in Malaysia;
and so far, it has organized various events that brought together nearly 25
experts from across the globe, and more than 500 participants from nearly 20
economies.
The organising chairperson and the Malaysian lead for
the N²RTU project, UTAR Asst Prof Dr Anto
Cordelia Tanislaus Antony Dhanapal, said that the project has been
successful and is expected to expand its activities at regional level in the
years to come.
She added, “This Dissemination Meeting aimed to
disseminate the findings and outcomes of the
N²RTU activities in its first year of implementation to the
stakeholders, collaborative partners, and the press. The impact and
sustainability of N²RTU was assessed and
discussed, and the areas that needed improvements were identified during
this meeting.”
The esteemed guests to this event included UTAR
President Ir Professor Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Malaysian Industry-Government
Group for High Technology (MIGHT) President and CEO Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff
Sulaiman, Head of Education British Council Malaysia Dr Prabha Sundram and
Manager of the National Institutes of Health Malaysia Dr Zulkarnain Abdul
Karim.
Also present were UTAR Vice President for R&D and
Commercialisation Prof Ts Dr Faidz bin Abd Rahman, Professor in
Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics of University of Reading and
N²RTU Principal Investigator Prof Vimal
Karani S, the N²RTU research team, academia,
nutritionists, dietitians, epidemiologists and healthcare professionals.
The Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics Research and
Training Unit (N²RTU) was launched last year
by Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman to kick start precision nutrition in
Malaysia and to study the application of the precision nutrition approach to
manage obesity.
The N²RTU is funded
by the British Council; MIGHT, Malaysia; the UTAR
Centre for Biomedical and Nutrition Research, in collaboration with the
Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (IFNH).
University of Reading, United Kingdom, has
established this unit to promote research and capacity building in the
emerging field of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics through strategic
partnerships with multi-stakeholders, both locally and globally and to
accelerate nutrigenetics research in Malaysia.
The N²RTU research
team
From left:
Co-investigators Dr Eddy Cheah Seong Guan, Dr Phoon
Lee Quen and Dr Annaletchumy Loganathan, all from UTAR Faculty of Science
UTAR Vice President Prof Faidz Abdul Rahman gave the
welcome remarks
UTAR President Ir Prof Dato' Dr Ewe Hong Tat thanked
the sponsors and researchers for the success of
N²RTU project
Chief guest address by MIGHT CEO and President Datuk
Dr Mohd Yusoff
GoH address by Dr Prabha Sundram, Head of Education
British Council
GoH address by Dr Zulkarnain Abdul Karim, Manager of
the National Institutes of Health Malaysia.
N²RTU Principal
investigator Dr Anto Cordelia talked about the emergence of a new research
eco-system in Malaysia
N²RTU principal
investigator from University of Reading Prof Vimal Karani S talked about
precision nutrition and the N²RTU success
story
UTAR Institute of Postgrad Studies director Dr Yong
Thian Kok gave the thank you speech
Assoc Prof Dr Lim Tuck Meng moderating the Q&A Session
Welcoming MIGHT CEO Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman
before the meeting
Meeting poster
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