KUALA LUMPUR, 7 December 2017 - Three Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) postgraduate students have been awarded research grants in science and technology amounting to RM55,000 from the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) at an official event held here recently.

The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dato' Seri Panglima Madius Tangau officiated the event and presented the awards to the recipients.

The postgraduate students were awarded the grants based on research conducted in their respective fields.

Nik Nur Syazana Nik Mohamed Kamal (PhD, School of Dental Sciences) was awarded the RM25,000 grant for her project entitled 'MicroRNA Profiling of Exosome-derived Plasma in Chronic Periodontitis Patients'.

Wan Khairunnisa Wan Juhari (PhD, School of Medical Sciences) received the RM20,000 grant for her project on 'Analysis of MSH2 and EPCAM Gene-silencing and Their Effects in the WNT/B CATENIN Pathway'.

Finally, Michelle Glory G. Jonik (MSc, Centre for Policy Research and International Studies) was selected for the RM10,000 grant for her research on 'Photosynthesis Response of Halophila Ovalis Under Different Light Gradients (High Light and Low Light)'.

The 3 USM recipients were among the 13 selected from Malaysian higher education institutions awarded with grants totalling RM290,000.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah