Malaysia aspires to be a vaccine-producing nation by 2030
Reading Time: 2 minutesBANGI: A collaboration was sealed to kickstart the development of human vaccines in Malaysia to pave the way toward health security. Malaysian Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals (MPV) Healthcare, Pfizer Malaysia, and the National Institute of Biotechnology (NIBM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Jan 30 at Malaysian Genome and Vaccine Institute (MGVI). These three parties […]
Zooming in on HPV with aptasensors
Reading Time: 3 minutesBY SAARANI VENGADESEN & THIVIYA DARMARAJAN BIOGENES TECHNOLOGIES (BIOGENES) is already known for its novel innovation of diagnostic kits using an aptamer-based biosensing platform to replace the use of animal-derived antibodies. After successfully innovating aptamer-based diagnostic kits to detect the Covid-19 virus and sepsis infection – the company is developing a similar diagnostic kit to […]
UNESCO appoints local expert to lead in genetic research on thalassaemia
Reading Time: 2 minutesA LOCAL medical genetics expert has been appointed as UNESCO’s first chair in human genetics research on Thalassaemia. Prof Dr Zilfalil Alwi, a senior consultant paediatrician and clinical geneticist from the Human Genome Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), is the appointed expert. The objective of this project is to promote capacity building in human genetics […]
Life-saving light beam to detect malaria
Reading Time: 2 minutesA FAST, needle-free malaria detection tool developed by a University of Queensland-led team could help save hundreds of thousands of lives annually. Malaria is usually detected by a blood test, but scientists have devised a method using a device that shines a beam of harmless infrared light on a person’s ear or finger for five-to-10 […]
Locally made sepsis detection test kit to hit the market soon
Reading Time: 2 minutesA HOMEGROWN aptamer-based biosensor kit to detect sepsis will soon be locally available, after a decade of research. The kit, “SepsiDot” detects sepsis at an early stage and monitors its severity level if the patient requires hospital care. Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning is a common condition that can be fatal. Any common infection has […]
Chronic Inflammation – Tapping into the Power of Turmeric
Reading Time: 2 minutesBY JOYCE WONG JIN YI MILLIONS of people suffer from chronic pain caused by inflammation, while millions more suffer from diseases caused by chronic inflammation, such as cancer and heart disease. Short-term inflammation can protect the body, but chronic inflammation can have serious consequences. Chronic inflammation accompanying ageing is a driver of every health-related disease, […]
Biogenes leads the way in aptamer-based antibodies
Reading Time: 3 minutesIN 2010, when the European Union (EU) passed a directive to eliminate the use of animals in scientific research – aptamers came to the fore to replace animal-derived antibodies that were largely used for developing diagnostic tools. Aptamers are synthetic antibodies produced without harming a single animal. Aptamers can recognise and bind to their target […]
Medhini Group: Pharmaceutical bridge between Malaysia and India
Reading Time: 3 minutesTHIS year marks a very important year for India-Malaysia bilateral relations as it signifies 65 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Medhini Group Sdn Bhd (MG), established in Feb 2020 is proud to represent two major Indian Biotech and Pharmaceutical ecosystem builders in Malaysia and for neighbouring countries. MOU’s were signed in Pune […]
Microbiologist: Viral mutation keeps Covid-19 in circulation
Reading Time: 4 minutesTHE key point which is the most important factor determining whether COVID-19 is here to stay or whether we can eradicate this “virus”, is a mutation, says Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam from Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. “The virus continues to evolve through mutation, evading the immunity built by existing vaccines,” […]
Novel Way to detect microbial contamination in cell cultures
Reading Time: 2 minutesRESEARCHERS from the Critical Analytics For Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT’s research enterprise in Singapore, have developed a new method of detecting adventitious microbial contamination in mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) cultures, ensuring the rapid and accurate testing of cell therapy products (CTP) intended for use in patients. Utilizing machine […]