e-Newsletter from the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Biosciences ISSUE 1 (2012)

SCHOOL OF BIOSCIENCES SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH HALAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONTaylor’s University School of Biosciences signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Halal Industry Development Corporation recently. As a result of the agreement, students who pursue degrees in either Food Science and Nutrition or Biomedical Science with Taylor’s University School of Biosciences will be able to broaden their elective subjects to encompass two new Halal subjects which have been endorsed by HDC. The two electives are “Introduction to Halal Food” and “Principles of Halal Food Business Management”.

The Halal electives will be taught by trainers from HDC. The theoretical learning will include face-to-face interaction as well as e-learning components, while the tutorials for the subjects will include practical field trips, such as showing students the ‘Samak’ process in various settings. Students are required to undergo a 10-week industrial attachment as part of their degree curriculum, in the areas of food manufacturing and processing, nutrition science and product development, and engage with the industry on real-life projects which will enhance their learning and prepare them for the industry. Upon graduation, Muslim students can opt to undergo the full range of halal courses offered by HDC, which will make them qualified auditors or Halal Officers.

Vice Chancellor and President for Taylor’s University, Professor Dato’ Dr Hassan Said, said that this collaboration will ensure that Taylor’s graduates are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to make a difference in the food industry locally and globally, and open up a vast range of career opportunities for them. Chief Executive Officer for HDC, Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, commented that this strategic alliance is in line with the company and governments objectives to provide Halal related training to keep up with global demand for halal products in the growing industry. HDC is proud to be collaborating with Taylor’s University, the first private university in this global venture.

SC ENCECAPSULE

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ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITION School of Biosciences Signs Memorandum of Agreementwith Halal Industry Development CorporationBiosciences Students Excel at University of Queensland

RESEARCH & GRANTS Dr. Lai Awarded ‘Best Paper’ at Environmental Conference

NEWS & HAPPENINGS School of Pharmacy Signs MoA with Ministry of HealthA Networking Night with Industry Partners

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES Food Science Workshop with Mettler ToledoReceptor Mimics as Therapeutic AgentsPublic Lecture by Dr. Antonio Focareta From University of AdelaideThe Viable but Non-culturable State of the Marine Pathogen ‘Vibrio parahaemolyticus’Public Lecture by Dr. Connor Thomas From University of AdelaideEnvironmental Biotechnology- A Clean Technology for the 21st CenturyPublic Lecture by Professor Andy Ball From Flinders University AustraliaAntibodies and the Cells that Make ThemPublic Lecture by Professor William Cushley From University of Glasgow, ScotlandIntroducing Molecular Biology Techniques to Far Eastern University (FEU)

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Foundation in Science Students Organized Integrated Science ExhibitionFIS Students Give Back to Community

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL Associate Professor Dr. Salmiah Mohd Ali, Dean, School of Pharmacy (SOP)Sim Hong Vee, Student, Master of Science, School of Biosciences (SBS)

ScienceCapsule 2

Biosciences Students Excel at University of Queensland

(From left) Nursaedah, Christine, Tse Chien and Maisarah, at the Great Court, University of Queensland

It was a proud moment for four students from Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (SBS) when they each received the distinguished honour of a Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement at University of Queensland (UQ), Australia. The award was given based on the students’ admirable results by achieving an overall semester Grade Point Average of 6.0 out of 7.0, or higher.

Dean of Taylor’s University School of Biosciences, Dr. Stacey Yong, commented that the students have made their alma mater proud. “It is very encouraging to know that the students’ hard work and efforts are recognised, proving that excellence is one of the integral pillars of their education experience that they have received during their study at Taylor’s,” she said.

As part of the articulation programme offered with the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Biotechnology (Hons) degrees, the four students were transferred to University of Queensland during their first semester with Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (SBS).

“Being awarded ‘Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement’ is what I’ve always strived for. Pushing myself beyond the limit to achieve this meaningful award gives me immense satisfaction and motivation to go further,” said Maisarah Mahbon, one of the proud recipients of the award.

While the other recipient, Nursaedah Abdullah Aziz, attributed her success to the invaluable learning experience she had in UQ, Koo Tse Chien, a student of Biomedical Science, was thankful to have a team of supportive lecturers and academic staff in the university.

