Academy
The 4th International Scientific Conference in Malaysia
The M Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, located in Malaysia has had a tradition of organising a biennial scientific conference that brings together health care professionals, researchers, scientists, industry and students on topics of current interest. Highlight video of the congress>
The conference primarily addressed aspects of cellular therapy would be apt and timely. This is in view of the rapidly increasing understanding and knowledge of the efficacies and inefficacies of various cellular therapies and its expanding clinical use both as recognised therapies, as well as within the scope of clinical trials. We also realised that many may be unaware of the extent of ongoing research in this area both locally and regionally.
Participants at the scientific conference
The conference theme was, ‘Harnessing the powers of cell therapy: From bench to bedside’ was held in Putrajaya, Malaysia between the 18th - 19th of September 2023. The scientific programme was diverse yet focused, comprising of three plenary and nine symposia, covering the gamut of potential cell therapies from cell-based vaccines, mesenchymal stem cells, dendritic cell therapies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) cells, to experiment models using engineered cells. We also had the honour of presentations done by Professor Kehkooi Kee from Tsinghua University, China on using embryonic stem cells to build human reproductive organoids, as well as Professor John Rasko from University of Sydney, Australia, presenting on "cell therapeutics as a new treatment paradigm for blood disorders".
Recognising the importance of the transfusion services in developing and spearheading some of the advances in cell therapies, we included a symposium addressing the evolving roles of the transfusion services and another on the use of CAR-T therapy in the clinical setting. Speakers for both symposia were kindly supported by ISBT.
Dr. Zalina Mahmood from the National Blood Centre, Malaysia, provided an overview of the potential of using cord blood for deriving cells that may be used in therapies followed by Dr. Becky Griffiths from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, who gave an insight into her work on deriving cells from erythroid cell lines and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Dr. Ngaire Elwood from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia, outlined her immense work on developing an iPSC bank from cord blood sources including the regulatory requirements when embarking on such an endeavour.
The symposium on CAR-T therapy in the clinical setting was covered by Dr. Michaela Seng from the KK Women’s and Children Hospital, Singapore, as well as our local experts, Dr. Tan Sen Mui from Ampang Hospital, and Dr. Chang Kian Meng from Sunway Medical Centre.
"All three speakers reviewed their experiences with CAR-T therapy within their practise."
The response to the conference was beyond our expectations with 192 participants with backgrounds in research, academia, clinical and nursing practise and industry. Fourteen of the participants were from outside Malaysia, coming from India, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore and USA. Overall, the participants agreed that the conference was highly informative and timely, and provided an insight to how cell therapies are advancing.
Dr. Michaela Seng from KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore presenting on her experience with CAR-T therapy in the paediatric population at her centre
The 4th MK FMHS International Scientific Conference. M Kandiah Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. 18th - 19th of September 2023.
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