Chun Seng Phua( Award Conferred 9 July 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Quantitative analysis of neck muscle MR T2 relaxation times in migraine and cervical dystonia.’
MRI T2 relaxation time( T2 time) is a radiological technique that provides a quantitative value of muscle relaxation. In muscles which are hyperactive, T2 times increase. In this research, we reported normative T2 times in five major neck muscles. We then analysed the same muscles in cervical dystonia and in chronic migraine subjects with / without neck pain and found that neck muscle T2 times were elevated. T2 time is a novel approach to analyse hyperactive neck muscles and is non-invasive and quantitative. In future, it may serve as a diagnostic aid in different pathologies which implicate neck muscles.
Supervisor: Dr Elspeth Jane Hutton Associate Supervisor: Professor Meng Law
Kogila Ramanathan( Award Conferred 5 February 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Implementation of home-based colorectal cancer screening among average-risk population in semi-rural Malaysia in the context of a pandemic.’
Colorectal cancer( CRC) is the second most common cancer in Malaysia and is characterized by late diagnosis. Increasing screening uptake is vital to down-staging cancer and improving patient outcomes. The Colorectal Cancer Screening Intervention for Malaysia( CRC-SIM) aimed to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention comprising home-based testing using the immunochemical faecal occult blood test( iFOBT). The study was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was the first in Malaysia to implement a home-based iFOBT screening test and explore the challenges and acceptability of delivering mailed iFOBT kits. Adapting and evolving CRC screening methods to reflect the profiles of different subpopulation groups is crucial, as demonstrated in the CRC-SIM study. This innovative approach can reach rural and under-resourced areas and improve CRC screening in Malaysia.
Supervisor: Professor Tin Tin Su Associate Supervisor: Associate Professor Devi Mohan External Supervisor: Professor Michael Donnelly
Sonia Phang Chew Wen( Award Conferred 17 September 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Unveiling The Effects of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction in Managing Type 2 Diabetes Complications: Insights from Optimised HPLC-Fluorescence Method and Proteomic Analysis.’
This thesis addresses type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM) and its complications, including kidney, nerve, and eye damage. Tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E found in palm oil, may help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and protect the kidney, nerves, and brain. However, measuring tocotrienols in blood is challenging, and their effects on the body ' s proteins remain poorly understood. This research optimises a reliable method to measure tocotrienols and investigates their impact on proteins. These findings contribute to understanding how tocotrienols may support managing T2DM and its complications.
Supervisor: Dr Badariah Ahmad Associate Supervisor: Professor Uma Devi Palanisamy Associate Supervisor: Professor Ammu Kutty Radhakrishnan
Sareshma Sudhesh Dev( Award Conferred 6 August 2025)
Title of Thesis:‘ Identification of Molecular Mechanisms in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Following Co-Treatment with MS13 [ 1,5-Bis( 4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl) 1,4-Pentadiene-3-One ] and Gefitinib.’
Drug resistance impedes the efficacy of many anti-cancer drugs, highlighting the need for improved treatments. Curcumin analogues or diarylpentanoids( DAP) have previously demonstrated potent anti-cancer activity however, studies investigating their effects in combination treatments are lacking. The present study demonstrated that co-treatment of a selected DAP [ MS13( 1,5-Bis( 4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl) 1,4-Pentadiene-3-One)] and gefitinib [ epidermal growth factor receptor( EGFR) inhibitor ] in human lung adenocarcinoma cells demonstrated cytotoxic, anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects possibly via regulation of signalling pathways associated with cellular responses to stress, metabolism, autophagy, translation and axon guidance. This warrants further investigation into potential use of DAPs in combination treatments against lung cancer.
Supervisor: Professor Rakesh Naidu Associate Supervisor: Dr Syafiq Asnawi Associate Supervisor: Dr Reyhaneh Farghadani
G R A D U A T I O N CELEBRATION 57