MDBD 2026 Marks INFORMM's Latest Alliance with Industry
19-20 August, 2026, PENANG – The Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), has successfully concluded its flagship international event, the 8th International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics & Biomarker Discovery (MDBD 2026). Held from 19 to 20 August 2026 in Penang under the theme “Redefining Healthcare: Multi-Omics Driven Diagnostics and Therapeutics,” the conference brought together over 200 researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and policymakers from around the globe.
Marking another milestone for INFORMM as a Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), MDBD 2026 served as a premier dynamic platform for exploring breakthroughs in multi-omics, biomarker validation, and translational medical technologies.
Forging Strategic Industry Alliances
A defining highlight of this year's conference was the formalization and celebration of INFORMM’s latest strategic alliance with industry giant Thermo Fisher Scientific as a principal sponsor and technology partner. This landmark partnership underscores INFORMM's ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between academic innovation and commercial, market-ready diagnostic applications.
The collaboration was prominently showcased through specialized technical workshops, live demonstrations of cutting-edge instrumentation, and translation-focused panels. By uniting academic researchers with industry leaders, the alliance provides a powerful framework to accelerate the translation of biomarker discoveries into practical, clinical-grade tools.
Advancing Global Health Outcomes and Precision Medicine
The event featured compelling insights from an elite lineup of international and local keynote, plenary, and technical speakers—including prominent figures such as Professor Datuk Wira Dr Raha Abdul Rahim, CEO, National Institutes of Biotechnology Malaysia (NIBM), and international experts who shared groundbreaking perspectives on precision medicine and advanced therapeutic interventions.
Throughout the two-day event, participants engaged in vigorous scientific discourse addressing critical healthcare challenges, particularly the urgent need for earlier disease detection, companion diagnostics, and personalized treatment strategies. Discussions heavily emphasized how multi-omics integration can transform routine clinical pathways, paving the way for more accurate prognostic and diagnostic markers in oncology and infectious diseases.
The success of MDBD 2026 and its strong emphasis on industry collaboration further cement INFORMM and USM’s leadership role in steering regional and international networks dedicated to molecular medicine. By fostering robust multi-stakeholder partnerships, the conference successfully reinforced Malaysia’s position as a vibrant hub for biotechnology and biomarker research.
INFORMM extends its deepest appreciation to all co-organizers, industrial partners, esteemed speakers, delegates, and the dedicated committee members whose relentless efforts ensured the resounding success of MDBD 2026.
