PKTAAB HOSTS COLLOQUIUM WITH PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN RESEARCH COLLABORATION

Bertam, 10 June 2026 – Pusat Kanser Tunku Abdul Rahman Ahmad Badawi (PKTAAB), Universiti Sains Malaysia, hosted the first day of the Colloquium of USM–PSU 2026 welcoming delegates from the Drug Delivery System Excellence Center, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand. The colloquium provided a valuable platform for strengthening academic ties and exploring future collaborative opportunities between the two institutions.

The programme began with a visit to the Animal Research Centre and Central Research Laboratory facilities at the Cancer Research Centre (CRC), followed by a luncheon session at Auditorium Sains@Bertam. Participants were introduced to the research infrastructure and capabilities available at PKTAAB, showcasing USM’s commitment to supporting high-quality translational and pharmaceutical research.

The official opening session was delivered by Associate Professor Ts. Chm. Dr. Nur Nadhirah Mohamad Zain, Head of the Department of Toxicology, representing the Director of PKTAAB. In her welcoming remarks, she highlighted the importance of international collaborations in driving scientific innovation and addressing emerging healthcare challenges.

A key highlight of the programme was the sharing session by Professor Dr. Teerapol Srichana, Director of the Drug Delivery System Excellence Center, PSU, who presented the centre’s expertise and ongoing research in drug delivery. He was accompanied by members of the centre and academic staff from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology whose research interests include microneedle and vaccine technologies, antimicrobial tuberculosis, gastro-retentive drug delivery systems, dry powder aerosols, hydrogels, and biosensor applications.

The subsequent forum discussion provided an avenue for both institutions to exchange research ideas and identify areas of mutual interest. During the session, representatives from six research programmes under PKTAAB presented their respective research portfolios and current initiatives, highlighting the centre’s multidisciplinary strengths and capabilities. The presentations facilitated active discussions with the PSU delegation on potential collaborations, joint research projects, researcher mobility, and opportunities for knowledge sharing in areas related to drug delivery, cancer research, and translational medicine.

The colloquium concluded with a productive exchange between researchers from both institutions, reaffirming the commitment of PKTAAB and PSU to foster strategic international partnerships and advance impactful research that contributes to healthcare innovation and scientific excellence.