Two M’sian researchers win Asean-US Science Prize

Early detection: Dr Cheong attaching samples to a machine that helps identify oral cancer cells at Cancer Research Malaysia’s lab in Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Medicine.

PUTRAJAYA: Two women researchers from Malaysia are giving the country a boost in the fight against cancer.

They emerged as winners of two separate categories in the 8th Underwriters Laboratories-Asean-US Science Prize for Women 2022.

They are Cancer Research Malaysia deputy chief scientific officer Dr Cheong Sok Ching and Monash University Malaysia Campus senior lecturer and researcher Dr Maxine Tan.

Dr Cheong won the Senior Scientist Category through research to develop a tele-consultation tool, MeMoSA (Mobile Oral Screening) which is an artificial intelligence driven digital health platform for early detection of oral cancer.

Dr Tan won the Mid-Career Scientist Category for her research in medical imaging and AI by developing the first breast cancer short-term risk assessment model based on mammography and clinical and demographic characteristics.

In a statement, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba described the success as an impetus for both researchers to reach a higher level in scientific research, reported Bernama.

“It is hoped that their success would be a source of inspiration to fuel interest among national research institutions and researchers, especially female scientists, to contribute more quality research in the field of science, technology and innovation,” he said.

The eighth Underwriters Laboratories-Asean-US Science Prize for Women 2022 themed Artificial Intelligence in Health and Safety is a collaborative programme of the Asean Science, Technology and Innovation Committee, the United States Agency for International Development and Underwriters Laboratories based in the United States.