PhD student attends International Biomolecular Congress in Australia

Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science) student Ooi Kai Xin from M. Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (MK FMHS), and Prof Ts Dr Lim Yang Mooi, Director of the Institute of Postgraduate Studies and Research at UTAR, had the opportunity to attend the Biomolecular Horizon (BMH) 2024, a joint of three prestigious congresses, the 26th Congress of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), the 17th Congress of the Federation of Asian & Oceanian Biochemists & Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB), and the 22nd ComBio Conference (ComBio), from 22 to 26 September 2024 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia.

The Congress brought together Nobel Laureates, renowned scientists, experts, academicians, young researchers, and PhD students from all around the world. In alignment with the BMH 2024 organising committee’s commitment to promoting inclusion, diversity, and gender equality, the Congress gathered the participation of 1,800 delegates and speakers from diverse nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, and age groups from 44 economies. The Congress covered a wide range of topics, from the molecular basis of various diseases to cutting-edge therapeutic technologies, from gene editing that improves agriculture to biosynthetic technologies for the betterment of our planet. The discussions spanned areas such as oncology, immunology, microbiology, structural biology, physiology, stem cells, multi-omics, etc.

Preceding the Congress, the pre-congress workshop featured a career development forum encompassing five different sessions delivered by international experts in academia, industry, and publishing: Research Commercialisation, Strengthening your Curriculum Vitae, Strategic Publishing, Alternative Careers, and Academic Panel Discussion. The workshop was very informative and provided valuable insights for students as they embark on their scientific career journey. The speakers shared their journeys, discussing careers as a biomedical animator, patent attorney, scientific journal editor, and the transition of research from academia to industry.

In alignment with the different themes of the Congress for each day, prominent scientists were invited to deliver the plenary lectures. For example, the Grimwade Medal Public Lecturer, Nobel Prize Laureate Prof Brian Kobilka, shared insights on the challenges and new approaches of drug discovery for G Protein-Coupled Receptors on the first day. Followed by Prof Misty Jenkins, an indigenous researcher with expertise in the development of CAR-T therapy, and Prof Sergey Ovchinnikov from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who discussed the Protein Language Models. On the third day, themed RNA Technology, we had Prof Norbert Pardi deliver a talk on the development of mRNA vaccines and Sir Richard Roberts, a Nobel Prize winner and chief scientific officer at New England Biolabs, sharing “The Path to the Nobel Prize.”

Furthermore, on Gene Editing Day, Prof Caixia Gao, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, was invited to the plenary to present her research titled “Precision Genome Editing Technologies and Their Application in Crop Improvement”, focusing on the genetic engineering of plants. Last but not least, Prof Pamela Silver from Harvard Medical School, who was the recipient of the IUBMB Jubilee Award, shared her innovative works in synthetic biology for a healthy planet and beyond.

The welcome reception of the Congress featured a delightful array of food and beverages, as well as various entertainment and activities. Attendees had the unique opportunity to interact with native Australian wildlife, including a koala bear, dingoes, carpet python, and shingleback lizard, making for a memorable and engaging experience.

Ooi said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the Congress. First, the venue was excellent, featuring comfortable seating in the plenary hall during the plenary lecture and nicely spaced chairs in the meeting rooms for the concurrent symposia and keynote sessions, which helped me maintain my focus. I noticed a growing trend among researchers opting to use patient-derived tumour organoids instead of relying solely on traditional cell lines for in vitro studies. Additionally, incorporating AI, particularly tools like AlphaFold, has become commonplace in research. Besides, I learned that having an attractive title is essential, even if the content doesn’t always live up to it.”

She added, “Furthermore, I realised that fluency in oral presentations is crucial for maintaining the audience’s attention. For the poster session, I was inspired by various approaches researchers used in their poster layouts, data representation, and illustrations, which effectively conveyed the significance of their results.”

She also said, “This was my first on-site congress, and I was fortunate to receive the IUBMB Travel Fellowship and the MSBMB International Travel Fellowship. I managed to make some friends from different countries like Australia, New Zealand, Korea, etc. and institutes, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’m excited for the next opportunity!”

From left: Prof Lim and Ooi

Welcome reception at the Congress featuring a showcase of Australia’s unique wildlife in the exhibition hall – The koala bear

The night view of Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC)