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INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE

profile Dr Oon Chern Ein

✉️ E-mail: chern.oon@usm.my

🏠 Location: 

INFORMM, USM Main Campus, 11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Associate Professor Dr Oon Chern Ein

Associate Professor Dr. Oon Chern Ein’s dedication and passion are focused on molecular oncology, with a commitment to advancing the field through innovative research and industry partnerships. She earned her BSc (First Class Hons) in Biotechnology from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and went on to complete her DPhil in Medical Oncology at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Dr. Oon further honed her expertise as a postdoctoral fellow at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Dr. Oon has been a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia since 2013. She is currently a consultant for novel therapeutic projects, working with both local industries and international partners. Her work in molecular therapeutics has earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science National Fellowship (2015), Women of the Future Awards (South East Asia), and the Malaysian National Young Scientist Award (2018). She was also honoured with the Promising Academician Award and Excellent Service Award from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (2019), as well as the British Council Study UK Alumni Award (Professional Achievement Category) and the MINDS Women Scientist Award in 2020. Dr. Oon’s commitment to advancing the scientific community was further recognized with the Singapore Academies-ASEAN Fellowship from the Singapore National Research Foundation, which enabled her to further her expertise in drug discovery at A*STAR Singapore. Her multidisciplinary research spans drug discovery, cancer-targeted therapies, and bioengineering solutions, where she actively collaborates with industry partners. With two granted patents in Malaysia (MY-203445-A, MY-199524-A) for small molecule inhibitors targeting anti-cancer and anti-angiogenesis pathways, her work has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. As a member of the Global Young Academy, Dr. Oon is a strong advocate for female empowerment. Her ongoing research continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry, to transform cancer therapy through innovative and effective therapeutic strategies.

  • Selected publications

    (2025)

    • Xu et al. (2025) Probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 Improves Gut Microbial Profiles in HPV‐Positive Women: A Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled and Double‐Blind …, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 69 (22), e70247
    • Xu et al. (2025) Impact of the Probiotic on the Modulation of Vaginal Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota in HPV‐Positive Women, Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 69 (18), e70142
    • Zhang et al. (2025) Mesua ferrea L. extract Attenuates Angiogenesis Through HIF-1α and WNT Mediated Blockage of VEGF/Angiopoietin Axis, Dose-Response 23 (3), 15593258251367613
    • Xu et al. (2025) Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Probio87 Isolated from Human Breast Milk, Nutrients 17 (15), 2554
    • Xu et al. (2025) Corrigendum to: Probiotic reduces vaginal HPV abundance, improves immunity and quality of life in HPV-positive women: a randomised, placebo-controlled and double-blind study, Beneficial Microbes 16 (6), 685-686

  • Current projects

    2026 - 

  • usm experts

  • Teachings

    TFM522

Read more …profile Dr Oon Chern Ein

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profile Dr Lim Theam Soon

✉️ E-mail: theamsoon@usm.my

🏠 Location: 

INFORMM, USM Main Campus, 11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Associate Professor Dr Lim Theam Soon

Dr. Lim Theam Soon is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). He earned his Dr. rer. nat. in Molecular Biology (2009) from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, having previously completed his MSc at USM and BSc at UNIMAS. His research expertise lies in Antibody Engineering and Phage Display Technology. Dr. Lim’s lab focuses on the discovery of novel human monoclonal antibodies for infectious diseases and cancer. He is a pioneer in integrating DNA nanotechnology with recombinant antibody technology to develop next-generation biosensors and logic gate systems. His work also involves the directed evolution of genes and the development of high-affinity T-cell receptors (TCRs) for immunotherapy.

  • Selected Publications

    (2025-2026)

    • Ch'ng et al. (2026) The Midas touch: Recombinant antibodies transforming diagnostic platforms, Biotechnology Advances, 108799
    • Lai et al. (2025) Application of a 2A-peptide system for polycistronic human IgG production in Leishmania tarentolae, Methods, 246: 174-185
    • Yeoh et al. (2025) A Kaleidoscope of Hosts: Expression Systems of Recombinant Antibody Reagents for Immunological Assays, Protein Expression and Purification, 106857
    • Liu et al. (2025) AAPPE: Protein–Ligand Binding Affinity Prediction Leveraging Amino Acid Pair Positional Encoding in Deep Learning, Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 66, 2
    • Ng et al. (2025) The Role of Calcium Ions in Restoring Lipase Activity of Recombinant Human Lipoprotein Lipase Expressed in Bacteria, Molecular Biotechnology, 1-9

