JOHOR BAHRU, 22 October 2013 - Two gold medal-winning products invented by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) researchers, Wheelsaver and A Novel Drug-Drug and Drug-Herb Interactions Prediction Platform succeeded in clinching the special Bioinnovation Award during the invention exhibition, BioMalaysia and Asia Pacific Bioeconomy 2013, held here today.

Wheelsaver is wheelchair innovation equipped with special controls that facilitate the movement of a patient in a wheelchair while A Novel Drug-Drug and Drug-Herb Interactions Prediction Platform is a platform dedicated to ensure the safety of medicines, herbal medicines in particular.

Both design innovations are the results of USM women researchers, by Dr. Zuraida Zainun from the School of Health Sciences and Dr. Tan Mei Lan from the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute respectively.

Other than these two gold medal innovations, three other USM research products successfully won silver medals and these include NutritiveMush Flour, green concrete produced from oil palm ash, and pumpkin-based nutritional drinks, PumpCoola.

Overall USM presented five biotechnology-based products including NutritiveMush Flour which is a high-fiber flour made ​​from oyster mushrooms.

The specialness of the flour produced by the researcher from the School of Health Sciences, Assoc. Professor Dr. Wan Rosli Wan Ishak, lies in its production techniques.

According to Wan Rosli, NutritiveMush Flour is produced through a secret and unique dehydrating technique known as ANJAAD which allows the production to be reduced by about four hours as compared to the oven drying method that takes at least a day.

“NutritiveMush Flour also able to help reduce cholesterol in the blood, as well as being appropriate to be taken by cardiovascular patients suffering from obesity and high blood pressure,” he said.

He added that the findings also have been published in various journals as well having gone through the phases of commercialisation with industry collaborators. Commercialised products are mushroom powder and biscuits.

NutritiveMush Flour is one of five USM products contested in the BioMalaysia and Asia Pacific Bioeconomy 2013 held at the PERSADA Convention Centre from 21 to 23 October.

In the meantime, the inaugural BioMalaysia and Asia Pacific Bioeconomy 2013 held outside the Klang Valley was officially opened by the Menteri Besar of Johor, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

BioMalaysia and Asia Pacific Bioeconomy 2013 was attended by 160 exhibitors from local and foreign delegations, including higher education institutions, bio-based companies, and government agencies.

Among the countries that took part in the annual event that brought researchers, investors, and others together are China, Singapore, Japan, Korea, United States, and the Netherlands.

FULL RESULTS:

1. U-POFA; Green Palm Oil Fuel Ash-Based Supplementary Binder for High Performance Concrete: Associate Prof. Dr. Megat Azmi Megat Johari (Silver)

2. Wheelsaver: Dr Zuraida Zainun (Gold: Special Award)

3. NutritiveMush Flour: Prof. Madya Dr. Wan Rosli Wan Ishak (Silver)

4. A Novel Drug-Drug and Drug-Herb Interactions Prediction Platform: Dr. Tan Mei Lan (Gold: Special Award)

5. PumpCoola: Dr. Uthumporn Utra @ Sapina Abdullah(Silver)

Translation: Yong Check Yoon