DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Adeola Alebiosu( Award Conferred 6 November 2024)
Title of Thesis:‘ The Effect of Healthcare Cost Coverage on Lifestyle and Preventive Care Choices, Quality of Life and the Management of Non-Communicable Diseases.’
This study assessed the effect of Healthcare cost coverage on the factors associated with the development of non-communicable diseases( healthy lifestyle and preventive care choices and non-communicable disease risk factors), quality of life and the management of hypertension and diabetes. Evidence from this study will reinforce the need to incorporate mandatory healthy lifestyle policies into the existing health insurance system to effectively facilitate health protection for people with non-communicable diseases.
Supervisor: Professor Tin Tin Su Associate Supervisor: Dr Wing Loong Cheong Associate Supervisor: Associate Professor Kia Fatt Quek
Thamil Vaani Komarasamy( Award Conferred 1 November 2023)
Title of Thesis:‘ Multi-omics dissection of Zika virus pathogenesis reveals repurposed drugs as antiviral candidates.’
Zika virus( ZIKV) received worldwide attention over the past decade when outbreaks of the disease were found to be associated with neurological complications. There are currently no approved antiviral drugs or vaccines with proven efficacy. Yeast two-hybrid screening and transcriptomic profiling were employed to identify ZIKV interacting human proteins and key pathways. This multi-omics study identified host factors and pathways involved in inflammation, immune response, mitotic processes, and central nervous system development. Additionally, repurposed drugs targeting ZIKV interacting host factors were identified. Among these, Zafirlukast exhibited potent antiviral activity against ZIKV by modulating host immune and inflammatory responses.
Supervisor: Associate Professor Vinod Balasubramaniam Associate Supervisor: Associate Professor Sharifah Syed Hassan External Supervisor: Professor William James
Amanda Anne Lavinya( Award Conferred 5 February 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ The Impact of 50 Hz Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Early Development of Zebrafish.’
This thesis explores how extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields( ELF-MF), like those from electrical devices, affect the early development of zebrafish. Using a controlled Helmholtz coil system, zebrafish embryos were exposed to ELF-MF for the first four days of growth. The results showed that ELF-MF exposure significantly increased the heart rate of zebrafish larvae. Additionally, the exposed larvae became more active during the day and slept less, indicating changes in their natural daily rhythms. This study helps us understand how everyday exposure to low radiation levels impacts the development and behaviour of living organisms during the early stages of life.
Supervisor: Associate Professor Satoshi Ogawa Associate Supervisor: Dr Chuin Hau Teo Associate Supervisor: Dr Kyi Kyi Tha
Sylvia Sue Xian Liew( Award Conferred 5 February 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Co-culture Interactions Induce Apoptosis and Morphological Alterations in Differentiated Cholinergic SH-SY5Y Cells while Regulating Survival and Proliferation-related Proteins in Glioblastoma Cells.’
Glioblastoma( GBM), a highly aggressive adult brain tumour, often causes cognitive impairments before diagnosis. GBM cells interact with brain cells, including cholinergic neurons, influencing their behaviour and potentially contributing to these symptoms. This thesis explored the cellular and molecular implications of co-culture interactions towards both GBM and cholinergic cells. The findings revealed that these interactions triggered apoptosis and morphological changes in cholinergic cells while promoting GBM survival and growth progression. Understanding how the co-culture interactions contribute to GBM aggressiveness while inducing cholinergic neuronal damage provides fundamental insights into GBM-induced cognitive impairments, offering potential avenues for improved diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Supervisor: Dr Muhamad Noor Alfarizal Kamarudin Associate Supervisor: Dr Syafiq Asnawi Associate Supervisor: Dr B Saatheeyavaane Bhuvanendran Pillai Associate Supervisor: Professor Rakesh Naidu
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