PENANG, 24 July 2024 – Two Master's students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in the field of Biomedical Sciences, namely Jeyrubini Ramesh and Nasihah Mohd Zahid were among the 14 proud recipients of the 2024 Yang di-Pertuan Agong Scholarship (BYDPA) awarded by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong recently.

All the 14 higher educational institutions (IPT) students received their scholarships from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim in a ceremony held at the King's Palace (Istana Negara) on 17 July 2024 in Kuala Lumpur.

The recipients were selected by the BYDPA Committee, under the Public Service Department (JPA), and are pursuing Master's and Doctoral (PhD) degrees in various fields of science and technology at universities both locally and abroad.

Jeyrubini, 26, who is currently studying at the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) USM, focuses her research on Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) cancer, specifically on immune-based mechanisms in active AML patients.

In her study, she intends to identify the genes involved in immune regulation during the active phase of AML through whole transcriptome RNA-Seq analysis, which could contribute to the development of tailored therapeutic strategies based on the unique immune profiles of AML patients.

“My research focuses on one of the most common cancers in Malaysia, AML cancer, aiming to understand the immune landscape of active AML patients, contributing to immunotherapy-based treatments.

“I hope my research will benefit future immunotherapy treatments for AML patients,” she said.

Jeyrubini, who graduated with a CGPA of 3.85 in her Bachelor's degree, dedicated her success and achievements to her grandfather, who has been her greatest mentor and cheerleader throughout her learning journey.

Meanwhile, Nasihah, a student at the USM School of Health Sciences, from Besut, Terengganu, said she is currently pursuing her studies in Biomedical Immunology (Nanotechnology), under the supervision of Dr. Nor Fazila Che Mat.

Nasihah's research focuses on investigating the effects of combining Baicalein and Carbon Nanodots (BCDs) to enhance the bioavailability and anti-cancer properties of Baicalein.

“This study aims to explore how combining Baicalein with Carbon Nanodots (CDs) can enhance Baicalein’s efficacy as an anti-cancer therapeutic medium by addressing its challenges, such as poor solubility and bioavailability, which limits its clinical applications.

“By using CDs as a delivery system, this study aims to improve Baicalein's solubility and stability, increase its absorption and bioavailability, and enable targeted delivery to cancer cells,” she added.

Nasihah added that this novel approach is expected to enhance Baicalein's therapeutic effectiveness, reduce the required dosage, and minimize side effects, ultimately contributing to more efficient and precise cancer treatment options in the future.

BYDPA is a prestigious scholarship introduced in 2006. To date, 19 sessions have been conducted with 212 Malaysian citizens receiving BYDPA sponsorship, including 107 at the PhD level and 105 at the Master's level.

USM is extremely proud and honoured to celebrate the achievements of Jeyrubini and Nasihah.

Heartiest congratulations to Jeyrubini and Nasihah on their outstanding achievements and may they continue to bring honour to the university globally.

Text: Nur Farrah Ezlin Mohd Suhaimi