MAKNA Cancer Research Award 2018
Continuing its legacy of encouraging cancer research in Malaysia via its annual Cancer Research Award, MAKNA once again recognised three outstanding recipients in cancer studies.
Now in its 18th year, the annual MAKNA Cancer Research Award (MCRA) was launched in 2001 to support cancer research in order to push towards discovering potential cures for the disease.
A distinguished panel of ASM Fellows headed by Professor Datin Paduka Dr Khatijah Mohd Yusoff FASc have been instrumental in selecting the top three applicants as MCRA awardees.
The recipients for the 2018 MCRA Award and their research titles are as follows:
- Dr Tee Yee Kai (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman)
Novel Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CEST MRI) for Brain Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring - Dr Amirah Abdul Rahman (Universiti Teknologi Mara)
Identification of the Role of Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporte 2 (ENT2) in Modulating Colorectal Cancer Cell Death by RNA Interference - Mr Vimalan Rengganaten (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman)
Elucidation of Candidate Circular RNAs as Predictive Molecular Markers of Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells
The recipients were awarded RM30,000 each for their outstanding research.
“This award has been a part of our research-related endeavours, which include collaborations with universities and research institutes in Malaysia. Our aim is to advance in scientific knowledge in hopes of helping cancer patients. One day, perhaps, the brilliant researchers we support today will find a curative treatment for cancer”, said MAKNA Founder and President, Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin of the MCRA.
“The Academy of Sciences Malaysia supports MAKNA’s initiative in funding cancer research, and for the last 18 years it has been a successful journey in pursuing scientific excellence especially for young scientists. It is hoped the Academy’s association with awards such as the MAKNA Cancer Research Award will provide these young scientists great value to make significant scientific breakthroughs”, said Secretary General of ASM, Academician Tan Sri Ir Ts Ahmad Zaidee Laidin FASc.
Since it was introduced in 2001, MAKNA has awarded a total of RM1,551,410 towards funding cancer research by young researchers in Malaysia. To date, the programme has funded 54 researchers.
