Silver Medallist, Dr Kavitha Mohandas (right) receiving her award from Mr Myocho Kan, Founder of Advance Accreditation Authority of Singapore. IMU University (formerly known as International Medical University) participated in The International Invention, Innovation, and Technology Exhibition (ITEX) on 16-17 May 2024 at KL Convention Centre.
About ITEX
ITEX is an annual exhibition that showcase the best innovations from Asia and beyond. ITEX is designed to introduce innovative inventions, cutting-edge technologies, and new products. The event was a good starting ground to attract investment, foster manufacturing opportunities, and establish commercialization partnerships. This year, ITEX brought together participants from over 20 countries, featuring 23 categories of inventions related to innovation and technology. The exhibition showcased a stellar lineup of over 700 inventions from local and international inventors, research scientists, research institutions, individual inventors, young inventors, and corporations. This two-day event was a diverse and impressive display of cutting-edge innovations.
IMU University’s participation in ITEX2024 was coordinated by Miss Fatimah binti Muhammad, Business Operation Lead at the Institute for Research, Development, and Innovation (IRDI). The participation received endless support from Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Director of IRDI, as well as the two deputy directors, Prof Wong Shew Fung, Deputy Director of Research, and A/Prof Teguh Haryo Sasongko, Deputy Director of Commercialisation and Support.
During the exhibition, IMU booth also received a visit from Prof Dr Gerard George, IMU’s Group Managing Director providing his expert guidance and words of wisdom that inspired the team. The team also received invaluable support from the Industry Partnership and Engagement Department (IPE) with its Director, Mohammad Ridzuan Repin providing industrial insights, while Senior Manager, Innovation & Commercialisation, Nalni Devi Subramaniam meticulously reviewed every detail of the presentation materials to ensure that they are highly competitive for the exhibition.
This year, the IMU team of inventors brought home 5 gold medals and 1 silver medal. This achievement is a significant improvement as compared to last year’s participation in Malaysian Technology Expo™ (MTE) 2023 where our inventors bagged 4 silver and 1 bronze medals.
IMU team's 5 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal
A/Prof Dr Elaine Chan Wan Ling from IMU-IRDI
Gold Medal
Best Invention Award for the category of universities/educational institutions
Work on developing a new AI algorithm for computer vision in digital cytology and pathology
For ITEX2024, Dr Elaine introduced a new technology called “Computer Aided Recognition System for Cancer Diagnosis”. This technology is highly useful for providing fast and reliable diagnoses through digitised sample slides. Generally, a computer-based software was developed to recognize slide images prepared from biological samples, aiding in cancer diagnosis. The intervention will be a great help to reduce diagnostic timelines, ensuring quicker interventions, and enhancing patient outcomes with timely targeted treatment. Dr Elaine aims to develop a dynamic solution that can recognise a full range of cancers in the future.
Dr Elaine is also the co-founder of the first IMU start-up company, Vidanex. Vidanex’ mission is to champion the path for the future of healthcare by integrating AI with medical imaging solutions. This initiative earns Dr Elaine a spot in the pitching session in ITEX2024, a great platform for innovators to market their product and to gather potential investors.
A/Prof Dr Amalraj Fabian Davamani (IMU School of Health Sciences) and his team
Gold Medal
Invention “3D Immersive Virtual Reality Microbiology Laboratory “
This innovative invention was created to help students personalise their learning focus and receive tailored guidance and clear instruction in a cost-effective manner. The virtual laboratory mimics the actual procedures practiced in the university’s real laboratory, adapting Kolb’s experiential learning cycle. This approach enables students to learn through active experimentation, followed by actual experience, reflective observation, and abstract conceptualisation.
Aligned with IMU’s commitment to diversifying into e-learning systems since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this technology is 100% scalable and transferable to any university or microbiology teaching programme for undergraduate students. The invention was a hit among the visitors especially young kids from schools as they showed immense interest in trying and learning the system.
A/Prof Dr ChM Lee Choy Sin from the School of Pharmacy and her team
Gold Medallist
Research on “Multi-Functional Palm-based Polyesteramide Excipients “
Dr Lee and her research team are well-known for their active work on the synthesis of use-inspired macromolecules for developing polymeric systems that are environmentally friendly and biodegradable, targeted for pharmaceutical, medical, and biomedical applications. This invention is aligned with SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being,” by enhancing pharmaceutical formulations for effective and affordable medicines, and SDG 12, “Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns,” by utilising biobased feedstocks, namely palm-based oleochemicals in the production of the excipients.
In this research, Dr Lee and her team managed to come up with two distinct series of polyesteramides, linear and hyperbranching, with unique physico-chemical properties and molecular weight. Pre-formulations containing a model drug and the invented polyesteramide showed more than 60% enhancement in aqueous solubility and 3-fold improved dissolution rate compared to the established marketed formulation. The polyesteramides were also successfully used as a binder in tablet formulations with their biosafety confirmed through MTT assay.
A/Prof Dr Umer Daood (School of Dentistry) and his team
Sent two innovations and successfully secured 2 golds medals
First innovation: “Transforming Tooth Repair: Novel Dental Adhesive Innovation”
Second Innovation: “A Brand-New Antimicrobial and Self-Healing Adhesive”
Both innovations involved novel formulations for a two-step-etch-and-rinse adhesive for teeth filling that is based on an antimicrobial and potent collagen crosslinking agent (tooth therapy). The formulation combines antimicrobial activities and protease inhibitory properties without interfering with bonding capabilities. The use of this formulation has shown remarkable results in bond strength of adhesive to teeth and is non-toxic to pulp stem cells, biologically compatible, easy to use on human teeth and have shown two-year bond strength values.
Dr Kavitha Mohandas, an external researcher, in collaboration with Prof Mallikarjuna Rao Pichika and other researchers from IMU
Silver Medal
Project “Blood-Free Agar for the Cultivation of Blood-Loving Bacteria”
This invention began with Dr Mohandas’s determination to find alternative formulations by replacing animal blood with more ethical, animal-cruelty-free, and eco-friendly substances.
Blood-based media are well-established and routinely used in bacteriological media. Animals such as sheep and horses are specially bred for the purpose of manufacturing blood agar plates. This process is expensive, labour-intensive, associated with a high carbon footprint and animal welfare concerns, besides posing a health risk to laboratory workers due to the potential for transmission of blood-borne pathogens from the source animal blood or animal extract to the laboratory operator.
Hence, these novel agars support good to excellent growth of a variety of bacterial pathogens. In addition, they have a superior health, safety, economic, ethical, and environmental profile in comparison to blood-based agars. As blood agar plates are used routinely in diagnostic and research laboratories worldwide, the market volume for the novel, blood-free and animal-extract free agars targeted to replace blood agars in the laboratory is expected to be commensurately huge.
The achievements by IMU’s innovators in ITEX2024 has propelled IMU University to the forefront of innovation and research excellence in Malaysia and beyond. This aligns perfectly with our aspiration to achieve a global top 500 ranking by 2028.
Congratulations to all the winners! Your success serves as an inspiration to the entire IMU community. Let’s embark on a journey of discovery, where each research endeavour becomes a stepping stone toward meaningful impact. Together, we can pioneer change, advance knowledge, and shape a better future. IMU University will continue to participate in other competitions and prepare for future events, driving us all towards greater heights. Let’s strive for excellence and make our mark on the world!
