GROUP ACTIVITIES

The 4th USM–UL colloquium was held in Dewan Pembangunan Siswa 1, Kompleks Cahaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, on 17th–19th January 2017 with a joint-organization between School of Chemical Sciences USM and several research institutes within the UL. Approximately 70 researchers from both USM and UL were present at the colloquium, which focused on a broad range of topics related to life, health and environmental sciences. There were a total of 34 oral presentations and 23 poster communications.

Dr. Ooi Cheong Hwa, one of the team members of Molecular Hydrogen Research Group at Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia was in the colloquium to present the group’s latest research on the ergogenic effect of molecular hydrogen on endurance exercise performance.

Group photo at the opening of the 4th USM-UL Colloquium 2017, with the theme of “Life, Health and Environmental Sciences”.

Welcome address by Professor Karl Tombre of Université de Lorraine, France (left). Dr. Ooi Cheong Hwa was presenting the work on molecular hydrogen research (right).

Dr. Ooi’s presentation entitled “The Effect of Hydrogen-enriched Water Ingestion on Incremental Treadmill Running Performance” was scheduled on the second day of the colloquium as “Talk H6” from 09:40 to 10:00. In this 20-minute oral presentation, Dr. Ooi gave a brief account of the evolution of hydrogen research in medicine, and the latest development of hydrogen therapy in sports science and sports medicine to the audiences, and shared the updated works of the USM’s Molecular Hydrogen Research Group on the ergogenic potential of hydrogen-enriched water on physiological response of well-trained individuals during incremental treadmill running to exhaustion. The talk seemed to generate some interests among the audiences with a lengthy Q&A session.

The study was conducted at the research facilities of the Lifestyle Science Cluster of AMDI, USM, with the financial and technical supports from Sterling Circle Sdn Bhd.

The 3rd International Conference on Movement, Health & Exercise 2016 (MoHE 2016), is a collaboration of Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, University of Malaya and several other corporations that sponsored this annual event.

The MoHE 2016 was held at Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca, Malaysia on 28 – 30 September 2016 attended by more than 200 participants from local as well as foreign institutions. Dr Ooi Cheong Hwa was at the conference to present the group’s latest research on the ergogenic effect of molecular hydrogen on endurance exercise performance.

Opening presentation of MoHE 2016 -- “Engineering Olympic Success from Theory to Practice”

Dr. Ooi gave his presentation entitled “The Effect of Acute Administration of Hydrogen-rich Water on Incremental Treadmill Running Performance” in Session 12: Nutrition at the Hibiscus IV Seminar Room. In this 15-minute oral presentation, Dr. Ooi gave a short overview of the application of hydrogen therapy in sports science and sports medicine to the audience, and shared his latest work on the ergogenic potential of hydrogen-rich water. The double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study indicated that a bolus of 280 mL hydrogen-enriched water (~1.00 mM) each consumed before submaximal and maximal treadmill running did not benefit well-trained runners on improving their running economy, lactate threshold pace, maximal oxygen uptake and ultimately, total running time to exhaustion.

The study was conducted at the research facilities of the Lifestyle Science Cluster of AMDI, USM, with the financial support from Sterling Circle Sdn Bhd.

Dr Ooi Cheong Hwa (right) with delegates from National Sports Institute of Malaysia

On the 24th of September, a seminar was jointly organised by Sterling Circle Sdn Bhd and USM’s Molecular Hydrogen Research Group in Advanced Medical & Dental Institute (AMDI), USM. This seminar was held primarily to provide related information and feedback to the participants involved in the research project “Potential Ergogenic Effect of Hydrogen-Enriched Water on Endurance Exercise Performance”, which is generously sponsored by Sterling Circle Sdn Bhd. In addition, the seminar was also attended by around 60 of those interested in the therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen

Attendees coming from as far as the Philippines and Vietnam, and Johor Bahru

The first speaker was Dr Ng who gave a broad overview on the potential application of molecular hydrogen in health and diseases. The director of Sterling Circle, Mr Huan Chee Giap was then invited to share his insight into the current and potential market for molecular hydrogen-based products. Dr Ooi then discussed the findings from the research project, and his knowledge and experience in improving endurance exercise performance with the participants.

The participants of the research project with Dr Ooi Cheong  Hwa (far right)		Souvenir to the participants

Lastly, souvenirs were given out to the participants as a token of appreciation for their blood, sweat and tears throughout the research project. At the end of the seminar there was a casual session with cakes, drinks and some Q&A where everyone enjoyed themselves.

In August 2016, Dr Ng visited the research centre of Shanghai Asclepius Meditec Co. Ltd in JiaDing, Shanghai on his own expenses. The purpose of this visit is to establish contact with the research team in Shanghai, China that is one of the leaders in the research area about the therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen (H2). Dr Ng wanted to strengthen mutual understanding on molecular hydrogen research and further explore collaborative opportunities with the wider research network in China.

Shanghai HongQiao Railway Station

Due to the molecular size and chemical nature of H2, specialized equipments are required for research purposes. This visit allowed Dr Ng to explore in-person, the modifications that may be adapted to existing equipments currently available for cell culture- and rodent-based hydrogen research.

Gas sensor for H2 concentration	Incubators adapted for hydrogen research

In addition, Dr Ng also managed to convince Asclepius Meditec Co. Ltd to lend several units of hydrogen nebulizer machine (awaiting license approval) to facilitate clinical and pre-clinical research involving therapeutic potential of molecular hydrogen in Malaysia in the future should such a need arise.