Industrial Stakeholders Meeting 2021: Strengthening Scientific Progress Through Academia & Industry Collaboration

By Dr Ng Choon Ming 
School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, successfully launched its first-ever Industrial Stakeholders Meeting on 26^th October 2021. This meeting serves as a platform to connect renowned researchers from the School of Pharmacy with key industry stakeholders as a collaborative effort to expand research outreach and to produce quality research with real-world impact.

Over 50 researchers and industry representatives attended the Industrial Stakeholders Meeting. It was officiated by Professor Gan Siew Hua, Head of the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, and Professor Matthew Nicholson, the Vice President (R&D) at Monash Malaysia

For many years, collaborations between academia and industry have led to numerous life-changing discoveries. Endeavours to find solutions to complex social, health, environmental and economic challenges have increasingly required collaboration. The School of Pharmacy has made a strong research presence in the broad areas of (1) Preclinical and Translational Research as highlighted by Dr Ong Lin Kooi, during the session, (2) Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology by Dr Rajesh Sreedharan Nair and (3) Health Economics, Pharmacy Practice and Health Policy by Professor Kenneth Kwing-Chin Lee.

Evidence Generation - The building blocks to enhancing patient care, Dr. Ashwini Saha, Country Medical Affairs Director - Malaysia AstraZeneca Sdn. Bhd.

Furthermore, various researchers from the School of Pharmacy also had the chance to pitch their innovative research ideas to the stakeholders during the pitching session. Indeed, it was a fruitful engagement and networking session between researchers from academia and industry leaders.

R&D focus and explore potential collaboration with Monash Research, Ms. Ng Su Yee, Chief Technical Officer - Duopharma Biotech Berhad

Research Needs of the Malaysia Pharmaceutical Industry, Dr. Wong Jia Woei, R&D Manager - Attest Research Sdn. Bhd.

Clinical Trials & Digital Opportunities, Ms. EeLaine Tani, Head, Global Clinical Operations Malaysia - Johnson & Johnson Sdn. Bhd.

Takeda Introduction, Mr. Lim Shi Hao, Market Access and Public Affairs Manager for Malaysia and Singapore - Takeda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Industrial representatives, namely from AstraZeneca Sdn Bhd, Duopharma Biotech Bhd, Johnson and Johnson Sdn Bhd, Attest Research Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of Hovid Bhd), and Takeda Malaysia Sdn Bhd shared their respective research areas and potential collaborative opportunities.

The Industrial Stakeholders Organizing Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Ashwini Saha (Country Medical Affairs Director – Malaysia, ASTRAZENECA SDN BHD), Ms Su Yee Ng (Chief Technical Officer, DUOPHARMA BIOTECH BERHAD), Dr Wong Jia Woei (R&D Manager, ATTEST RESEARCH SDN BHD, subsidiary of HOVID BERHAD), Ms EeLaine Tan (Head, Global Clinical Operations Malaysia, JOHNSON & JOHNSON SDN BHD) and Mr Lim Shi Hao (TAKEDA MALAYSIA SDN BHD) for their contributions in sharing potential research interest and collaborations. Special thanks to Dr Ali Blebil, AP Dr Anton Dolzhenko, Dr Athirah Bakhtiar, Dr Chong Lor Huai, Dr Ong Lin Kooi and Dr Rajesh Sreedharan Nair from the School of Pharmacy for the wonderful research pitching session. Not forgetting, all researchers from the School of Pharmacy for their participation and contribution during this insightful sharing session.

Finally, this Industrial Stakeholders Meeting would not be possible without the organising committee led by Dr Goh Bey Hing and Dr Chong Chun Wie whose sincere efforts have successfully prepared this much-awaited research stakeholder meeting. It is hoped that this meeting will be the start to bring excellence to the scientific world, fostering new research collaborations to bring positive changes to the lives of individuals around us.