Building a future in virology
1 December 2025
by Nida Kalam
Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences
1. Tell us about your scholarship.
The Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship (GRES) is awarded to high-achieving candidates commencing their postgraduate studies at Monash University Malaysia. I applied for this scholarship when I joined the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Additionally, after completing one year of the graduate program, I applied for the PhD Global Mobility Scheme. This mobility program enables graduate students to explore global research labs, enhancing their projects and learning cutting-edge research techniques.
2. How does this scholarship support your academic journey and career aspirations?
The GRES scholarship supported my studies in Malaysia, while the global mobility scholarship facilitated my experience in Germany. I gained foundational knowledge in virology and explored omics methods for studying virus-host interactions. Furthermore, I served as a representative in Monash University Postgraduate Association (MUPA) and the School Research Committee (SRC). Being part of these valuable committees, I gained valuable insights into the academic landscape. These experiences helped me develop soft skills such as effective communication, multitasking, and time management. My time at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) allowed me to learn cutting-edge technologies for understanding disease pathogenesis caused by pandemic potential viruses in the most efficient and reproducible way. Both experiences at Monash University Malaysia and the Technical University of Munich were remarkable. Alongside the research knowledge I gathered, experiences from both universities helped me understand the future pathway.
3. What motivated you to apply for this scholarship and pursue your current field of study?
During my Master’s program in India, I completed a research project at Hilleman Laboratories, focusing on developing methods for testing a bacterial vaccine. This sparked my research interest, leading me to explore my supervisor's research interests, particularly those of Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam, which inspired me to apply for the GRES scholarship. I am grateful to my supervisor for encouraging me to pursue the Global Mobility Scholarship and for establishing a collaboration with Professor Andreas Pichlmair at the Technical University of Munich. Participating in his lab has been a valuable opportunity.
I conducted my PhD research in molecular virology and systems biology. The multi-omics platform is crucial for advancing biology and medicine, as it reveals hidden disease-associated proteins that can serve as drug targets. This approach not only addresses research challenges but also facilitates the discovery of solutions, allowing me to explore innovative methods in my work. It represents an emerging field within virology, enhancing our understanding of virus dynamics within the host and pinpointing potential targets that could speed up virus replication, making them viable candidates for drug development. During viral outbreaks, when FDA-approved medications may be lacking, these platforms serve as valuable alternatives for identifying possible treatment options.
4. In what ways has the scholarship played a role in shaping your overall university experience?
GRES enabled me to pursue my graduate research at Monash University Malaysia, while the global mobility scholarship covered my expenses for gaining laboratory experience abroad. Thanks to these scholarships, I was able to focus entirely on my project without financial concerns. My foundational knowledge in virology was developed at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences. With Dr Vinod's support, I completed my PhD and received valuable career advice. The global mobility scholarship was particularly beneficial, allowing us to expand our project by incorporating the AP-MS component. In addition to my research work, I had the opportunity to interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which enriched my understanding of how things operate in the Western world. Overall, both scholarships have shaped me into a researcher who gathers knowledge from basic to advanced levels in virology. Moreover, this experience has enhanced my scientific knowledge and helped me determine my future direction.
5. Are there specific challenges or milestones that stand out as crucial to your growth, and how have you worked through them?
The main challenge I faced during my PhD was managing time constraints. The program typically takes around 3.6 years, but global mobility only allows three months. Balancing milestones with research can be overwhelming at times. However, regular lab meetings and the support from my primary supervisor, Dr Vinod, were instrumental in keeping my project on track. When I began a research project at TUM, I had limited time to learn and optimise the necessary protocols. I am grateful to Dr Lara Rheinemann for her support and guidance. My PhD and global mobility experience taught me that effective planning and organisation of experiments are essential for tracking progress and meeting deadlines.
6. Can you share about your current research project? What problem are you addressing, and why does it matter?
My research project was to understand the role of proteins in the host that contribute to disease pathogenesis. My PhD primarily focused on enteroviruses such as EV-68 and EV-A71. EV-D68 re-emerged during a 2014 outbreak in the U.S., leading to severe respiratory issues and paralysis in children under five. EV-A71 is the leading cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
Currently, there are no FDA-approved drugs available for the treatment of enteroviruses. As is evident, many potential drugs have failed due to side effects in healthy individuals or drug-associated resistance. This highlights the urgency for new therapies. To address this, we are using a multi-omics approach to analyse how these viruses interact with their human hosts. Our research aims to identify specific host proteins that could be targeted for new treatments, enhancing our understanding of disease mechanisms and improving health outcomes.
7. How do you hope your research will contribute to your field, community, or society at large?
My research is focused on two related viruses, EV-D68 and EV-A71, which have been responsible for outbreaks in Southeast Asia and the United States, respectively. Both viruses can affect the nervous system and lead to paralysis, particularly in young children. In our project, we've discovered specific factors in the host that these viruses might use to enhance their ability to cause disease. Understanding these host-dependent factors could open new possibilities for repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for rapid and practical tools to study emerging viruses and identify effective treatment options. Advanced methods in virology can help us determine which host factors to target with already available drugs, making the development of treatments faster and less costly while minimising the risk of drug resistance. This approach could streamline the development of treatment options without requiring lengthy FDA approval processes.
8. What advice would you give to students who are thinking about applying for scholarships or starting their own research projects?
Well, I advise everyone to give it a shot for both scholarships. Both scholarships assist your project in different ways. GRES supports your ongoing project in Malaysia, whereas Global Mobility enables you to learn technologies established by global universities, allowing you to address research problems more efficiently. Alongside your project, you bond with people and come to understand how they think and solve problems. Cross-interaction with other researchers is important in our field. The global mobility program gives you a glimpse of the future if you wish to join academia and do post-doctoral studies. Although it is shorter than a research attachment, it provides a snapshot of your future career planning and experience abroad. Your journey will be both enjoyable and overwhelming at times. But that’s the experience where you gain the most. I feel it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I am glad I had great support throughout my PhD and research attachment journey at TUM.
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