Semenyih, 4 August 2025 – The University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) welcomed the UK’s Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations and to mark the announcement of a new initiative, ASEAN Cancer Research Society led by the university.
The ASEAN Cancer Research Society, spearheaded by a team of Malaysian researchers at UNM, aims to transform how cancer is understood and treated in the region, reflecting UNM’s growing leadership in impactful regional research. The university’s leadership in this critical field was recognised during a visit by Baroness Jacqui Smith, UK Minister of Skills, Department for Education.
Baroness Smith visited UNM recently as part of her official mission to Malaysia and Japan. During her visit, she co-hosted a high-level roundtable on the future of UK-Malaysia transnational education and toured UNM’s cancer research and microbiology laboratories.
University of Nottingham Malaysia to Lead New ASEAN Cancer Research Society
Operating under the leadership of Professor Shahir Liew, the Vice Provost for Research and Knowledge Exchange, the new ASEAN Cancer Research Society will be led by a core team of Malaysian specialists at UNM, including Professor Ho Weang Kee, based at the School of Mathematical Sciences, and Director of Signature Strength (Health and Wellbeing), Dr Kenny Voon, Associate Professor at the School of Pharmacy, UNM.
The team’s work addresses specific health challenges in the region, with projects including:
- A study to improve breast cancer risk prediction for Asian women by analysing genetics, lifestyle, and mammogram data to enable earlier detection.
- Research into the potential of tocotrienol (a compound derived from palm oil) as a protective and therapeutic agent for childhood brain cancer
- The use of virotherapy, where genetically modified viruses are engineered to specifically target and eliminate head and neck and blood cancer cells.
These vital research projects are supported by facilities at UNM and funded by prestigious international bodies like the Wellcome Trust and industry partners, including Pfizer, MSD, and Pharmaniaga.
The collaboration will bring the university together with Cancer Research Malaysia, six medical facilities in five countries, five industrial partners across the ASEAN region, and the State of Sarawak Cancer Research Centre due to be completed in 2026.
UNM Provost and CEO Professor David FitzPatrick said, “The groundbreaking decision to open an overseas campus in Malaysia marked the beginning of a new era in global higher education and positioned the University of Nottingham as a pioneer in international academic and research collaboration.
“We were particularly proud to have the opportunity to show the Minister our facilities and expertise in cancer research. These serve as a tangible example of how the overseas campus model can underpin international collaboration to drive innovation in global challenges, which are a concern for us all but may affect us differently depending on who we are and where we live.”
Recognising this significant contribution to regional health, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Minister for Skills) and Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) said, “I am delighted to welcome the launch of the University of Nottingham’s international cancer research consortium, which exemplifies the UK’s commitment to advancing global health through scientific collaboration and reflects the UK’s enduring leadership in higher education. By harnessing the collective expertise of researchers across its campuses in the UK, China, and Malaysia, and working in partnership with institutions across the ASEAN region, this initiative represents a significant step forward in our shared fight against cancer.
Malaysia’s role in shaping transnational education
The Minister’s visit was followed by a roundtable discussion on transnational education, bringing together key UK higher education providers in Malaysia, including the universities of Heriot-Watt, Lancaster, Liverpool John Moores, Newcastle, Reading, and Southampton with senior representatives from the Department for Education, the British High Commission, and the British Council.
Since UNM was launched in 2000, Malaysia has developed into a strategic hub for transnational education, hosting one of the largest concentrations of UK branch campuses and collaborative programmes outside of the UK. With nearly 50,000 students enrolled in UK qualifications delivered in Malaysia, UK institutions have played a pivotal role in supporting the country’s ambition to become a regional education hub, contributing to talent development, research collaboration and the internationalisation of higher education.
Recently, UNM celebrated its 25th anniversary, marking a momentous milestone in an ongoing journey to shape the future of higher education in Malaysia and beyond. UNM’s role in spearheading the new ASEAN Cancer Research Society reflects an ongoing commitment in building a legacy of impact for research, knowledge exchange, and societal betterment.
Posted on 11th August 2025