Speakers

Rahmah Noordin

Rahmah Noordin

Place of Birth : Malaysia
Born : 1961
Position : Director of Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
Field of study : Medical Parasitology, Medical Biotechnology, Immunodiagnostics
H. Index : 21


Biography:

Professor Dr. Rahmah Noordin's expertise is in Medical Parasitology and Medical Biotechnology, and her research focus is on the discovery of new diagnostic markers for parasitic diseases, development, and evaluation of diagnostic tests, particularly lateral flow rapid tests. She has been actively pursuing the extremely challenging area of translational research to produce products for commercialization so that her research outputs can create an impact on the society, country, and the region. She is known internationally for her work on rapid diagnostic tests for lymphatic filariasis (LF). It is one of the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) which affects the poor of the society. To date, she has succeeded in commercializing three rapid diagnostic test kits for LF, namely Brugia Rapid™ (in 2001), PanLF Rapid™ (in 2005) and BLF Rapid® (in 2018). Brugia Rapid™ has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in the Global Program for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) in Brugia endemic areas, particularly for Transmission Assessment Surveys (TAS). Large populations of underprivileged people in endemic areas of Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei) and islands of South Korea have used her tests. Due to her expertise in LF diagnostics, she has been appointed as a temporary advisor/consultant at various WHO meetings and workshops. She has also helped trained LF field staff in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Other then LF, she and her team have developed several prototype lateral flow rapid tests for other neglected parasitic diseases namely strongyloidiasis (Strongly Rapid), amoebic liver abscess (XEh Rapid®), hydatid cyst disease (Hyd Rapid™), and toxocariasis (Tc Rapid). These prototype tests are backed by six granted and two filed patents.

Prof. Rahmah is a scientist with a good track record of basic and translational research, securing six international and 38 national and university research grants to date. She has supervised/is supervising 20 Ph.D. students, 28 M. Sc students, and six post-docs. Her publications include 170 scientific articles in reputable journals and five chapters in books. As an award-winning scientist, she has seven international, 16 national and 17 university awards to her credit. In 2011, she was appointed as a fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM).

Current Research and Recent Achievements:
  1. Evaluation of a lateral flow IgG4 rapid test and IgE-ELISA for strongyloidiasis.

  2. Investigating the translated parasite proteins and antibody profiles induced by proteins from Strongyloides stercoralis cDNA clones

  3.  Characterization of recombinant monoclonal antibody proteins against Strongyloides and Toxocara, followed by development of antigen detection tests.

  4. Development and dual antigen lateral flow rapid test to detect Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati.

  5. Commercialization of BLF Rapid® in 2018: Universiti Sains Malaysia licensed the test to Reszon Diagnostics international Sdn. Bhd. This diagnostic kit is for detection of bancroftian lymphatic filariasis.

Awards received since 2015:

(i) Gold Medal and Special Award for “Brugia Rapid Test for Lymphatic Filariasis”, 15th International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA), Malaysia,  2017.

(ii) Ninth National Academic Award (Innovation and Commercialization), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, 2015

(iii) National Intellectual Property Award (Patent), Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Malaysia, 2015. Also received medal from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

(iv) Gold Medal and Special Award for “XEh Rapid™ : fast detection of extraintestinal amoebiasis”, 14th International Conference and Exposition on Inventions by Institutions of Higher Learning (PECIPTA), Malaysia, 2015.

Experiences:
  • Director, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, (since 2017)

  • Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia, since November 2003 (Senior Professor since 2009)

  • Senate member of Universiti Sains Malaysia, (since 2011)

  • Deputy Director, Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, (April 2005-August 2008; May 2009-Dec 2012)

  • Head, Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, (July 2003- Feb 2004)

  • Associate Professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia, (March 2000- Oct 2003)

  • Lecturer, Universiti Sains Malaysia, (July 1993-Feb 2000)

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