“I have gained in-depth knowledge and valuable experiences within these last 3 years of my programme in Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science), both in Taylor’s University and UQ. It feels very rewarding to be on the ‘Dean’s Commendation for High Achievement’ list because I know that my hard work has paid off,” quipped Christine Teo, the fourth recipient of the award.

ACHIEVEMENTS & RECOGNITION

ScienceCapsule 3

Dr. Lai How Yee’s research paper on “Antioxidant Properties of Some Malaysian Ferns” was awarded the ‘Certificate for Excellent Paper’ at the International Conference on Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering.

Based on one of the many projects displayed at the conference, Dr. Lai’s paper explored new and natural sources of bioactive compounds, and described the results of a preliminary screening of antioxidants from 15 species of ferns in Malaysia. The paper aims to create awareness on ethno-medicinal values on Malaysian ferns, and highlight the potential uses of selected ferns as natural antioxidant sources for further research.

The conference was held in Singapore on 16th to 19th September 2011.

Dr. Lai Awarded ‘Best Paper’ at Environmental Conference

RESEARCH & GRANTS

ScienceCapsule 4

Taylor’s University School of Pharmacy (SOP) recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Ministry of Health at its Putrajaya headquarters in October 2011. The agreement allows Taylor’s pharmacy students to work in 7 government hospitals and 11 community polyclinics during their Pharmaceutical Industry Attachment, which is part of their Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme.

The Ministry of Health has consistently encouraged institutions of higher learning and medical and pharmacy schools to take advantage of the industry attachment opportunity with governments’ hospitals and community polyclinics for teaching and training purposes. The Malaysian Medical Council also reinforced that institutions of higher education must ensure that their medicine and pharmacy degrees are on par with international standards.

At Taylor’s University, the internship will be conducted during the students’ third year of study at Taylor’s University. Lasting for a period of 6 to 12 weeks, the compulsory industry attachment will ensure the students acquire important soft-skills such as problem-solving and communication, as well as technical knowledge and expertise such as dispensing drugs and medicine with diligence and utmost care.

For those with the opportunity to work at retail shops or pharmacy counters, they will be exposed to OTC (over-the-counter) drugs and learn and better understand the business cycle from warehousing, distribution and sales process.

The MoA was signed by Y.Bhg. Datuk Kamarul Zaman Bin Md Isa, Secretary-General from the Ministry of Health, and Ms Janice Yew, from Taylor’s University; and witnessed by Dato’ Eisah Bt. Abdul Rahman, Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Services from the Ministry of Health, and Dr. Kan Mun Seng, Acting Dean for School of Pharmacy, Taylor’s University.

Below is the list of government hospitals and community polyclinics involved in the industry attachment programme:-

Hospitals1. Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh2. Hospital Sungai Buloh, Selangor3. Hospital Kuala Kangsar, Perak4. Hospital Parit Buntar, Perak5. Hospital Kampar, Perak6. Hospital Bentong, Pahang7. Hospital Muadzam Shah, Pahang

Community Polyclinics1. Klinik Kesihatan Batu Arang, Selangor2. Klinik Kesihatan Kuang, Selangor3. Klinik Kesihatan Soeharto, Selangor4. Klinik Kesihatan Selisik, Selangor5. Klinik Kesihatan Tanjung Karang, Selangor6. Klinik Kesihatan Ayer Tawar, Selangor7. Klinik Kesihatan Kalumpang, Selangor8. Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan9. Pejabat Kesihatan Rembau, Negeri Sembilan10. Pejabat Kesihatan Raub, Pahang11. Pejabat Kesihatan Temerloh, Pahang

School of Pharmacy signs MoA with Ministry of Health

Sin Chew Jit Poh, 27th October, 2011

NEWS & HAPPENINGS

ScienceCapsule 5

A Networking Night with Industry Partners

The semi-formal gathering also served as a strategic platform for participants to explore potential business and industrial research partnership among various bio-industry organisations in Malaysia.

In his welcome address, Mr Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Taylor’s University, acknowledged that the mutual knowledge sharing and networking session was profoundly useful and beneficial for all parties involved as this allows the school to connect and converse on the latest developments in this emerging important industry.

Dr Stacey Yong, Dean of SBS, attributed the success of its first Industry Networking Night to her team of staff.

