Thematic Cluster: Integrated Strategies in Microplastics Research
Microplastics are a growing environmental concern with various implications on human health as their physiological presence continues to emerge. The health risks associated with systemic microplastic presence include endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired fertility, accelerated cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis and gut microbiome disruption. There is also increasing evidence that microplastics may be carcinogenic, adding to the concern surrounding one of the leading causes of death worldwide. More recently, microplastics have been detected within growing tumours, further opening new dimensions to the role of microplastics in cancer development. This multidisciplinary cluster investigates the adversity of microplastics from different but complementary perspectives.
Impact: The three collective projects have been thoughtfully presented to tackle microplastics challenges holistically; from tracing their sources to uncovering their fundamental health risks and exploring strategies for removal or intervention. By integrating expertise across disciplines, this cluster aims not only to advance scientific understanding but also to deliver tangible health benefits. This creates pathways from public awareness to biomedical solutions.
Project 1 (School of Pharmacy)
Nano-enabled detection and risk communication of microplastics in ASEAN food chains
Microplastics are increasingly found in the food chain, with Malaysia and Indonesia among the most impacted due to high plastic consumption. This project will develop a nano-enabled detection system using functionalised nanomaterials for rapid, sensitive and selective identification of microplastics in food. This will involve surface functionalisation of nanomaterials with specific recognition elements, such as molecularly imprinted polymers or hydrophobic dyes, to enhance selectivity for targeted plastic types. The first phase focuses on sensor design, synthesis and validation, followed by application to real-world samples from Malaysia and Indonesia. The second phase will leverage these findings to design and test culturally tailored public risk communication strategies across ASEAN, using digital media analytics and behavioural science to drive awareness and preventive action. This project will deliver practical tools for microplastic detection in the ASEAN food chain; build public awareness campaigns grounded in scientific evidence and inform cross-border policy frameworks.
We seek a motivated candidate with a background in nanotechnology, materials science, analytical chemistry, environmental science, or food science. Experience in nanomaterial synthesis, sensor development, or microplastic detection will be an advantage.
The ideal applicant will demonstrate strong analytical skills, scientific curiosity, and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines. An interest in sustainability, food safety, and public health communication within the ASEAN context is highly desirable.
For enquiries, please contact Dr. Athirah Bakhtiar
For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.
How to Apply
When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.
By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.
However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in.
Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr. Athirah Bakhtiar
Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Ooi Ean Hin
Associate Supervisor (Indonesia): Assoc. Prof. Dyah Pitaloka
Project 2 (School of Engineering)
Tumour-microplastic interaction and their role in tumour growth kinetics
The presence of microplastics within the tumour microenvironment (TME) has been discovered recently, with studies demonstrating a tendency for these microplastics to accumulate in the non-proliferating regions of the tumour. This was hypothesised to be due to the redistribution of the microparticles during cell division. The presence of microplastics within the TME may also alter the TME mechanical properties, which influences not only the tumour growth rate, but may also dictate the translocation of microplastics during tumour growth. This raises questions on the effects of microplastic within the TME and their role on tumour growth kinetics. This project addresses these questions using a combined in vitro and in silico studies. Outcomes from this project have the potential to provide critical information on how microplastics influence cancer initiation and progression. This can facilitate the development of more effective cancer therapeutic strategies.
We seek candidates with a background in mechanical engineering or a related discipline to work on this multidisciplinary research. Candidates with prior experience in (i) microfluidics, (ii) 3D printing and/or (iii) computational mechanics will be prioritised.
Candidates must be able to work effectively in a group and can communicate their findings to research collaborators of different backgrounds.
For enquiries, please contact Assoc. Professor Ooi Ean Hin
For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.
How to Apply
When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.
By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.
However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in.
Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Ooi Ean Hin
Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Chong Lor Huai
Associate Supervisor (India): Prof. Rakesh Mote
Project 3 (School of Engineering)
Synergistic acoustic-electrostatic-inertial separation of microplastics from blood: concept and development
The health risks associated with microplastics in blood include cerebral thrombosis, endothelial dysfunction, accelerated cardiovascular diseases progression and systemic inflammation. Hence, techniques that can separate microplastics from blood are being explored for development as an intervention strategy. Current methods for separating microplastics from blood employ bulk filtering, which is inefficient and impractical from a clinical standpoint. More recently, in vitro experiments demonstrated that surface acoustic waves can generate sufficient acoustic radiation force to isolate microplastics from blood flow. This project builds upon these studies to investigate more effective strategies for separating microplastics from blood, including the adoption of surface acoustic waves, functionalised surfaces by exploiting the electromechanical properties of microplastics and hydrodynamic forces based on the differences in microplastic size and mass. The outcomes from this project may lead to the development of devices that can be used clinically for separating microplastics from blood.
We seek candidates with a background in mechanical engineering or a related discipline to work on this multidisciplinary research. Candidates with prior experience in (i) SAW and interdigital transducers, (ii) 3D printing, (iii) microfluidics and/or (iv) acoustics will be prioritised.
Candidates must be able to work effectively in a group and can communicate their findings to research collaborators of different backgrounds.
For enquiries, please contact Dr. Ajay Achath Mohanan
For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.
How to Apply
When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.
By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.
However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in.
Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr. Ajay Achath Mohanan
Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Ooi Ean Hin, Assoc. Prof. Lau Ee Von
Associate Supervisor (India): Prof. Debjani Paul
The above projects are open for application until positions are filled.