Harnessing AI to Advance Asian Breast Cancer Research

Harnessing AI to Advance Asian Breast Cancer Research

[Group Photo] From left to right: Assoc. Prof. Vishnu Monn, Deputy Head of School (Education); Assoc. Prof. Ting Chee Ming, Director of the MedAI Hub; Dr Mohamad Hazwan Fikri, Post-Doctoral Scientist (CRMY); Dr Pan Jia Wern, Head of Genomics Unit (CRMY); Professor Dr Cheong Sok Ching, Chief Scientific Officer (CRMY); Professor Anthony Guo, Head of School of Information Technology; Dr Sicily Ting, Research Theme Lead of MedAI Hub; Prof. Wong Kok Sheik, Deputy Head of School (Research); Chee Min Hao, Master of AI (Research).

Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) and Monash University Malaysia’s MedAI Hub have signed a landmark Research Collaboration Agreement to advance breast cancer research focused on Asian populations.

The partnership addresses a critical gap in global cancer research. Most genomic data used in diagnosis and treatment comes from Western populations, yet Asian patients can have distinct genetic drivers, risks, and outcomes. By focusing on Asian breast cancer patients, this collaboration aims to improve early detection, recurrence prediction, and treatment precision.

[Signatory’s Photo] From left to right: Professor Dr Cheong Sok Ching, Chief Scientific Officer (CRMY); Professor Anthony Guo, Head of School of Information Technology.

The project will leverage multi-omics data collected by CRMY from Asian breast cancer tumours. Using advanced AI models developed by Dr Sicily Ting (MedAI Hub), the team will study complex gene interactions to identify predictive biomarkers for recurrence and metastasis.

Professor Dr Cheong Sok Ching, CRMY’s Chief Scientific Officer, said:
“Cancer is a complex and persistent enemy. By applying AI to our genomic datasets, we hope to discover predictive biomarkers that will help Malaysian and Asian patients receive the care that is best for them.”

The research team also includes Dr Pan Jia Wern, Head of Genomics Unit (CRMY), and Dr Mohamad Hazwan Fikri, Post-Doctoral Scientist. Together, they aim to move from “one size fits all” treatment to precision medicine tailored for Asian patients.

[Group Photo] From left to right: Dr Pan Jia Wern, Head of Genomics Unit (CRMY); Professor Dr Cheong Sok Ching, Chief Scientific Officer (CRMY); Professor Anthony Guo, Head of School of Information Technology; Dr Sicily Ting, Research Theme Lead of MedAI Hub

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in bridging the “Asian Gap” in cancer research and demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary partnerships to deliver tangible benefits for patient care.

#CancerResearchMalaysia #AIforHealth #PrecisionMedicine #BreastCancerAwareness #AsianCancerResearch