Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) lecturer Dr Mok Siew Ying was awarded the Science and Technology Research Grant amounting RM20,000 at the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) Prize Presentation Ceremony. The ceremony was held at InterContinental Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 29 November 2018.
Present at the event were Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin, MTSF Chairman Academician Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman, Toray Industries Japan Executive Vice President Kazushi Hashimoto, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia His Excellency Dr Makio Miyagawa, MTSF Examination Committee Chairman Academician Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim and MTSF Selection Committee Chairman Academician Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock.
Dr Mok and her co-researcher Centre for Healthcare Science and Technology Chairperson Assoc Prof Dr Tang Pek Yee’s research on ‘A Zebrafish Model of the Schizophrenia-Drug Addiction Association’ aim to study how electrophysiological activity changes in response to morphine and MK-801 which is an NMDAR antagonist which has been used to mimic the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The findings will help enhance the ability to identify the underlying pathophysiology and mechanisms that are relevant to schizophrenia and drug addiction, and further lead to positive therapeutic strategies to manage the two morbidities.
Dr Mok said, “”I am truly blessed to have been selected as one of the recipients for the Science and Technology Research Grant, given the large number of excellent applicants and the limited availability of funds.”
Dr Mok said, “Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder that has afflicted a large number of population in Malaysia and internationally. There is a high prevalence of substance abuse among schizophrenia patients. This grant will help to support our study to understand the potential link between drug addiction and schizophrenia-like behavior.”
MSTF, Malaysia’s premier charitable science foundation established by TORAY Japan and TORAY Group (Malaysia), aims to promote science and technology in Malaysia by supporting deserving Malaysian scientists, young researchers and science educators through three annual incentive programmes known as Science and Technology Award, Science and Technology Research Grant and Science Education Award.