  • Current projects

    2026 - 

  • USM EXPERTS

  • Teachings

    TFM522

Read more …profile Dr Lim Theam Soon

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profile Leow Chiuan Herng

✉️ E-mail: herng.leow@usm.my

🏠 Location: 

INFORMM, USM Main Campus, 11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Associate Professor Dr Leow Chiuan Herng

Dr. Leow Chiuan Herng is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). He holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of Queensland, Australia, and is an active member of The Antibody Society (USA) and the Young Scientists Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia. His research is at the cutting edge of Antibody Engineering and Phage Display Technology. Dr. Leow’s lab focuses on exploring shark single-domain antibodies (VNARs) as thermostable alternatives to conventional antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic use. His work spans various high-impact areas, including the development of diagnostic reagents for Dengue and Malaria, as well as the design of universal vaccines through structural vaccinology and immunoinformatics.

  • Selected Publications

    (2025)

    • Reiné et al. (2026) In silico post-hoc analysis of a clinically tested recombinant West Nile virus envelope protein vaccine, Computational Biology and Chemistry, 108890
    • Reiné et al. (2025) A retrospective computational validation of a clinically evaluated recombinant envelope protein tetravalent dengue vaccine, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 147688
    • Mokhtar et al. (2025) Immunomodulatory effects of bioactive polysaccharides from Pleurotus pulmonarius on LPS-stimulated THP-1 human macrophages, Food Bioscience 63, 105729

  • Current projects

    2026 - 

  • usm experts

  • Teachings

    TFM522

Read more …profile Leow Chiuan Herng

  • Hits: 99

profile Dr Lai Ngit Shin

✉️ E-mail: laingitshin@usm.my

🏠 Location: 

INFORMM, USM Main Campus, 11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Associate Professor Dr Lai Ngit Shin

Dr. Lai Ngit Shin is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). He holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), specializing in the development of therapeutic proteins and vaccines. His core research revolves around Antibody Engineering and Phage Display Technology. Dr. Lai is highly regarded for his work in generating high-affinity recombinant antibodies and peptides for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, including cancer and infectious pathogens. His lab focuses on the selection of specific binders from vast combinatorial libraries, aiming to create novel theranostics—integrated platforms that combine targeted therapy with real-time diagnostic imaging.

  • Selected publications

    (2025)

    • Paveethra et al. (2025) Hypoxia-Inducible Factors: Regulation and Therapeutic Potential in Cancer: Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicine, Hypoxia and Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Cancer Therapy, 165-180
    • Watanabe et al. (2025) Violaceoid F induces nuclear translocation of FOXO3a by inhibiting CRM1 via a novel mechanism and suppresses HeLa cell growth, FEBS letters 599 (5), 755-765

  • Current projects

    2026 - 

  • USM EXPERTS

  • Teachings

    TFM522

Read more …profile Dr Lai Ngit Shin

  • Hits: 111

profile Dr Khoo Boon Yin

✉️ E-mail: boonyin@usm.my

🏠 Location: 

INFORMM, USM Main Campus, 11800 Pulau Pinang, MALAYSIA

Associate Professor Dr Khoo Boon Yin

Dr. Khoo Boon Yin is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She is a lifelong scholar of USM, having completed her BSc, MSc, and PhD in Medical Biotechnology (2007) at the university. Her global expertise was further shaped by postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oxford and the Humboldt University of Berlin. Her research focuses on Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology, specifically investigating the complex interactions between mesenchymal stem cells and breast cancer metastasis. Dr. Khoo is also known for her work in industrial biotechnology, where she explores the expression of recombinant human DNA topoisomerase in Pichia pastoris for drug screening. Additionally, she investigates the link between infectious diseases and colorectal cancer, aiming to discover novel biomarkers for targeted therapy.

  • Selected PUBLICATIONS

    (2025-2026)

    • Miatmoko et al. (2026) Transfersomal gel loading of amniotic mesenchymal stem cell metabolite product for diabetic wound healing in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, OpenNano, 100282
    • Braim et al. (2025) Efficient dual-imaging platform: Ultrasound-driven synthesis of bismuth–iron oxide nanocomposites, Journal of Science: Advanced Materials and Devices 10(3), 100905
    • Saad et al. (2025) Exploring the role of Bisphenol A in obesity-driven colorectal cancer progression: network toxicology and multi-organ pathology in animal models, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 495, 117227

  • Current projects

    2026 - 

  • Teachings

    TFM522

  • Teachings

    TFM522

Read more …profile Dr Khoo Boon Yin

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