OXFORD DUO PUT MALAYSIA ON MAP
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/03/779575/oxford-duo-put-malaysia-map
By Zaharah Othman - March 13, 2022 @ 9:10am
LONDON: I had always harboured the hope of meeting Dr Cheah Phaik Yeong and Dr Masliza Mahmod, two celebrated Malaysian scientists at the University of Oxford, and be in the same room to hear them talk about their journey to one of the world's top research universities.
The opportunity came when Dr Cheah, a professor of Global Health who is based in Bangkok at the University of Oxford's MORU Tropical Health Network, and also founder and head of Bioethics and Engagement there, came back to Oxford on a working trip.
I also met Dr Masliza, associate professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, before she left for a working trip to Malaysia.
Although both had been at the university for more years than they care to remember, (Dr Cheah for 17 years and Dr Masliza for 12 years), this was only the second time that they met, if one doesn't count their cyberworld meeting two years ago shortly after Dr Masliza was mistakenly hailed as the "first" Malaysian woman to become an associated professor at the university.
Indeed, being the first has always been very important for Malaysians.
For Dr Masliza, 49, head of Clinical Trials Group, OCMR, honorary consultant in Cardiac Imaging at Oxford University Hospitals, visiting lecturer to many local universities and many more, she was more disappointed with the attitude and comments of Netizens and understandably felt harassed.
After learning about Dr Cheah, who was made associate professor in Bioethics and Engagement in 2016, Dr Masliza decided to put the matter right with a posting on Facebook: "Let us congratulate her on being the first Malaysian woman to achieve this at Oxford University.
"Together as Malaysian women, we will continue to keep Malaysia on the map. Congratulations to her!"
Dr Cheah, 47, on the other hand, said: "Am I the first? I don't know. Oxford is a very old university!"
With that behind them, the meeting of these two brilliant minds with so much in common meant that a collaboration in their fields of interest that would benefit the community, is the only way forward.
It is not surprising that both, from a very young age, had always set their sights on science and medicine with a strong unwavering determination that had paved their way to the city of dreaming spires. Both are passionate about research.
Dr Cheah said she had always been interested in medicine and research.
"After school, I went to Universiti Sains Malaysia and got a degree in pharmacy.
"I studied about drugs, drug treatments and was very interested in drug trials and how a type of drug has evidence to treat a type of disease."
Her interest in research had led her to do her PhD at the same uni-versity and she considered herself lucky to be involved in a big clinical trial on prostatitis.
The findings of the clinical trial made a difference to her.
"You are generating knowledge, creating knowledge. That is why I love research, and research in health sciences is so exciting!" she said, her passion evident in her voice.
"It is satisfying to know the product of your research is benefitting those suffering.
"The process of research is very long. Whatever result that you get, although negative, will help the next person who studies that problem," said Dr Cheah.
"Research should embed voices of the community you are meant to serve, so my research is about how to involve community in research to make your research more impactful.
"And when the study is finished, how to best disseminate the information back to the community. And malaria is one disease that I am working on."
Her project, Village Drama Against Malaria, won the University of Oxford's 2019 Vice-Chancellor's Choice Award for Public Engagement.
Dr Masliza, who is a clinician as well as researcher, couldn't agree more about the importance of engagement. She is passionate about the involvement of patients and the public in her projects, in what is termed patient public engagement.
Sharing her journey to Oxford, Dr Masliza said she remembered having to work very hard to get the specialist registration and consultant post at John Radcliffe Hospital, where she is now.
"Currently, I am doing a couple of clinical trials: one is looking at sudden death syndrome.
"For this, I am looking at an inherited thickened heart muscle cardiac condition that can cause sudden death. So patients have to go through cardiac MRI scans, and exercise bicycle and treadmill tests before and after the drug treatment.
"Even with the Covid-19 situation, patients are willing to come.
"Because I am a clinician, a medical doctor with cardiology background, I treat patients in the hospital, do consultation and give treatment. At the same time, I do research on them. So I am wearing two hats."
Bioethical research is also another common area for both.
Participants have to be well informed and understand about what they are involved in.
Dr Masliza said: "As my research is complicated, involving drugs, with potential risks to the patients, we will always seek ethical and regulatory approvals prior to undertaking the research."
Sitting on the sofa at Dr Masliza's living room, both are a picture of resilience, determination and dedication. They would take challenges head on.
They agreed about having to prove themselves, especially as women in such a competitive field.
"I love challenges and hate the comfort zone," said Dr Masliza, who, as a member of the Steering Committee of the British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Heart Failure Research Task Force, has earned many awards for her research on hypertension.
Both are doing studies on Covid-19, with Dr Masliza collaborating with the National Heart Institute in Malaysia and Dr Cheah conducting a survey on people's experiences during the pandemic and lockdowns.
Both love collaborations, especially with Malaysia, and see this as a way of giving back to the country.
Dr Cheah's work involves a lot of collaborations with many countries, especially in the area of infectious diseases.
She is starting a collaboration with Universiti Malaya, which offers a Masters in Bioethics.
"So there might be placements for internships in Bangkok in the near future," said Dr Cheah, who regularly gets invited to talk on data sharing and other bioethics topics.
Dr Masliza, who has helped to create placements at the University of Oxford for students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, is also Universiti Putra Malaysia's (UPM) visiting professor. She is helping to develop and improve its clinical research
"My promise to UPM is to boost its university ranking."
I felt privileged to have witnessed two great minds in conversation about their passion, showing dedication for collaborations that would further place Malaysian women and the country on the map.
-Source from News Straits Times Online
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