Prof. Dr. Norzana Abd Ghafar
Biography:
Dr Norzana Abd Ghafar is a Professor of Anatomy and Assistant Dean (Entrepreneurship and Creativity) of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). She is also the current President of Malaysian Anatomical Association (since 2017). She underwent her undergraduate medical training (BMedSc) at the University of St Andrews, United Kingdom and pursued her medical degree at the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (MBChB). She obtained her postgraduate degree in Anatomy (MMedSci) in 1999 and doctorate (PhD) in 2010 in UKMMC. She is actively involved in teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses. She has been invited as an external examiner and curriculum evaluator to various medical or dental institutions either locally or internationally. She is also the pioneer of corneal cell culture in Malaysia which has stemmed from her PhD research project of tissue engineering of the cornea. Her research interest focuses on the mechanism of corneal wound healing and the development of natural product-based eye drop in the treatment of ophthalmological disorders. As an anatomist, she has published more than fifty research articles in the peer reviewed journals. She has received numerous awards such as Excellent Service Award (2015, 2012, 2002), Best Lecturer Award (2011, 2005, 2003, 2001) and Innovation Award at the 6th International Conference on Technology and Wellness Industry (2016). She is currently an editorial board member of the Surgical Academia Journal (Malaysia) and Associate Editor of the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (UK).
Contact Information:
Email: norzana@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458636
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Scopus | Publons | Researchgate
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvy Suhana Mohd Ramli
Biography
I am currently the medical lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. I am also now the Head of Anatomy Department. I obtained my Medical Degree in 1999 from Royal College of Surgeon Ireland and M.Med.Sc (Anat) in 2010 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. I was then conferred a PhD (Anatomy) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2016. I am interested in the studies on bone metabolism, particularly glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis I hope to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblast and osteoclast under the influence of high glucocorticoid level. I am also looking into account the involvement of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenese type 1 enzyme expression and activities in glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis and trying to explore potential protective agents against osteoporosis induced by high glucocorticoid level by targeting this enzyme. Deciphering these mechanisms may lead to new treatment strategies with fewer side effects for glucocorticoid induced osteoporosis. I am an active member of the Bone Metabolism and Stress enzyme research groups.
Contact information:
Email: elvysuhana@ukm.edu.my / elvysuhana@yahoo.com.my
Phone: +603-91458633
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Researchgate | Orcid | Scopus
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Dr. Fairus Ahmad
Biography
I am currently the senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. I obtained my MB.BCh.BAO in 2000 from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and M.Med.Sc (Anatomy) in 2010 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. I was then conferred a PhD (Anatomy) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2019. I am interested in the metabolic syndrome, in particular, obesity. I hope to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathological process of metabolic syndrome. I am also interested in the evaluation of different natural products in treating obesity and metabolic syndrome. In this research area, I look into the effects of different herbal extracts on the high carbohydrate and high fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome rats. We have tested Piper sarmentosum, tocotrienols and stingless bee honey, and found that these treatments reduced the visceral fat of the rats. We are currently looking into combining these treatments in combating metabolic syndrome. This might be able to increase the bioavailability and stability of the natural product and would be useful in the treatment of obesity as well as metabolic syndrome.
Contact information:
Email: fairusahmad@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458632
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Researchgate | Orcid | Scopus
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teoh Seong Lin
Biography
I am currently the senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. I obtained my B.Biomed.Sc (Hons) in 2006 and M.Med.Sc (Anat) in 2009 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. I was then conferred a PhD (Neuroscience) from Monash University Malaysia in 2016. I am interested in the neuroregeneration and neurodegeneration processes in the brain, in particular, the brain of Danio rerio (zebrafish). I hope to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the differential neuroregeneration in the zebrafish brain, where it may involve mechanisms that would be desirable to control in human brain. Deciphering these mechanisms may lead to new treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries. I am also interested in the evaluation of different natural products in diabetic wound healing. In this research area, I look into the effects of different herbal extracts on cutaneous wounds of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We we have tested Momordica charantia, Polygonum minus, Piper betel, Chlorella vulgaris, vitamin E and virgin coconut oil, and found that these treatments accelerated the delayed healing process in diabetic rats. We are currently looking into combining these treatments with different medical wound dressings i.e. hydrogel. This might be able to increase the bioavailability and stability of the natural product and wound be useful in the treatment of diabetic wounds.
Contact information:
Email: teohseonglin@ppukm.ukm.edu.my / teohseonglin@yahoo.com.my
Phone: +603-91458635
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Publons | Researchgate | Orcid | Scopus
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Dr. Taty Anna Kamarudin
Biography
Currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, I obtained my B.Biomed (Hons) in 2006 from MSU and M.Med.Sc (Anat) in 2010 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. I spent three and half years until 2018 studying stem cell differentiation during my PhD in Newcastle University, United Kingdom. I started my research work on the medicinal properties of natural products (e.g: Averrhoa belimbi and Curcuma longa), looking at the antioxidant and antiarthritic effects. My current research interest is on stem cells biology and differentiation, looking into the related pathways (e.g: BMP and TGF-beta). It would be interesting if the basal identity of the different types of stem cells could be elucidated, in order to better understand their biology and to be applied in more advanced application-based experiments.
Contact information:
Email: tatykamarudin@ukm.edu.my / tatykamarudin@gmail.com
Phone: +603-91458639
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Publons | Orcid | Scopus
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Dr. Isma Liza Mohd Isa
Biography
Dr Isma is a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, UKM. She graduated Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (Honours) from UKM in 2006 and then worked in the Ministry of Health, Malaysia (2008-2013). She was conferred a PhD (Anatomy) from the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, in 2017. She did her post-doctorate research in SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices (CÚRAM), NUI Galway (2017-2020), and the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, UKM (2021). Her research focuses on degenerative disc disease, specifically to modulate inflammatory pain, extracellular matrix regulation, disc microstructure, and multi-omics profiling in disc degeneration using a biomaterial and tissue engineering strategies. Her major achievements include the patent filed of hydrogel technology to alleviate inflammation and pain for the treatment of degenerative disc. She was the recipient of prestigious awards, including Julia Polak European Doctorate Award from the European Society for Biomaterials, and Young Researcher Award from AO Spine, and Gold Medal International Innovation Award. She has authored/co-authored numerous publications in leading journals, including Science Advances, PNAS, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Biomaterials, and Advanced Science. Dr Isma actively share her research at tier-one international conferences includes World Forum for Spine Research, World Biomaterials Congress, and Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS). She is a member of the Malaysian Anatomical Association, ORS, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, AOSpine, International Association for the Study of Pain, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Contact information:
Email: ismaliza.mohdisa@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458628
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Publons | Researchgate | Scopus
Research Summary
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Dr. Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya
Biography
Known as FY in the department, he is one of the lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. He obtained his Medical Degree in 1999 from The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and M.Med.Sc (Anat) in 2010 from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He is interested in the study of neurodegenerative processes in the brain, in particular, the Alzheimer Disease (AD) and also the detrimental cognitive effect of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) on the brain, especially on the hippocampus. His current work is focusing on animal studies, establishing the model of rodent AD and MetS and intervention using neurotrophic molecules. Besides the basic fundamental research in these areas, he is also looking at the potential of Kelulut (Stingless Bee) Honey and other potential herbs in mitigating the effects of these diseases to the brain. On the anatomy side, he is interested in the various technique of preserving the cadaver for educational purposes.
Contact information:
Email: mfairuzy@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458634
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Publons | Orcid | Scopus
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Dr Syarifah Aisyah Syed Abd Halim
Biography
I am currently the trainee lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. I obtained Medical Degree from Ain Shams University, Egypt in 2011 and Master in Medical Science (Anatomy) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2019. My current research area is in the effect of natural product in the cardiovascular area, especially in the myocardial infarction.
Contact information:
Email: syarifahaisyah@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458626
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Publons | Researchgate | Orcid
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Dr Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman
Biography
I am currently a lecturer in the Department of Anatomy. I started my carrier by obtaining a diploma in medical assistant then persued for medical degree (M.D) in University of Sumatera Utara in 2006. After several years of service as medical officer, I then decided to join Anatomy Department and have completed a Master of Medical Science (Anatomy, UKM). My research interest is in natural product, oxidative stress and omics studies.
Contact information:
Email: mohdamir@ukm.edu.my / sanjatora2183@google.com
Phone: +603-91458627
Link: UKM Sarjana | Google Scholar | Orcid
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Dr Nahdia Afiifah Abdul Jalil
Biography
I am currently the most junior medical lecturer in Department of Anatomy. I obtained my medical degree from University of Mansoura, Egypt in 2012. I recently completed my Master in Medical Science (Anatomy), UKM. My current research area is corneal cell culture and natural product.
Contact Information:
Email: nahdia.afiifah@ukm.edu.my
Phone: +603-91458628
Link: UKM Sarjana | Orcid | Researchgate