7 – 10 November 2019 – IMU Pharmacy graduate’s research poster entitled, ‘Green Synthesis and Antibacterial Potential of Artemisia vulgaris Extract in Silver Nanoparticles Against Wound Bacteria’ won the Best Poster Award at a recently concluded ‘5th Asian Young Pharmacists Group (AYPG) Leadership Summit’, held at Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The poster was presented by Laura Soon, who was instrumental behind the research. Part of the initial research was carried out at the International Medical University (IMU), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and a major part of the research was carried out at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia, under IMU’s pharmacy programme’s Semester 7 Research module.
| The collaborative research team include | |
|---|---|
| Dr Dinesh Kumar Chellappan | Principal Investigator from IMU, Life Sciences Department |
| Dr Trudi Collet | Innovative Medicines Group, QUT |
| Dr Kamal Dua | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) |
| Dr Thiagarajan Madheswaran | IMU, Pharmaceutical Technology Department |
| Dr Jithendra Panneerselvam | IMU, Pharmaceutical Technology Department |
| Dr Jestin Chellian | IMU, Life Sciences Department |
| Prof Philip Hansbro | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) |
| Dr Alan Hsu (PhD) | University of Newcastle, Australia |
| Phui Qi Ng | Pharmacy Graduate, IMU |
| Laura Soon Cheau Ling | Pharmacy Graduate, IMU |
Laura shares her experience here. 
“I had an amazing time attending the 5th AYPG Leadership Summit. From the conference, I learned about the current health issues and the role of a pharmacist in providing better healthcare. The role of the pharmacist has gone beyond the dispensing counter and into a diverse range of fields, from research and making of drugs to ensuring the safe and effective use of medications by patients. 
It was also very exciting to share my research work with other participants during the poster presentation and to see that they too are interested to know more about it. I learnt more about topics presented by other participants as well. At the end of the conference, I was thrilled to be announced as the winner of poster presentation. The presentation was a great opportunity for me to practice my presentation and communication skills, and to learn on handling Q&A session well. I would like to express my gratitude to all my supervisors from IMU, QUT and UTS for their guidance and support throughout my journey in this collaborative research project. Never would I have thought that this research work could bring me this far and to different places. It really has been an enjoyable and fruitful experience. I believe that everything I have gained from the collaborative work and conference will equip me with a channel of blessing for others, no matter through a clinical or research-based career. To my juniors: in whichever field you’re interested to pursue, take a leap of faith and go for it!”
| 5th Asian Young Pharmacist Group (AYPG) Leadership Summit |
|---|
| The 5th Asian Young Pharmacist Group (AYPG) Leadership Summit hosted by Indonesian Young Pharmacists Group (IYPG) was held at Yogyakarta, Indonesia with the theme “Empowering Pharmacist in the Era of Change”. The summit serves to envisage young pharmacists across Asia Pacific about the present and future of pharmacy by combining local wisdom and modern knowledge in the era of disruption, and also to equip them to be leaders and change makers in their areas while collaborating with other pharmacists around Asia Pacific. Asian Young Pharmacists Group (AYPG) is a coalition representing Young Pharmacists from countries throughout Asia Pacific. Inspired by similar organisations under Federation of International Pharmaceutical (FIP) YPG, AYPG aimed to encourage young pharmacists to have an active role in defining the future of pharmacy practice in the Asia Pacific. The AYPG consisted of Young Pharmacists Group from Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Thailand. The objectives of the AYPG include promoting development and strengthening ties between young pharmacists, improving practice standards across the Asia Pacific, establishing good working relationships with other organisations worldwide, as well as nurturing future leaders amongst young pharmacists. |
Related article: Gaining Research Experience at an Australian University