“We are pleased to receive support from our industry partners for this inaugural gathering. We hope to have more of such events in future to establish a stronger network between our academic staff and students with the key industry players in Malaysia,” enthused Dr Stacey.

Taylor’s University School of BioSciences (SBS) held its first Industry Networking Night on 29 November 2011, which was attended by approximately 40 guests from various sectors of the Malaysian bio-industries such as food manufacturing, biomedicine, pharmaceutical and biotechnology.

As part of the school’s proposed intention to introduce its research capacity to the bio-industry, the event was also held to provide a platform for sharing of industrial experiences by prominent speakers; Encik Mohd Yazid Abd Hamid - Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation S/B, and Professor Dr Patrick Loh - Chairman of the Scientific Board and Advisor for Scientific Affairs of Eu Yan Sang International Ltd. Both speakers gave enlightening talks about the current outlook for the biotech industry and the growing demand for the biomass field.

Dr Patrick shared a visual-based presentation showcasing his agricultural forays in Malaysia and other countries including Singapore and Cambodia. Truly passionate with his line of work, Dr Patrick’s presentation captured the interest and attention of the industry guests as well as academic staff from SBS.

A group picture of the guests and SBS staff during the event

Dr Stacey Yong giving her welcome remarks

En Mohd Yazid engaging the guests at the event

Mr Pradeep Nair and Dr Stacey Yong greeting guests at the networking eventNetworking session in progress The charismatic Dr Patrick Loh

NEWS & HAPPENINGS

ScienceCapsule 6

Food Science Workshop with Mettler Toledo

Taylor’s University School of Biosciences in collaboration with Mettler Toledo Malaysia conducted a Food Science Workshop on ‘The Significance of Moisture Content and Water Activity as Hurdles in Food Preservation’ at Taylor’s University. The workshop, held in October 2011, had a few objectives, which included learning how water content and water activity influence the shelf life of food, which in turn highlighted the importance of food preservation.

The workshop also enabled participants to raise food health and safety issues in relation to food preservation, as well as how the latter affects nutrients in food. At the end of the workshop, participants were able to understand the role of moisture, water content and water activity in the development process of food products.

The full day workshop aimed to gain theory and technical know-how in areas such as:

1) Moisture content analysis in food2) Microorganisms in foods, and preservation that affects the nutrients, shelf life and packaging of foods3) Identify low moisture high moisture and intermediate moisture foods4) Determine water content and water activity of oil-based foods, etc5) Moisture analysis of solid foods, fruit juices, etc6) Demonstration on other food parameters such as refractive index, water activity, brix and pH.

The workshop was conducted by several prestigious food scientists and product specialists. Well-known food manufacturers such as Nestle, IDS Manufacturing, Mac Food and Bio Tree also sent their food scientists to participate in this workshop. The participants learned some standard routines for effective troubleshooting and discovered interesting applications for the determination of water activity, brix level, pH, refractive index and moisture content in food products. Case study and discussion were the highlights of the workshop whereby participants had a chance to be ‘hands-on’ and discuss their findings with the experts.

All the participants are given a brief introduction before they start with their hands on session

Case Study Session-Participants are discussing their results and findings with Food Science lecturers

Water activity measurement on food samples using bench top Aqualab water activity meter

Presentation session before the workshop starts

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

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Receptor Mimics as Therapeutic AgentsPublic Lecture by Dr. Antonio Focareta From University of Adelaide

A public lecture on Receptor Mimics as Therapeutic Agents was organised by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences on 20th September 2011 and was presented by Dr. Antonio Focareta from University of Adelaide, Australia. Dr Antonio is the program co-ordinator for the Master of Biotechnology program at the university, and is also a research fellow of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is an international consortium funded to develop a live recombinant Salmonella anti-pneumococcal vaccine for newborns. His most recent role involves the co-ordination and implementation of a newly introduced Master’s course in Biotechnology. His research interests include vaccine development, molecular mimics as therapeutic agents and the use of attenuated microorganisms as vaccine delivery vectors.

The 1 hour lecture described the expression of human gut receptors for bacterial toxins, receptors, and their relationship with each other:

i) What are receptors, toxins, and their co-relationship?ii) Types of receptors and toxins, particularly Shiga toxin on the surface of E.coliiii) The role of receptors and how they will inhibit various toxins and how this can help to stop, treat, or prevent diseases

The lecture was extremely detailed and helpful to researchers, undergraduates and postgraduates, as the topics above were delivered to familiarise the audience with human gut receptors for bacterial toxins. These recombinant bacteria are then used to “mop” up toxin in the gut so that more serious disease sequelae are avoided.

Dr Antonio and Dr Connor answering questions from the floor

Dr Antonio during the lecture

Explaining his research to his guests

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

ScienceCapsule 8

The Viable but Non-culturable State of the Marine Pathogen ‘Vibrio parahaemolyticus’Public Lecture by Dr. Connor Thomas from University of Adelaide

Dr Connor Thomas Dr Connor, Dr Antonio, and Dr Stacey, with staff and students of the School of Biosciences

A special lecture on The Viable but Non-culturable State of the Marine Pathogen ‘Vibrio parahaemolyticus’ was organised by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences on 20th September 2011 was delivered by Dr. Connor Thomas from University of Adelaide, Australia. Dr Connor is the Head and also a senior lecturer of the School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, and has over 30 years of experience in the biosciences field. His research interests include the microbial ecology of bacteria associated with foods and food spoilage, molecular biology of pathogenesis of food-borne bacterial pathogens (eg. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Vibrio spp.), including a study of the molecular basis for the VBNC state of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and modelling inactivation of bacteria in foods and predictive microbiology of foods. He has strong collaborative research links with the South Australian Research and Development Institute Food Safety Group and with staff of the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide.

The 1 hour lecture focused on some research work that Dr. Connor and his student were working on, which is in regards to a bacterial viability protein(YeaZ) in recovery of viable but non culturable state cells:

i) What is the Viable but Non-Culturable State (VBNC) and how to induce it?ii) The mode of transmission for this bacteria, via contaminated warmed seafood, or cuts or wounds infected by contact surfacesiii) Significance of VBNC for seafood and agriculture industryiv) VBNC state is induced at low temperaturesv) Rate of loss of cultivability is dependent on concentration of pH and saltvi) Is the VNBC state an artefact?

The lecture explained the VBNC state and how to induce it with the change of temperature, and other factors such as salt and the pH concentration. It also explained the bacterial viability protein (YeaZ) in recovery of the VBNC. Bacteria exposed to low temperature environments enter this state and can survive for long periods of time. This work has significant implications for public health associates with consumption of seafood (normally raw oysters). Dr Connor’s lecture showed various graphs and tables which showed his results and findings of his research, to help the audience understand what his research was about. Dr. Connor ended the lecture by welcoming any questions from the crowd in relating to the VBNC, and also explained to the students how they can go a step further in this research, whereby if one finds an inhibitor which can prevent these bacteria from being released, they can then further use the same basis to prevent other types of bacteria from affecting the human body, thus producing a new batch of antibacterial treatment.

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

ScienceCapsule 9

Professor Andy Ball

Environmental Biotechnology - A Clean Technology for the 21st Century Public Lecture by Professor Andy Ball from Flinders University, Australia

A public lecture on Environmental Biotechnology- A Clean Technology for the 21st Century was organised by Taylor’s University School of Biosciences on 7th October 2011 at Lecture Theatre 12. It was presented by Professor Andy Ball, from Flinders University, Australia. Professor Andy is currently the Chairman of the Environmental Biotechnology group, which falls under the School of Biological Sciences at the university. His research revolves around the biotechnology area and he is passionate about how everyone can make a contribution to make the world a cleaner and less toxic place, by using various methods such as decomposing materials to achieve a better living environment.

The 1 hour lecture, attended by postgraduate students, undergraduates, staff and lecturers, covered areas on biotechnology and the various systems used in the emerging area:

i) Environmental Biotechnology, Case Study, Organicii) How these systems are used for environmental and commercial useiii) Case Studies which highlighted the potential of this new emerging area of biotechnology.iv) How Organic waste can be converted to valuable end products.

His research looks at how less chemicals can be used to decompose large physical liquids such as oil spillages. Professor Andy showed various pictures on how his students at Flinders University conducted their case studies at oil rigs and landfills. He also further explained that Flinders University has an added advantage mainly because Flinders has its own environmental organization which has been actively helping organisations in their waste products organisation. This will enable students to apply their theoretical studies in a real life project.

He ended the session by showing an example of how the government is serious in reducing waste, by describing a music festival held at Adelaide twice yearly which has zero tolerance for waste products. Concert goers are not allowed to bring in any plastic or takeaway containers which are not recyclable or biodegradable. Professor Andy strongly believes that the technologies haveimmense potential in reducing waste worldwide, and invited students to actively conduct more research which could help mankind.

Environmental Biotechnology - A Clean Technology for the 21st Century Public Lecture by Professor Andy Ball from Flinders University, Australia

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

ScienceCapsule 10

Conducting an explanation on solid tumours Professor Wiliam Cushley

Antibodies and the Cells that Make ThemPublic Lecture by Professor William Cushley From University of Glasgow, Scotland

Professor William Cushley of University of Glasgow was invited by Taylor's University School of Biosciences to give a public lecture on Antibodies and the Cells that Make Them on 13th October 2011. Professor William is currently based at the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, where he is the Professor of Molecular Immunology. He has held several appointments on UK Research Council and European Commission grants committees and served as scientific co-ordinator of a major UK programme in the intracellular signalling area. Besides being the Chairman of the Board of Trustee Directors of the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, Professor William is also a Trustee Member of Medical Research Scotland, the largest biomedical research charity in Scotland.

His research work concerns regulation of human B lymphocyte development in the normal and diseased states; current specific interests focus on how integrins capture ligands via non-adhesion-dependent binding sites and the molecular mechanisms by which such interactions regulate B lymphopoiesis and cytokine release by monocytes. The 1 hour lecture covered the types of antibodies and diseases which inflict the human body:

i) A Route Map of B Lymphocyte Birth, Life and Deathii) Immunoglobulins & Antibodies, specifically IgG: The Fourchain Model of Ab Structureiii) Classes of antibodies, and the roles of specific antibodies as complements and phagocytosisiv) Allergens and Allergic Reactions, and how Histamine Helps to Combat Allergiesv) Autoantibodies and Diseases that Strike when B Cells Turn Uglyvi) Solid Tumours and how Herceptin is used in treating Breast Cancer

Attended by postgraduate students, undergraduates, staff, and lecturers, the lecture also featured graphs and charts on how the B Lymphocyte cells function with the various IgG antibodies in the human body, and the types of allergies one can normally encounter such as peanut allergy and hayfever. Professor William also explained the types of treatment available to combat the various allergens, and what can happen when B cells manifest into bad cells, thus erode cell tissue in our bodies, resulting in possible diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Leukaemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma.

He also took the opportunity to educate the audience on solid tumours - the outcome of the EgF-like receptors, and they will more often than not cause breast cancer. To treat breast cancer, Professor William elaborated on the use of Herceptin and concluded that while B cells might be viewed as an ‘enemy’, they are still very important as therapeutic antibodies in the biotechnology sector.

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

Introducing Molecular Biology Techniques to Far Eastern University (FEU)

Taylor’s University School of Biosciences (SBS) organized a workshop on “Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques” on the 21st and 24th of October 2011 for delegates from Far Eastern University (FEU), Philippines. This workshop was held in line with SBS objective to "Strengthen Biological Science Education and Research through Asian Partnership". Attended by 15 senior academicians from Philippines, it was designed specifically for academicians who want to venture into basic molecular biology which can be beneficial for both teaching and research. The workshop was headed by Dr Phelim Yong, Associate Dean of Research and Development, with a team of postgraduate students as well as the staffs from the Division of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health Sciences Laboratory Unit.

The two-day workshop covered the theories and techniques used in Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). As molecular biology techniques are commonly used in the fields of biomedical science, agricultural science, medical diagnostics and drug discoveries, they are vital towards the advancement of genomics, biotechnology, microbiology, diagnostics and therapeutics.

For instance, the nucleic acid-based technology has improved diagnostic methods used for the identification of infectious diseases and the application of genetic fingerprinting in forensic sciences. Therefore, this workshop aimed to serve as an introduction to some of the many available techniques in molecular biology, particularly restriction fragment length polymorphism, SDS-PAGE and highlighted the general concepts of DNA isolation, using DNA restriction enzymes and understanding nucleic acid and protein separation via electrophoresis.

The workshop started off with a warm welcome by Mr Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Taylor’s University followed by a brief speech by Mr. Generoso B. Pamittan, Associate Dean, Institute of Arts and Sciences from Far Eastern University. At the end of the workshop, participants were presented with certificates and had a fruitful networking session with the researchers from SBS. The Far Eastern University delegates expressed their gratitude to the school and Taylor’s University for their hospitality during this visit to Malaysia.

A postgraduate student demonstrating proper techniques to cast acrylamide gel

Mr Pradeep Nair, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Taylor's University giving his welcome address

Participants are taking part actively during the molecular biology workshop

ScienceCapsule 11

SEMINARS & SPEAKERS SERIES

Group Picture of FEU delegates and SBS staff

Biodegradable Plastic made from Glutinous Rice

Citrus Enzyme Cleaner Booth

Students with their project entitled ' Pomelo Beauties' Potato Battery Exhibition Lecturers listening to the students explanation on their individual projects

Did you know that plastic can be made from glutinous rice? If you attended the Integrated Science exhibition organized by Foundation in Science students, 21st October 2011, you would know this, and more.

Each semester, senior FIS students are required to carry out a project as part of their course requirement, which includes research, teamwork, and successfully exhibiting their product. As such the interesting, exhibition with its various booths was held at Block B, Level 1, and received great support from other students, staff, and lecturers of Taylor’s University.

The exhibit featured a lot of booths with interesting projects by the FIS students, amongst which were, Biodegradable Nail Polish and Plastic (which is made from glutinous rice!), Vitamin C Tablets made with Potato Peel, Citrus Enzyme Cleanser, Durian Foam ( which is used to replace polystyrene), and some interesting models like Potato Battery and Emergency Flashlight. The exhibition showed various informative posters and graphics which drew the eye of the crowd, and each booth had a student who was readily available to answer any questions or queries from any visitors.

All in all, it was a short but very informative event which featured interesting and various models/ projects that the students had spent a term or more researching on.

Foundation in Science Students Organized Integrated Science Exhibition

ScienceCapsule 12

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

ScienceCapsule 13

FIS Students Give Back to Community

FIS Students had the opportunity to mingle with visitors of Rumah Kebajikan Good Shepherd on 26th September 2011. Several children from the home paid a visit to Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, to be entertained with songs and special performances by the Foundation in Science students.

As part of their English term project, students are assigned a project or plan which must be able to bring a significant change to the person (s). The project contributes to 10% towards the assessment of the FIS programme. Part of these projects done by FIS students over past semesters included drama presentations, food sales, exhibitions and other such activities. Each assignment is carried out over a span of 8-10 weeks, and a new project is introduced each semester so that no two projects are alike. Students will then have to devise their plan of action, and assignments will be given to them leading to the final event, and these include: proposal writing, defending the proposal, budgeting, advertising, ticketing and final staging. All proceeds will be donated to an identified community which is deserving, and the cheque presentation held on September 26th were the proceeds from last semester’s event, which was a drama based on the literature text for the course.

Before the cheque presentation, FIS students regaled the visitors with 3 song performances, a rap performance, and also had international students telling them of their learning experience at Taylor’s so far. All in all, it was a fun 2 hour session as the students got to know the children from the home better, this also included playing guessing games via watching videos filmed by the students. Ms Den Shu Chien, Associate Dean for FIS, commented that students at Taylor’s not only need to study well, but they also need to know how to appreciate their community needs and always find ways to continuously give back to society.

This will not only help students to be positive, but it will also cultivate good values in their lives and project a wholesome student learning experience. She also commended the lecturer who was in charge of organizing everything from the start of the project all the way to the execution, Ms Mary Vivien Gomez, the senior English lecturer, who did such a great job in guiding all students. The short event ended with a campus tour and a tea session for the visitors and the FIS students and staff.

A beautiful rendition of 'Home' by Michael BUBle

International students from FIS sharing their learning experience at Taylor's University

Some of the students 'getting in the act' for the drama presenation

Swashbuckling pirates

Dr Rahman presenting the cheque to the home

Students enjoying the performances

A visitor from the home saying a few words in closing

Ahmad loves his friends in the FIS programme, it has helped him to build his character

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

ScienceCapsule 14

DRAWS LARGE TURNOUT

Up Close & PersonalAssociate Professor Dr. Salmiah Mohd AliDean, School of Pharmacy (SOP)

How different is Taylor’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme offered by SOP, and what makes it unique?Taylor’s University currently offers two pharmacy programmes namely, M.Pharmacy which is a 2+2 programme with School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University (our industry partner) and Taylor’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme.

In these programmes, the same syllabus and modules will be taught to the first year and second year students. In their third and fourth year, the students are given an option to either complete their studies at Cardiff University in United Kingdom or remain in Taylor’s University. For Taylor’s Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) programme, the unique aspect of the programme lies in the curriculum design which addresses pharmacy disciplines in three major areas, namely pharmacy practice in hospital, community/retail pharmacy, and pharmaceutical industry. This approach will help to address the current shortage of pharmacists in these areas in Malaysia.

How does visiting hospitals and retail internship help students once they graduate and start practicing?Taylor’s University students who are undergoing their industry attachment in hospitals and retail pharmacies will give them the exposure of real work settings in various departments of hospital pharmacy and retail pharmacy. They will have hands-on experience in operational aspects of a retail outlet, before they graduate and they will have knowledge and skills to make them employable and confident in carrying out their duties in future when they graduate.

Could you share one of your own experiences?One experience that I can recall is when I counseled a patient with Type 2 diabetes, who was taking the wrong dosage of one of the medicines over a period of time. The patient experienced side effects (although mild, it could have been life threatening if the situation persisted) without even realizing it, until I checked the medication records and found that the dose to be taken was different from the doctor’s prescription and the patient’s understanding of the instruction given. After rectifying the error, the patient was able to lead a healthy life without the said side effects. It was gratifying when you can help other human beings and save a life.

Based on your 30-year experience in pharmacy, could you share with us your thoughts on a students’ future career if they choose to take up this field of study? The future for pharmacists is definitely very bright as we are currently facing a shortage of pharmacists, not just in Malaysia but in the rest of the world as well. There is a great need of pharmacists in pharmaceutical industry, retail/community pharmacy, as well as in the academic world. With this shortage, the government has liberalized the compulsory service to meet the dire needs in these areas. Being a pharmacist, a student can choose many areas of career advancement to suit their interest and future career development.

Associate Professor Dr. Salmiah Mohd Ali is a pharmacist with 30 years of experience in various fields of pharmacy and more than 15 years of academic experience in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). She was the founding dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at UiTM and established the Diploma in Pharmacy (1998), Bachelor of Pharmacy (2001) and recently the Master in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Practice) by course work (2010). Her professional experience as a pharmacist and head of departments at the Ministry of Health (MoH) included various disciplines of pharmacy such as Hospital and Administrative (Hospital Kuala Lumpur & Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang), Community Pharmacy (Hospital Tanjung Karang, Selangor), Law and Legislative Pharmacy (Selangor State Enforcement Unit), Quality Control, Procurement and Warehousing and Manufacturing in Drug Control Laboratory and Central Store (MUS, MoH) from 1981 -1998.

As an academician, her areas of interests include pharmacy practice of social and administrative pharmacy, hospital and community pharmacy and legislative and regulatory pharmacy. She specialises in diabetes and quantitative and qualitative research using Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS -NViVo) approaches. She is also a Joint Technical Committee member of Pharmacy Board Malaysia & MQA and Council Member of the Academy of Pharmacy and the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society. Here she shares her thoughts on the school’s pharmacy programme and about the future one can have in this demanding industry.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

ScienceCapsule 15

Up Close & PersonalSim Hong VeeStudent, Master of ScienceSchool of Biosciences (SBS)

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

GENERAL INFO ABOUT MEI am a Master of Science (Biosciences) student in Taylor’s University. I have great interest in the field of Biology, particularly Microbiology, which deals with microscopic bugs. The bugs I’m referring to here are bacteria and fungus. They are very interesting to work with and really fascinate me. When I am not in the laboratories, I like to draw. Sometimes I tend to draw or scribble something on a piece of paper when I am free. Besides drawing, I also play badminton every week to as part of my exercise regime. It helps to release work stress and gives me opportunity to hang out with friends so as to keep in touch with each other.

