Meet our team

Founder and Director

Professor Ts Dr Lee Learn Han

Affiliations:

Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Novel Bacteria & Drug Discovery research group (NBDD), Microbiome Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Professor Ts Dr Lee Learn Han is a molecular microbiologist, lead and principal investigator of Novel Bacteria & Drug Discovery (NBDD) research group and a Professor in School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University. He was also the head of Microbiome and Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences at Monash University Malaysia. MBRS consists of multidisciplinary and highly skilled researchers working in the interface of medicine, biomedicine, molecular biology and medical microbiology. MBRS was formed in line with JCSMHS’s aspiration to champion microbiome research by increasing the school’s research output for publications, international collaborations, and research grants. The research strength has been actively studying microbes indiscriminately - harmful pathogens causing deadly diseases in humans and livestock as well as beneficial microbes that can improve general health.  He has been named among the World’s Top 2% Scientists ranking by Stanford University in the list published in October 2021. He is recognized as the best Medical Science researcher in Malaysia, as the Malaysia’s Research Star Award (MRSA) Winner 2018. Also, he received the prestigious award of Professional Registers as Chartered Biologist (CBiol) from the Royal Society of Biology, UK, in 2017. To date, Dr Lee has registered 2 patents, published 7 academic books, 17 book chapters, and 210 articles with cumulative citations of 7852, H-index of 46 and i10-index of 135. In addition, he served as PI and co-PI for grants totaling ~RM3.95 million. Also, he has supervised 11 PhD students to completion and currently supervising 8 PhD students.

Deputy Director

Professor Ts Dr Goh Bey Hing

Affiliations

Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia

Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre (SBMDC), School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, 47500, Sunway City, Malaysia

Professor Ts Dr Goh Bey Hing's research centers on exploration of the biofunctionality of molecules and pharmacology. With a prolific record of 200+ publications, his research encompasses fundamental studies as well as collaborations with industries and healthcare sectors. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the first Malaysian on The Advisory Board of The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST). Additionally, he is esteemed as a Chartered Biologist by the Royal Society of Biology, United Kingdom, and has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Young Malaysians by Junior Chamber International &  Top Research Scientists Malaysia by Academy Sciences Malaysia, recognizing his significant contributions to research, education, and community.

Deputy Director

Ts Dr Vengadesh Letchumanan

Affiliations

Pathogen Resistome Virulome and Diagnostic Research Group (PathRiD), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Dr Vengadesh is a Lecturer at Jeffery Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. He holds a Bachelor of Biomedicine (Hons) degree from Management and Science University (MSU) and a Masters of Science (majoring in Molecular Biology) from University Putra Malaysia (UPM). He obtained his PhD in 2019 in Microbiology from Malaysia's oldest university, University Malaya. As an assistant lecturer, he balances his focus between teaching and research, in the area of molecular biology and medical microbiology. Personally, he enjoys teaching and interacting with students, by budding their interest in studies and exploring potential research areas. He is involved in Year 1 and Year 2 teaching. 

Deputy Director

Dr Jodi Law Woan-Fei

Affiliations: 

Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Novel Bacteria & Drug Discovery research group (NBDD), Microbiome Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Dr Jodi Law Woan-Fei is a Lecturer with several years of experience in microbiology research at Monash University Malaysia. She is a science graduate who received first class for her honours degree of Bachelor of Science (Medical Bioscience) from Monash University. Currently, she holds a PhD in Medicine (Biomedical Science), awarded by Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University in 2019. The research Dr Jodi Law conducted for her PhD involved discovering the diversity and biosystematics of novel Streptomyces from mangrove in Sarawak. She actively involves in various research activities and mentoring roles. She is a passionate researcher with great interest in expanding her research. She has been studying microbes of environmental origins, and now she is looking forward to exploring the microbes from the human body (human microbiome). 

Deputy Director

Dr Tan Loh Teng Hern

Affiliations: 

Microbiome Research Group, Research Centre for Life Science and Healthcare, Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute (CBI), University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Novel Bacteria & Drug Discovery research group (NBDD), Microbiome Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Dr Tan Loh Teng Hern is a Lecturer in Clinical School Johor Bahru (CSJB), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. He is also a section leader of Precision Medicine & Microbiome Intervention under the Microbiome & Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS). His research interest covers bioprospecting/drug discovery from actinobacteria (Streptomyces) as well as investigating the role of gut microbiota in health and disease, specifically focusing on probiotic interventions in health improvement in human and animal. To date, he has more than 80 publications, with cumulative citations of 2120, H-index of 23 and i10-index of 42. 

Deputy Director

Associate Professor Dr Nurul Syakima Binti Ab Mutalib

Affiliations: UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), UKM Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia 

Novel Bacteria & Drug Discovery research group (NBDD), Microbiome Bioresource Research Strength, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

NURUL SYAKIMA BINTI AB MUTALIB is an Associate Professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI) and a board-certified Graduate Technologist (MBOT). Her expertise includes molecular medicine and molecular diagnostics, with a particular emphasis on cutting-edge technologies such as next generation sequencing. She worked as the Head of Quality Assurance (UMBI), overseeing the ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17025, and ISO 9001 accreditation programmes, as well as the Coordinator of the Professional Certificate Program and chairing numerous institutional committees. 

Honorary Secretary

Associate Professor Dr Priyia Pusparajah

Affiliations: Medical Health & Translational Research Group (MHTR), Microbiome Bioresource Research Strength (MBRS), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Dr. Priyia Pusparajah is a certified paediatrician and currently an Associate Professor with Monash University Malaysia. She obtained her MBBS from the University of Malaya in 2004 and went on to complete her postgraduate pediatric training in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore. She is a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK). Following her passion for research and teaching, she joined Monash University in 2012. Her research interests are bioprospecting for substances with therapeutic applications, in particular from mangrove derived microbes as well as plants; and also exploring the neonatal gut microbiome – with a particular interest in multi drug resistant organisms. She is a core member of the Microbiome and Bioresources Research Strength and the founder of the Medical Health and Translational Research Group. She is also passionate about medical education especially how to meaningfully integrate the basic and clinical sciences and was awarded Monash Pro-Vice Chancellor Award Commendation for Education Innovation in 2019.