Penang, October 2025 — The Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), has achieved another milestone in biomedical innovation with the award of an MRANTI Strategic Research Fund (SRF) grant to Dr Eugene Ong Boon Beng, worth RM499,000.00.

Dr Eugene’s project, titled “Rapid and Portable Detection of Typhoid Fever: A Novel Lateral Flow Assay for Typhoid Fever Detection from Human Saliva Using Recombinant Salmonella Typhi HlyE Antigen”, aims to revolutionize the way typhoid fever is diagnosed. By developing a saliva‑based lateral flow assay, the research seeks to provide a rapid, non‑invasive, and portable diagnostic tool that can be deployed in both urban and rural healthcare settings.

Typhoid fever remains a pressing public health challenge in many parts of Asia, including Malaysia, where timely diagnosis is critical to reducing disease burden. The novel approach proposed by Dr Eugene leverages recombinant antigen technology to enhance accuracy and accessibility, potentially transforming community‑level disease surveillance and patient care.

The award, presented under the MRANTI‑SRF initiative, underscores INFORMM’s commitment to advancing translational research that addresses national health priorities. It also highlights USM’s role as a leading institution in driving impactful biomedical solutions for Malaysia and beyond.