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THE HEALTH | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER , 2021
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A first in Cambridge ’ s 800-year history
A MALAYSIAN has been appointed as a professor of urology at the University of Cambridge , UK , for the first time in the institution ’ s 812-year history .
According to university records , Prof Vincent J . Gnanapragasam is the first Professor of Urology appointed by the Englishspeaking world ’ s second-oldest institution .
Prof Vincent , who has been a lecturer at the institution for the past 13 years , believes he is the first because , according to his research into the University of Cambridge library records , the university has never had a Professor of Urology before .
The 52-year-old from Petaling Jaya , an honorary consultant urologist at the university ’ s hospital , began his career in the UK in 1988 , when he enrolled at Newcastle Medical School and graduated with a PhD .
Prof Vincent relocated to Cambridge in 2008 after receiving a personal award from Cancer Research UK to become a clinician-scientist there . Furthermore , he has previously specialised in prostate cancer , both in terms of research and patient management .
He shared that his path to the professorship was uncommon since the university opted to change its official academic titles from “ reader ” to “ University Professor ”.
“ I was promoted to Reader last year . It is an academic title that has existed in the University of Cambridge for hundreds of years .
Over time , the university chose to modify their formal academic title this year , and Reader has now deemed a Professor , thus making Prof Vincent officially named with the title in early October .
One of Prof Vincent ’ s achievements is the invention of CamProbe . This device makes it safer to take prostate biopsies for men with suspected prostate cancer and can be done under local anaesthesia using a transperineal channel ( the area under the testicles ).
The invention is innovative because , in today ’ s current prostate diagnostic , a biopsy needle must puncture the gut wall to
Skill , talent and innovation can come from anyone . Nobody should be deprived of opportunities to realise their full potential .”
reach the prostate , posing a risk of bacterial infection from the colon entering the urinary system and circulation .
“ Skill , talent and innovation can come from anyone . Nobody should be deprived of opportunities to realise their full potential ,” he said , adding that anything meaningful can be gained through challenge , competition and adversity .
According to the university ’ s website , Prof Vincent also possesses several patents and has received numerous awards for his research , which includes the CE Alken Prize , the Urological Research Society Medal , a Hunterian Professorship , and a Vice Chancellor ’ s Award for Research Impact from the University of Cambridge ( Established Researcher ).
Medical physicist first Malaysian to get global scientist nod
ASSOC PROF DR Yeong Chai Hong of Taylor ’ s University School of Medicine was awarded the Young Scientist Award in Medical Physics 2021 , making her the first recipient from Southeast Asia to receive the prestigious International Union of Pure and Applied Physics ( IUPAP ) honour .
The award was established and funded by the IUPAP and awarded by the International Organisation for Medical Physics ( IOMP ) as the IUPAPaffiliated International Commission for Medical Physics .
A monetary prize of 1,000 Euro ( RM4,833 ), an IUPAP medal , and an IOMP certificate were included in the award . A short biography of Dr Yeong will also be included in the e-Medical Physics World newsletter .
For a safer and costeffective percutaneous tissue biopsy procedure , Dr Yeong , an expert in nuclear medicine and interventional radiology , developed an award-winning laser-driven hot needle system with her research team .
During a needle biopsy process , her invention improves safety and reduces bleeding issues .
“ To shape the future of cancer care by providing an alternative for patients , the team is working on upgrading the prototype so that it can be simultaneously used for tissue ablation – a minimally invasive cancer treatment ,” she added . According to Dr Yeong , minimally invasive therapies such as hyperthermia therapy are recommended for unresectable tumours or patients who are not fit for surgery .
Hyperthermia therapy currently uses either radiofrequency , microwave , laser or extreme cold ( cryoablation ) energy to induce cells death at the targeted tissues , while minimising damage to healthy tissues .
“ With this innovative development , patients no longer require open surgery , and the success rate is promising . This advancement makes cancer treatment more affordable , less invasive , and safer , thereby improving cancer patients ’ overall survival rates and quality of life in Malaysia ,” she said .
Dr Yeong ’ s other major research project was the creation of a low-cost , lowradiation oral formulation for a whole gastrointestinal tract transit study .
In 2012 , her project was awarded the Certificate of Merit from the European Society of Radiology , the world ’ s second largest radiology society . Dr Yeong is the first and only Malaysian to earn this distinguished honour to date .
She also received the President ’ s Award in Research and Innovation from Taylor ’ s University
Malaysian Nadiah Wan is the youngest to make Forbes 2021 Asia ’ s Power Businesswomen list
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NADIAH WAN , CEO and Executive Director of TMC Group , is the youngest to be named to Forbes Asia ’ s Power Businesswomen list for 2021 .
The list , announced on Nov 2 , 2021 , and published in the November issue of Forbes Asia , honours 20 female business leaders in the Asia-Pacific region .
In 2019 , Nadiah became the group CEO and Executive Director of TMC Life Sciences . She is also the CEO of Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara , where she has served since 2017 .
The Malaysian introduced a Covid-19 task force at the hospital and launched a mobile app , providing remote end-toend patient care .
“ Businesswomen across the Asia Pacific region continue to
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break barriers and , in many cases , expand their businesses despite the lingering pandemic ,” Rana Wehbe Watson , editor of the 2021 Asia ’ s Power Businesswomen list , said .
“ Forbes Asia ’ s Power Businesswomen list this year recognises 20 outstanding leaders who managed to adapt and thrive in industries including technology , healthcare , banking and manufacturing . They are leading the way as the world struggles with the post-Covid reality .”
All of the businesswomen featured this year are first-timers on the list , extending Forbes Asia ’ s network of influential women in the region . They were chosen for their accomplishments
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in leading either a large corporation or a start-up valued at more than $ 100 million .
Thailand ’ s Wallapa Traisorat , president and CEO of real estate company Asset World Corp ( AWC ), is one of the women on the list . In late 2019 , AWC went public and raised nearly US $ 1.6 billion . Amid the pandemic , AWC has signed new hotel partnerships with InterContinental and Nobu Hospitality , adding existing ties with Marriott and Hyatt .
Another notable listee is Converge ICT Solutions cofounder and president Maria Grace Y . Uy , who helped grow her company into one of the largest fixed broadband operators in the Philippines . Converge went public in late 2020 in
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one of the country ’ s largest-ever IPOs , raising US $ 522 million . Its shares have since risen over 70 per cent , pushing the company ’ s market capitalisation to US $ 4.6 billion .
Also featured on the list is Keiko Erikawa , Executive Chairman of Koei Tecmo . She co-founded the company with her husband Yoichi and built it into one of Japan ’ s largest video-game developers over four decades . The listed company now has a market capitalisation of US $ 8.5 billion .
In June this year , Erikawa became an outside director and the only woman on the board of SoftBank Group . She also manages Koei Tecmo ’ s US $ 1.1 billion in assets across Japan , Hong Kong and the US .
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