Science Teams
research of cancers that commonly affect Malaysians as well as the people around our region.
the years in understanding and preventing such cancers.
Dr Lim Kue Peng (PhD, University of Bristol)
Head, Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Dr Lim graduated from the University of Bristol in 2009, where she identified that fibroblasts at different stages of oral cancer development vary significantly, impacting cancer progression. She joined CRMY in 2009 and now leads the Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy Research Unit at Cancer Research Malaysia, focusing on new cancer treatments. Her current research involves developing vaccines to train the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Recent findings show that cancer protein-derived vaccines can induce anti-tumour responses, and discussions with regulatory bodies are underway to advance this into clinical use. Dr Lim has secured research funding from various sources, including those from the Ministry of Science Malaysia, the Newton-Ungku Omar Fund, and the Global Challenges Research Fund from the UK’s Medical Research Council.
Translational Cancer Biology (TCB)
Dr Annie Chai Wai Yeeng (PhD University of Hong Kong)
Head, Translational Cancer Biology
Dr Annie obtained her PhD from The University of Hong Kong (HKU). She joined CRMY as postdoctoral scientist and led one of the first oral cancer genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 essential screens. She has successfully in 2017 and delivered the grant milestones of the Newton Fund Impact Scheme, an extended collaborative project with Dr Mathew Garnett (Wellcome Sanger Institute).  Dr Chai has won several awards and grants. These include a Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) grant, and the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Next Innovator Award. After winning the AACR Global Scholar-in-Training Award (GSITA) she was elected the inaugural chairperson for the AACR GSITA Alumni Committee.
Genomics and Bioinformatics (GB)
Dr Pan Jia Wern (Ph.D., Duke University)
Head, Genomics and Bioinformatics
Dr Pan obtained his PhD in Biology from Duke University in 2017, where he studied the neuronal development of Drosophila fruit flies. After graduating, he returned to Malaysia and joined Cancer Research Malaysia as a bioinformatician, where he has helped to establish and characterize one of the largest genomic and transcriptomic databases of Asian breast tumours. This work has led to the establishment of two new clinical trials on precision medicine for Malaysian breast cancer patients. His current research focuses on understanding the important drivers of the immune response in Asian breast cancer as well as on computational biomarker and target discovery. Dr Pan was awarded the WIC-Asia Young Investigator Award in 2024 and Gen. T Leader of Tomorrow award in 2020.
Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)
Nor Syuhada Ahmad Bashah
Clinical Trials Manager
Ms Nor Syuhada Ahmad Bashah graduated from the University of Malaya with a Master of Medical Science (Biomedical Science). She has 10 years of experience working with clinical trials and is experienced in feasibility assessment, study start-up, site selection, site initiation, site monitoring, site close-out processes, data management, trial documentation, and budget oversight. She has managed clinical studies in various therapeutic areas including oncology trials. She joined CRMY in Aug 2024.
Core Laboratory (CL)
Dr Joanna Lim (Ph.D., Monash University)
Head, Core Laboratory
Dr Joanna was awarded a Ph.D. for her thesis on thymic epithelial research at Monash University, Australia. She joined CRMY in 2016 and prior to joining Cancer Research Malaysia, Dr Joanna was an experienced scientist in preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening at Monash IVF, Australia. She has also engaged in clinical trial operations at Nucleus Network, Australia. At Cancer Research Malaysia, Dr Joanna leads a team of scientists that aims to research and clinical practice. The Core Laboratory brings together skills in biospecimen collections and genetic technologies to provide the platform for translational cancer research and adoption of precision medicine in Malaysia.​ Â
Cancer Prevention & Population Science (CPPS)
Dr Tai Mei Chee, PhD
Deputy Head, Cancer Prevention & Population Science
Dr Tai completed her Ph.D. in Molecular Carcinogenesis at Nagoya University, Japan and joined CRMY in 2019. Before joining CRMY, she held a postdoctoral position at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the U.S. Her current research includes identify genetic variants associated the specific breast cancer subtype and elucidating the potential molecular mechanism. She has received numerous awards, including the Women Leaders Program to Promote Well-being in Asia (2014) and the MEXT Scholarship (2010).
Genetic Counselling (GC)
Nur Tiara Hassan, MGenCouns (Sydney), MHGSA
Deputy Head of Genetic Counselling Research Unit, CRMY Senior Genetic Counsellor, GENETIX, CRMY Technologies Sdn Bhd
Tiara joined CRMY in 2014. She completed her Masters of Genetic Counselling (Distinction) from University of Sydney, Australia and is currently one of the five Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) registered genetic counsellors in Malaysia. In addition to providing genetic counselling services for cancer patients and their families, she has been actively involved in the development of decision aids to assist patients and family members in making decisions about genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. She was also a co-investigator of a mainstreaming initiative making Malaysia the first country in Asia to have nationwide access to genetic testing for ovarian cancer patients. Tiara and her team is currently working on novel/innovative ways to improve access to life saving genetic services for breast and other hereditary cancer patients in the country.
Digital Health (DH)
Dr Senthilmani Rajendran
Deputy Head, Digital Health
Dr Senthilmani obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Vinayaka Missions University, India and worked with the Ministry of Health, Malaysia as a dentist for 3 years. She then pursued a MSc in Health Informatics at the University of Leeds, UK. After completing her MSc, she joined CRMY as a Research Associate in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Senthilmani led a clinical study demonstrating that patients with oral lesions that are at risk of becoming oral cancer can receive continued care from the comfort of their own homes using CRMY’s mobile phone App MeMoSA. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health (Implementation Science)Â and her project is to determine the feasibility of MeMoSA for oral cancer screening.
Community Outreach (CO)
Dr Jananezwary Kanapathy
Head, Community Outreach
Dr Jana joined CRMY in 2024. She is a behavioural health psychologist with experience in designing and delivering health services as well as designing research and translating the findings into insightful and innovative healthcare solutions within applied settings. As the Acting Head of Community Programmes at Cancer Research Malaysia, she spearheads initiatives to combat cancer and its mortality rates through evidence-based interventions. Dr Jana is skillful in leveraging on research, innovation, and collaboration to create meaningful change in public health, leaving a lasting impact on communities.
Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) Technologies Sdn Bhd (CTSB)
Yoon Sook-Yee
Head of Genetic Counselling, CTSB
Fellow of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (FHGSA), MA (Cantab)
Ms Yoon Sook Yee led the Genetic Counselling Team at CRMY for 20 years before joining CTSB as the Head of Genetic Counselling in 2024. She was the Principal Investigator of the nationwide MaGiC study on mainstreaming for ovarian cancer and is now supporting genetic counselling research studies in CRMY. She is one of the pioneer genetic counsellors to be accredited by the Human Genetics Society Australasia (FHGSA) and has more than 15 years of counselling experience. As President of the Genetic Counselling Society Malaysia, she advocates for the genetic counselling profession and for greater awareness of genetic testing and counselling in the country.
Dr Low Ley Hian
Head of Business Development, CTSB
PhD (Neuroscience) (Melb.)
Dr Low joined CTSB in 2024. He obtained his PhD from The University of Melbourne and completed post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco, where he researched treatments for traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease, and brain cancer. In 2017, he transitioned from academia to the biotechnology industry by joining a San Francisco-based startup, applying his scientific expertise in a commercial setting. With more than 15 years of experience in biotechnology in academia and industry, Dr Low now serves as the head of business development at CRMY Technologies Sdn Bhd (CTSB), where he drives the commercialization of CRMY’s groundbreaking research.