USM PENANG, 22 July 2026 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researcher Associate Professor Dr Goh Choon Fu has become the first Malaysian and the first Asian to receive the prestigious 2026 Transdermal Delivery Kydonieus Foundation Award, marking a historic milestone for the country's pharmaceutical sciences.

The award, regarded as one of the highest international honours in transdermal drug delivery research, was presented during the Controlled Release Society (CRS) Annual Meeting & Exposition held in Lisbon, Portugal, recently.

Presented by the Controlled Release Society, the award recognises outstanding contributions to the science and technology of transdermal drug delivery. Since its inception, only 10 researchers worldwide have received the honour, with Dr Goh becoming the latest recipient and the youngest in the award's history.

Goh, an Associate Professor at the USM School of Pharmaceutical Sciences said, the recognition was especially meaningful as it coincided with his 10th year as an independent principal investigator.

"Receiving the Transdermal Delivery Kydonieus Foundation Award is an incredible honour and a milestone that I never imagined when I began my independent research journey 10 years ago. Being the first Malaysian and the first Asian recipient is something I am deeply proud of.

"I hope this achievement demonstrates that impactful pharmaceutical research can emerge from our region and inspires more young researchers to pursue bold scientific ambitions," he said.

During the award ceremony, Goh delivered an acceptance speech reflecting on his decade-long research journey, attributing the achievement to the support of his research team, mentors, collaborators and the global Controlled Release Society community.

Goh leads the Goh Skin Research Group at USM, where his research focuses on developing advanced topical, transdermal and mucosal drug delivery systems. His work includes innovations in microneedles, transdermal patches, biomaterials, hydrogels and nanostructured drug delivery platforms.

Among his notable contribution is a pioneering research on the transdermal delivery of mitragynine, which demonstrated the compound's ability to permeate the skin and paved the way for potential applications in pain management and opioid withdrawal treatment. His team has also developed sustainable cellulose-based hydrogels derived from Malaysian agricultural biomass for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Over the past decade, Goh has secured more than RM1.8 million in competitive research grants and consultancy funding, published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, authored books and book chapters, filed a patent, and established research collaborations across Asia, Europe and Australia.

He also serves as Co-chair of the CRS International Chapter Committee and Vice-President of the Malaysian Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (MyCRS), contributing to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences through international collaboration and scientific leadership.

Text: Prof. Dr. Goh Choon Fu, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences