Researcher's Profile

Dr. Nur Azzalia Kamaruzaman is the Director, academic, and researcher at the National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia. With a multidisciplinary background in Biotechnology (Drug Design and Development), Molecular Biology (Cancer), and Genotoxicity, her expertise further extends  into Toxicology, Public Health, and Epidemiology. Her research focuses on the effects of environmental pollutants, natural products, pharmaceuticals, lead compounds, drug candidates, and chemical reagents on human health, aiming to provide science-based solutions to global challenges such as cancer, diseases, contamination and pollution. Dr. Azzalia integrates laboratory and field research with public health outcomes and policy development, with extensive experience in national and international collaborations contributing to advancements in health and safety regulations. 

Areas of Specialized Consultation:   

• Anticancer Activity Testing: Assessment of potential anticancer effects of compounds in various human cancer cell lines such as leukemia, liver, cervical, and colon.
• Carcinogenicity Testing (Long-Term Studies): Evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of substances through in vitro transformation assays
• Cytotoxicity Testing: Evaluation of toxicity on normal and cancer cell lines to determine the safety and efficacy of substances, including drug candidates, traditional/herbal products, chemical reagents and pollutants
• ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay): Quantitative detection of proteins, cytokines, and biomarkers related to inflammation, toxicity, apoptosis, and oxidative stress in cell culture supernatants
• Genotoxicity Testing: Detection of DNA damage or mutagenic potential in human/bacterial cells
• Human-Based Studies (Surveys/Observational): Conducting surveys such as Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) studies and biomonitoring to assess public exposure to hazardous substances and their health outcomes, with implications for public health policy.
• Mechanism of Cell Death / Apoptosis Studies: Investigation into how compounds induce apoptosis or necrosis in human cells
• Safety Testing for Medical/Biological Devices: Safety evaluation of materials in contact with human tissue, based on ISO 10993 standards

Dr. Leong Yin Hui is an academic and researcher at the National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia. She has extensive experience in food safety and analysis, public health toxicology and chemical risk assessment. Her multidisciplinary work spans exposure assessment, analytical toxicology, toxicovigilance and public health surveillance. Dr. Leong contributes actively to national and international collaborations focused on emerging contaminants, poisonings, tobacco control and health risk assessments. With her expertise, Dr. Leong plays a vital role in advancing Malaysia’s public health policies, offering scientific input for regulatory frameworks, surveillance systems, and intervention strategies.

Areas of Specialized Consultation:

• Food Safety and Risk Assessment: Evaluation of chemical contaminants in food, dietary exposure assessment, and safety limits using national and international standards.
• Public Health Toxicology: Expertise in chemical and poisoning surveillance and toxicovigilance.
• Analytical and Forensic Toxicology: Design and oversight of laboratory analyses including screening and quantification of toxins in various matrices.
• Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Research: Research and consultation on emissions, toxicant exposure, and regulatory assessment of novel tobacco products including e-cigarettes.
• Health Risk Assessment: Quantitative and qualitative assessments of health risks from environmental and occupational exposures.
• Regulatory Science and Policy Advisory: Support for chemical safety regulations, tobacco control policies, and evidence-based risk communication.

Consult Dr. Leong for:
Food safety and risk assessment, chemical surveillance and policy, e-cigarette and tobacco product control, analytical toxicology.

Dr. Anis Syamimi Binti Mohamed works at the National Poison Centre, USM. She is a highly trained researcher with extensive experience in toxicological and pharmacology studies. Her interdisciplinary background spans pharmacology, molecular medicine, and toxicology. She is a valuable resource for industries, government agencies, healthcare providers, and researchers.

Areas of Specialized Consultation:

• Toxicological assessments of natural products.
• Honey authenticity testing.
• Training and public health outreach on toxicology and occupational health.
• Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Research: Expertise in cell culture (in vitro), animal (in vivo), western blotting, ELISA, qRT-PCR, staining, microscopy, and metabolomics.
• Research Collaboration in Toxicology, Pharmacology, and Medical Biochemistry.

Consult Dr. Anis Syamimi for: Toxicology in Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Pharmacology of Natural Products, Cytotoxicology, Biochemistry, Molecular Pharmacology, and Occupational Health.

Ts. Dr. Syazwan Aizat Bin Ismail, MCIEH, is an expert in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Water Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health, Ergonomics, and Spatial Epidemiology. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, he combines sensor technology, embedded systems, data science, machine learning, and cloud-based predictive algorithms. His expertise addresses challenges like Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), Building-Related Illnesses (BRI), and various environmental and occupational exposures in Malaysia.

Dr. Syazwan offers specialized, integrated expertise for building owners, facility managers, and occupational health professionals in Malaysia. He provides insights and implements intelligent approaches for real-time monitoring and hazard management, ensuring safer environments.

Areas of Specialized Consultation:

• Smart Environmental Monitoring: Guidance on selecting, deploying, and integrating advanced sensor networks for IAQ and water quality.
• Predictive Analytics for Health & Hazards: Developing and implementing cloud-based algorithms to predict and prevent SBS, BRI, and various occupational hazards.
• Real-time Hazard Management Systems: Establishing systems for continuous monitoring and data analysis of environmental and occupational hazards.
• Health Risk Assessment: Evaluating potential health impacts of chemical pollutants (air, water, & soil) through rigorous analysis and spatial epidemiology.
• Intelligent Health & Safety Systems: Designing smart systems integrating sensor data, machine learning, and ergonomics for proactive health management.

Consult Dr. Syazwan for: Integrated Environmental & Occupational Health Solutions, including advanced monitoring, predictive risk analysis, and intelligent management systems.

Principal Researcher | Environmental Toxicology & Tobacco Control Specialist

Ts. Dr. Ahmad Shalihin Mohd Samin is an expert in Environmental Toxicology, Occupational Health, and Tobacco Control Research, with over 18 years of multidisciplinary research experience. He focuses on chemical exposure assessment, health risk evaluation, and evidence-based policy development.

He has played a significant role in local and international tobacco control initiatives, particularly through his 13-year involvement in the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation (ITC) Project, which shaped tobacco control policies in Malaysia and the region. His research on indoor air quality (IAQ) and particulate matter (PM2.5) has strengthened the understanding of secondhand smoke exposure in workplaces and public spaces.

Beyond research, Ts. Dr. Ahmad Shalihin actively advocates for smoke-free environments and public health policy reform, contributing to national campaigns and policy dialogues aimed at reducing tobacco-related harm.

He has led projects on dioxin exposure among Malaysian firefighters and serves as Principal Investigator for a World Health Organisation (WHO WPRO)-funded study on vaping products in Malaysia. His research portfolio, valued at over RM 3 million, includes collaborations with international organisations, government agencies, and NGOs.

Areas of Specialized Consultation:

• Environmental & Occupational Exposure Assessment: Evaluation of chemical hazards including dioxins, dl-PCBs, and other toxicants in occupational and environmental settings.
• Indoor Air Quality & Workplace Health: Designing and implementing IAQ monitoring strategies to mitigate health risks in indoor environments.
• Health Risk Assessment & Policy Advisory: Conducting risk evaluations and providing expert input for regulatory frameworks and public health policies.
• Tobacco Control & Secondhand Smoke Research: Evidence-based strategies for reducing exposure to tobacco-related toxins and supporting smoke-free policies.
• Analytical Toxicology & Biomonitoring: Advanced laboratory analysis for persistent organic pollutants and emerging contaminants.

Consult Ts. Dr. Ahmad Shalihin for:Integrated solutions in environmental toxicology, occupational health risk management, and tobacco control policy research for safer workplaces and healthier communities.

Ms. Noor Afiza Abdul Rani is a research officer at the National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, with expertise spanning public health, tobacco control, indoor air quality, toxicology, occupational health and safety, holistic inclusive education and small medium entrepreneurship (SMEs). With strong foundation in statistic, she applies advance analytical approaches-including structural equation modeling, survival analysis and spatial epidemiology to investigate complex health and environmental issues.

Her extensive research background covers tobacco control policies, illicit tobacco trade, e-cigarette use, smoke-free initiative and poison control. She has contributed to national and international project, policy evaluation surveys and collaborative studies producing impactful publication, reports and policy briefs. Her expertise also extends to program evaluation in education and sustainable development initiatives.

Ms. Noor Afiza offers integrated, evidence-based consultation and research insight for policymakers, academic institution, NGOs and health professionals. She has presented her work at international conference, authored peer-reviewed articles and received recognition such as the ITEX 2018 Silver Medal for the USM Tobacco Quitline System and the Excellent Service Award.

Area of Specialized Consultation

• Tobacco Control & Policy Evaluation: Expertise in evaluating tobacco control policies, including illicit trade, taxation, e-cigarette use, pictorial health warning and smoke-free initiatives.
• Public Health & Toxicology: Providing insight into poisoning trends, toxicology risk assessment and poison ctrol system development.
• Indoor Air Quality & Occupational Health: Conducting assessment and interventions for IAQ and workplace safety to address chemical exposures and occupational hazards.
• Statistical & Epidemiological Analysis: Applying advances statistical technique (SEM, forecasting, regression modelling, survival and spatial analysis) for health and social research.
• Holistic & Inclusive Education: Designing and evaluating inclusive education programs and health promotion interventions using participatory and storytelling technique.
• SMEs & Sustainable Development: Exploring entrepreneurship in eco-tourism and women’s participation in sustainable development initiatives

Consult Ms. Noor Afiza for: Tobacco control and e-cigarette research project, policy evaluation and evidence translation, indoor air quality and occupational health assessments, program design and evaluation in health and education, advanced statistical and data analysis consultation