Resaerch Area

1.  Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most aggressive head and neck cancer and frequently metastasize to distant lymph nodes and organs. It is a type of malignancy that have a remarkable ethnic and geographical distribution. it is one of the major public health problems in some countries, especially Southern China and Southeast Asia countries. NPC is the fifth most common cancer in Malaysia (MNCR 2012-2016). The incidence rate of this cancer in Malaysia is amongst the highest in the world, especially in certain ethnic groups in Malaysia (Bidayuh, Chinese, other indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak). However, owing to its very low prevalence in western countries, it has often been considered as an ‘orphan disease’. 
   A significant percentage of NPC patients will develop distant metastases. NPC and its complex tumour microenvironment are essential for various aspects of macroscopic tumour growth, maintenance, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Since early NPC is relatively asymptomatic, over 80% of the patients with NPC present with locally advanced disease or distant metastasis at diagnosis. When metastases are diagnosed, the prognosis is poor with a median survival less than 4 months. Metastasis accounts for approximately 90% of overall mortality among solid tumour patients. Hence, understanding the fundamental mechanism of NPC metastasis and tumour microenvironment is imperative for developing a reliable model to predict metastasis in NPC. 
2. Tumour microenvironment is a complex niche consisting of tumour, tumour-associated cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, leukocytes, cancer stem cells that influences tumour initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Microenvironment serves as a target-rich niche for the discovery of potential promising predictive or diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies.
   With a better understanding in the cancer biology including the cancer stem cell and tumour microenvironment and incorporation of data science with big data analytics and digital technologies (IR 4), it will able to lead into precision medicine in cancer finding new target therapy and able to help in predictive, preventive and personalised. 

Research Grants

1. Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
   Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
   Project title: Identifying The Signature Biomarker(s) of Early Metastasis Event In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroid
   Code: FRGS/1/2020/SKK0/UCSI/02/2
   Duration: 3 years
   Role: Principal Inventigator 
   Amount: RM 244,800
   Status: On-going
2. Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
   Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
   Project title: Investigating the synergistic potential between a G12V/A mutated KRAS vaccine in combination with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor against colorectal cancer
   Code: FRGS/1/2021/STG01/UCSI/02/1
   Duration: 3 years
   Role: Member
   Amount: RM 194,100
   Status: On-going
3. Name of grant: Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
   Funder: Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)
   Project title: Investigating the Potential of Surface Modified Cyclodextrin Based Gold Nanoparticles for Cytotoxic Drugs to Enhance the Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines 
   Code: FRGS/1/2021/SKK0/UCSI/02/5
   Duration: 2 years
   Role: Member
   Amount: RM 88,005
   Status: On-going
4. Name of grant: REIG
   Funder: UCSI University
   Project title: Invasion of Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroids from Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
   Code: REIG-FMS-2020/009
   Duration: 3 years
   Role: Principal Inventigator
   Amount: RM 49,500
   Status: On-going

Current Research Project 

1. Notch and Wnt Specific Inhibitors of Cancer Stem Cells (CSC)
2. NPC Tumour Microenvironment
3. Identifying The Signature Biomarker(s) of Early Metastasis Event In Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Using Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroid 
4. Investigating the synergistic potential between a G12V/A mutated KRAS vaccine in combination with anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor against colorectal cancer
5. Investigating the Potential of Surface Modified Cyclodextrin Based Gold Nanoparticles for Cytotoxic Drugs to Enhance the Apoptosis in Cancer Cell Lines 
6. Invasion of Heterotypic Multicellular Tumour Spheroids from Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma