UTAR R&D Annual Report 2019

Centre Name:	Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR)
Chairperson:	Dr. Alan Ong Han Kiat
Description of Centre:	The Centre for Stem Cell Research, or CSCR in short, was established on 1st May 2011. The CSCR secretariat is presently located at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). The Centre aims to promote multi-disciplinary stem cell research activities leading to the advancement of knowledge on the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming and stem cell differentiation leading to the translation of basic research findings into clinical benefits and improvement in the quality of healthcare in Malaysia. The Centre also collaborates with local and overseas universities, community, industry and the government to provide innovative solutions and to facilitate knowledge transfer.
Research area:	Development Of Core Technological Platforms & Facilities For Stem Cell Research Development Of Disease Models Focussing On Cancers Development Of Clinical Applications Of MSCS Isolated From Various Sources Development Of Strategies For Cell Therapy Of Diseases Development Of Aesthetic Medicine Focussing On Hair Regeneration

NO.	NAME	FACULTY	MEMBER
1	Prof. Dr Alan Ong Han Kiat	FMHS	Chairperson
2	Emeritus Prof. Dr Cheong Soon Keng	FMHS	Advisor
3	Prof. Dr Choo Kong Bung	FMHS	Advisor
4	Dr Teoh Hoon Koon	FMHS	Secretary
5	Gan Quan Fu	FMHS	Assistant Secretary
6	Assoc. Prof. Dr Leong Pooi Pooi	FMHS	Treasurer
7	Assoc. Prof. Dr Gan Seng Chew	FMHS	Member
8	Dr Myatt Khaing	FMHS	Member
9	Dr Ong Hooi Tin	FMHS	Member
10	Dr Amy Saik Yi Shan	FMHS	Member
11	Dr Shereen Tang Suet Ping	FMHS	Member
12	Teh Hui Xin	FMHS	Member
13	Dr Erica Choong Pei Feng	MAKNA	Associate Member
14	Goh Jiunn Jye	FMHS	Associate Member
15	Kok Wei Xing	FMHS	Associate Member
16	Lee Soke Sun	FMHS	Associate Member
17	Lim Sheng Jye	FMHS	Associate Member
18	Lim Yee Ching	FMHS	Associate Member
19	Dr Mai Chun Wai	IMU	Associate Member
20	Nalini Devi Verusingam	FMHS	Associate Member
21	Dr Nareshwaran Gnanasegaran	A-STAR, Singapore	Associate Member
22	Norlaily Mohd Ali	FMHS	Associate Member
23	Tai Lihui	MAKNA	Associate Member
24	Vimalan Rengganaten	FMHS	Associate Member

No.	Date	Event
1	1-4 July 2019	iPSC Symposium & Workshop: Future of Personalised Regenerative Medicine
2	5-Jul-19	Updates on Stem Cell & Cancer Research Symposium
3	11-12 & 15 November 2019	Workshop on Advances in Organoid Culture

No.	Date
1	iPSC Symposium & Workshop: Future of Personalised Regenerative Medicine 1 - 4 July 2019 The Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) organised the iPSC Symposium & Workshop: Future of Personalised Regenerative Medicine in collaboration with: Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia University of Malaya Taylor’s University Cryocord Sdn. Bhd. The symposium was held on 1 July at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus while the workshop was held on 2-4 July at Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The objectives of this event: 1) To discuss issues in iPSC research: What makes an iPSC a stem cell? What are the working rules of self-renewal and pluripotency? Can we successfully achieve reprogramming of somatic cells and use them in regenerative medicine? How can we achieve directed differentiation of iPSCs? Is there a "safe" kind of iPSCs for regenerative medicine applications? How will genome editing advance stem cell biology? 2) To provide an atmosphere conducive to constructive discussion and free exchange of information. We had invited various prominent local and international speakers to share their expertise. The speakers included: Dr Mahendra Rao (Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India) Dr Jonathan Yuin Han Loh (Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore) Dr Chia-Ning Shen (Genomic Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan) Dr Leong Pooi Pooi (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia) v Dr Tan Jun Jie (Universiti Sains Malaysia) Dr Rajarshi Pal (Eyestem Research, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms, NCBS-TIFR Campus, Bangalore, India) The symposium is followed by a 3-day workshop on iPSC generation that was attended by 15 participants.
2	Updates on Stem Cell & Cancer Research Symposium 5 July 2019 This symposium was organised by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) in collaboration with the Centre for Cancer Research (CCR). The symposium was held in parallel with the 2nd Biennial Medical and Health Science Conference organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). The objectives of the symposium: To promote interest in stem cell and cancer research in Malaysia To create a platform for intellectual exchange amongst stem cell and cancer researchers To update on the latest development in stem cell and cancer research To strengthen ties between CSCR, CCR, UTAR and University of Taiwan and to seek for further collaboration. We had invited various prominent local and international speakers to share their expertise. The speakers included: Prof. Dr Chiou Shih-Hwa (Taiwan) Prof. Dr Chong Kowit-Yu (Taiwan) Prof. Dr Chou Yu-Ting (Taiwan) Prof. Dr Choo Kong Bung (UTAR) The topics covered during this symposium were: Stemness signature in cancer and normal cells Lung alveolar epithelium regeneration and reversal of elastase-induced lung emphysema v Lung tumour heterogeneity and targeted therapy Concerns and confusions in research publication in 2019
3	Workshop on Advances in Organoid Culture 11-12 & 15 November 2019 This workshop was organised by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) to transfer the technology in organoid culture from Shanghai Jiao Tong University to members of the CSCR. The workshop was conducted by Prof. Dr Chua Chee Wai and his team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and attended by 8 participants. During the first two days, the participants were taught how to harvest prostate organ from mice and to derive organoid culture from the harvested organ. On the final day, the participants viewed the organoid culture and had an in-depth discussion with Prof. Dr Chua regarding the techniques on maintaining the organoid culture in the laboratory. Prof. Dr Chua also presented a 1-hour lecture on the application of organoid assay in the study of stem cell and cancer biology. The lecture was opened to all staff and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Outcomes of this workshop: Participants learnt the techniques to culture organoid Participants acquired knowledge on issues and challenges in handling organoid culture Platform to develop collaboration initiative among participants with the experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University established