WHY I CHOSE TAYLOR’S?Pursuing a postgraduate degree was my intention after I completed my undergraduate studies. However, I had budget constraints, which led me to look for a job. My previous supervisor and mentor, Dr Stacey Yong, who is now the Dean of School of Biosciences, encouraged me to pursue my dream. Through her kind guidance, I am now enrolled as a Master student in Taylor’s University.

My postgraduate programme is very much research-based. This means I will graduate with a Master’s degree upon completion of a research project along with its thesis. There isn’t much coursework involved in this programme, which is really what I’m interested in because I prefer doing more hands-on activities.

ABOUT MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND MY SUPERVISORMy supervisor for the project I’m working on is Dr Jee Jap Meng. He was truly helpful and provided me with full support in doing this project. At times, he is like a friend to me, and I feel very comfortable working under him as he gives me freedom in doing the project as I see fit. The learning experience in Taylor’s University is substantial. In the first semester of the programme, I attended classes by different tutors, specific to their background. The classes helped in preparing me to do my thesis and manuscript writings. I specifically liked the statistic class because the contents were relevant to my thesis-writing. These classes were offered at the beginning of the semester. After that, it’s all hands-on work.

Due to my interest in Microbiology, my research project is focused on the antifungal effect of a compound against a type of fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, which is rather a mouthful to pronounce. I’m interested to see how the compound acts against this opportunistic fungus, which is able to cause meningitis in infected individuals.

WHAT I FEEL ABOUT THE FACILITIES OFFEREDTaylor’s University has a lot of up-to-date and heavy-duty equipment that are purchased to suit students’ and researchers’ needs. The research lab has just been established for about one year. Prior to that period, the school has taken approximately one year to prepare its laboratories for research purposes. As a former employee of Taylor’s University, I have more confidence in enrolling into this programme as I am aware that the lab facilities are one of the bests for research work.

The automated Nikon Inverted Fluorescent Microscope is an example of the cool gadgets one can find in the labs. It allows me to have a better view of the bugs that I’m studying. The computer program offers many graphical options such as cell measurement and graphic management. It’s simply awesome!

www.taylors .edu.my

Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus (JPT/BPP/1000-801/67/Jld.2(36) KPT/JPS/DFT/US/B21)

No. 1, Jalan Taylor’s, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.Tel : 603-5629 5000 Fax : 603-5629 5001E-mail : admissions@taylors.edu.my• Penang Office - Tel : 604-226 3859 Fax : 604-226 3876• JB Office - Tel : 607-226 5433 Fax : 607-226 5434• Kuantan Office - Tel : 609-566 3709 Fax : 609-566 3710• Kuching Office - Tel : 6082-410 818/417 909 Fax : 6082-410 616• KK Office - Tel : 6088-319 386 Fax : 6088-319 387

PROGRAMMES OFFERED• Taylor’s Foundation in Science KPT / JPS ( KA 7920 ) 06 / 12

• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) KPT / JPS ( KA 11523 ) 12 / 15

• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) KPT/JPS(KA 9813) 10/15

• Master of Pharmacy (Hons) 2 + 2 KPT/JPS(KA 9814) 10/15

• Bachelor of Science (Hons) Food Science & Nutrition KPT / JPS ( N / 541 / 6 / 0001 ) 02 / 16

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) KPT / JPS ( N / 720 / 6 / 0010 ) 05 / 16

• Bachelor of Biotechnology (Hons) KPT / JPS ( N / 524 / 6 / 0002 ) 03 / 16

• Master of Science (by Research) KPT / JPS ( N / 400 / 7 / 0003 ) 12 / 15 )

• PhD in Science KPT / JPS ( KA 10906 ) 02 / 15

Disclaimer: This publication in this e-newsletter contains information which is current as of 31 January 2012. Changes in circumstances after this date may impact upon the accuracy or timeliness of the information. Taylor’s University does its best to ensure that the information contained herein is accurate, but reserves the right to change any information described in this e-newsletter without notice. Readers are responsible for verifying information that pertains to them by contacting the university.