Talks
Dr. Tan Boon Shing
Dr. Tan Boon Shing is a Malaysian chemist registered with Institute Kimia Malaysia (IKM) and a Professional Technologist recognized by MBOT, currently serving as the Chief
Technology Officer at AGTC Genomics Sdn Bhd. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Campbell University in USA and Liverpool John Moores
University in UK, graduating in 2009. He also received a Master and a PhD in Medical and Health Sciences (By Research) from International Medical University in 2012 and
2015, respectively. Dr. Tan is an experienced scientist specialising in molecular diagnostic and life science research. Dr. Tan has been the recipient of prestigious awards, including the Malaysia Toray Science Foundation Science & Technology Research Grant and the South East Asia Award Paper from the Tien Te Lee Biomedical Foundation, both received in 2012. Before his role at AGTC Genomics, he worked as a Field Application Specialist at Luminex in Shanghai, China, and as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan. His postdoctoral research identified the function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer metastasis, particularly the lncRNA NORAD, which is downregulated in lung and breast cancers. Currently, he is focusing on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of human epithelial tumorigenesis and identifying new
molecular targets for the development of effective therapies to treat difficult-to-treat human cancers.
Title of Talk
Integrating Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Bioinformatics for Life Science Breakthroughs​
In the age of precision biology, the fusion of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics has emerged as a foundational pillar for innovation in the life sciences.
Combination of these technologies is unveiling groundbreaking insights into genomics,
transcriptomics, and epigenomics, and is accelerating progress in fields such as personalized medicine, agricultural biotechnology, and infectious disease monitoring.
This presentation will explore the revolutionary influence of high-throughput sequencing platforms paired with cutting-edge computational tools for data analysis, and
interpretation. Key topics will include for variant detection, gene expression analysis, and metagenomic exploration. By integrating with case studies, combining NGS and
bioinformatics helps researchers identify new drug targets and designed more effective drugs targeting the underlying mechanisms of different diseases and lead to better
outcomes and quality of life for patients.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azlina Ahmad Annuar
Azlina Ahmad Annuar is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, with qualifications in Neuroscience (BSc, University College London) and Neurogenetics (PhD, Imperial College London). Her research interests are on understanding how genetics influence the workings of the brain, and contribute towards an underlying susceptibility for developing neurological diseases. Together with colleagues in neurology, her main research projects have been on neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, motor neuron disease and selected rare neurological diseases. She is a member of the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Programme Monogenic Hub Data Analysis and Under-represented Working Groups.
Title of Talk
Bioinformatics in Neurogenetics: Current potential and limits
With the wealth of next generation sequencing datasets available from patients with neurodegenerative diseases, bioinformatics offers an invaluable analysis tool to interpret disease-relevant candidate variants. This can help to prioritise functional validation of these variants in the context of the disease pathways. This talk will draw on our experience in using comprehensive bioinformatics tools to study Parkinson's disease and motor neuron disease and the lessons we have learnt.