Nottingham student receives grant from Toray Science Foundation

A research student from the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus receives an outstanding award for her research on reducing the side effects of chemotherapy

At the presentation ceremony (from left to right): Managing Director of Toray Industries (Malaysia) Masahiko Kawamura,  President of Toray Industries, Japan YBhg Dato’ Dr. Akihiro Nikkaku, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia Dr. M. Miyagawa ,  Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation Senior Undersecretary and Commercialization and  Fund R&D Suhaimi Bin Hamzah, Chairman of Malaysia Toray Science Foundation, YBhg Profesor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman, Chairman of Selection Committee Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Augustine Ong Soon Hock and Deputy Chairman of Examination Committee Dato’ Dr. R. Ratnalingam)

The University of Nottingham, which has 43,000 students and is one of the more popular universities in the UK among graduate employers has produced another high achiever. Tham Shiau Ying, a PhD student at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC), has been awarded the Science and Technology Research Grant (STRG) from Malaysia Toray Science Foundation (MTSF) worth RM20,000. The grant is funded by the Toray Science Foundation of Japan.

According to the foundation, it received a total of 563 applications for the grant this year alone, observing a 41% increase compared to last year. This makes Shiau Ying’s achievement even more commendable.

Her PhDresearch focuses on studying the combined effects of chemotherapy and tocotrienol, a component of Vitamin E, to treat colorectal cancer cells. From her research, she proposed that in the presence of tocotrienol, colorectal cancer cells are more receptive to chemo drugs treatment when delivered in a lower dosage as compared to chemotherapy alone. This would result in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy. With funding from the foundation, her current work is dedicated to studying the fundamental aspects of the combined treatment response on colorectal cancer in the laboratory.

“It is indeed a great honour and achievement in my PhD journey. I’m truly thankful to MTSF for the funding of my research. I’m also grateful to my supervisors Professor Sandy Loh and Dr Mai Chun Wai from IMU, and Dr Fu Ju Yen from Malaysian Palm Oil Board for their continual guidance and support for my study,” Shaiu Ying Said.

Professor Sandy Loh said: “Through a stringent and competitive selection process, Shiau Ying was shortlisted for an interview which was held last September. Her sound grasp of knowledge in the subject and enthusiasm in research convinced the selection committee. She successfully secured the grant and stood out as one of the 17 awardees across Malaysia. This shows her excellent talent and great potential of her research towards the contribution of the science and technology development in Malaysia.

In congratulating her, Professor Festo Massawe, Head of School of Biosciences at UNMC said: “Shiau Ying’s achievement is a clear demonstration of the high calibre of students at UNMC. Our heartiest congratulations go to Shiau Ying and we wish her all the best in carrying out this project.”

In April last year, Shiau Ying won the Most Recommended Paper for Oral Presentation in International Conference of Translational Molecular Imaging & Aero-Space Medicine & Physiology showcase (iCT-MIPs), which led her to present at the plenary session of the conference.

Within the University of Nottingham, she had the opportunity to travel to Nottingham campus in the UK in July last year to meet with researchers in the UK who are doing research on cancer. This network, CRPA comprises of researchers within the University working on cancer research.