No.

Date

iPSC Symposium & Workshop: Future of Personalised Regenerative Medicine
1 - 4 July 2019

The Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) organised the iPSC Symposium & Workshop: Future of Personalised Regenerative Medicine in collaboration with:

Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
University of Malaya
Taylor’s University
Cryocord Sdn. Bhd.

The symposium was held on 1 July at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus while the workshop was held on 2-4 July at Tissue Engineering Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The objectives of this event:
1) To discuss issues in iPSC research:

What makes an iPSC a stem cell?
What are the working rules of self-renewal and pluripotency?
Can we successfully achieve reprogramming of somatic cells and use them in regenerative medicine?
How can we achieve directed differentiation of iPSCs?
Is there a "safe" kind of iPSCs for regenerative medicine applications?
How will genome editing advance stem cell biology?

2) To provide an atmosphere conducive to constructive discussion and free exchange of information.

Dr Mahendra Rao (Institute for Stem Cell Science & Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India)
Dr Jonathan Yuin Han Loh (Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore)
Dr Chia-Ning Shen (Genomic Research Centre, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan)
Dr Leong Pooi Pooi (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia) v
Dr Tan Jun Jie (Universiti Sains Malaysia)
Dr Rajarshi Pal (Eyestem Research, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Platforms, NCBS-TIFR Campus, Bangalore, India)

Updates on Stem Cell & Cancer Research Symposium
5 July 2019

This symposium was organised by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) in collaboration with the Centre for Cancer Research (CCR). The symposium was held in parallel with the 2nd Biennial Medical and Health Science Conference organised by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).

The objectives of the symposium:

To promote interest in stem cell and cancer research in Malaysia
To create a platform for intellectual exchange amongst stem cell and cancer researchers
To update on the latest development in stem cell and cancer research
To strengthen ties between CSCR, CCR, UTAR and University of Taiwan and to seek for further collaboration.

We had invited various prominent local and international speakers to share their expertise. The speakers included:

Prof. Dr Chiou Shih-Hwa (Taiwan)
Prof. Dr Chong Kowit-Yu (Taiwan)
Prof. Dr Chou Yu-Ting (Taiwan)
Prof. Dr Choo Kong Bung (UTAR)

The topics covered during this symposium were:

Stemness signature in cancer and normal cells
Lung alveolar epithelium regeneration and reversal of elastase-induced lung emphysema v
Lung tumour heterogeneity and targeted therapy
Concerns and confusions in research publication in 2019

Workshop on Advances in Organoid Culture
11-12 & 15 November 2019

This workshop was organised by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR) to transfer the technology in organoid culture from Shanghai Jiao Tong University to members of the CSCR.

The workshop was conducted by Prof. Dr Chua Chee Wai and his team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and attended by 8 participants. During the first two days, the participants were taught how to harvest prostate organ from mice and to derive organoid culture from the harvested organ. On the final day, the participants viewed the organoid culture and had an in-depth discussion with Prof. Dr Chua regarding the techniques on maintaining the organoid culture in the laboratory. Prof. Dr Chua also presented a 1-hour lecture on the application of organoid assay in the study of stem cell and cancer biology. The lecture was opened to all staff and postgraduate students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR).

Outcomes of this workshop:

Participants learnt the techniques to culture organoid
Participants acquired knowledge on issues and challenges in handling organoid culture
Platform to develop collaboration initiative among participants with the experts from Shanghai Jiao Tong University established