As part of the Postgraduate Research Day 2024 event at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), renowned scientists from various universities delivered plenary talks exploring the latest breakthroughs in health research (2 July). These sessions provided in-depth insights into Alzheimer’s treatment, the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine, and the importance of networking in academia.
Prof. Dr. Shaharum Shamsuddin from the School of Health Sciences, USM, presented his research on “Investigating the Modulatory Effects of THICAPA on Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis Using Fibroblast Cell Lines.” His study found that a new compound called THICAPA can reduce β- and γ-secretase activity and increase α-secretase activity, positively impacting the suppression of amyloidogenic pathways linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Meanwhile, Prof. Rosline Hassan from the School of Medical Sciences, USM, discussed the promising potential of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine in her presentation titled “Stem Cell for Sustainable Health: A Hope or Nope.” Prof. Rosline explained that stem cells have the unique ability to differentiate into specific cells that can be used to repair damaged tissue. She emphasized that stem cell therapy holds great promise for treating various degenerative diseases.
In a separate plenary talktitled “Leveraging on Networking for Academic Excellence and Research Collaborations,” Prof. Dr. Noor Hayaty Abu Kasim from the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya, highlighted the importance of networking in academia. She noted that building strong networks not only facilitates knowledge and resource sharing but also paves the way for more effective research collaborations and successful academic careers. Prof. Noor Hayaty used the “Carrot” analogy to illustrate different levels of inter-disciplinary collaboration, from within-discipline to trans-discipline.
These three plenary talks contributed significantly to enhancing the knowledge of Postgraduate Research Day 2024 participants while opening up further research collaboration opportunities. The research findings presented were key highlights, offering new hope in Alzheimer’s treatment and tissue regeneration, while encouraging the strengthening of academic networking.
Author: Haqi
