From the tropics to the poles
ALGAE are a diverse group of photosynthetic aquatic organisms, contributing to 50-80% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere. They are found in freshwater and marine habitats, from tropical to polar regions.
Being a primary producer in the food chain of aquatic ecosystems, algae play a pivotal role in sustaining other living organisms, including humans.
Valuable constituents from algae biomass promote scientific research and development in industries such as cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.
Algae are also used as biofertilisers, biofuel production and for transforming solar energy into electricity. In terms of wastewater treatment, algae can accumulate toxicants such as heavy metals, pesticides and hydrocarbons, and hence can remove those toxic compounds from wastewater.
At the International Medical University (IMU), a research group is harnessing the biotechnological potential of microalgae for various applications. The late Prof Chu Wan Loy, a renowned phycologist, planted the seeds of inspiration and started algal research together with his protegees in 1999.
Two of his PhD students, Dr Wong Chiew Yen and Dr Kok Yih Yih, both from the faculty of the Medical Biotechnology Programme, have continued Prof Chu’s legacy in algal biotechnology.
To date, algal research projects at IMU have received RM2.7mil in research funds awarded by international and national bodies, namely the Ministry of Higher Education (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme – FRGS), the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Antarctic Flagship and eScience Fund) and Yayasan Penyelidikan Antartika Sultan Mizan.
The funded work involves studying the response of algal cells to climate change, including increased temperature and ultraviolet radiation, and environmental toxicants such as heavy metals, pesticides and micro/nanoplastics.
In addition, the potential use of algal cells in bioremediation of diesel hydrocarbons is being explored in collaboration with researchers from Eco-Rem Tech, University Putra Malaysia.
The group has extended its algal research to Antarctica, collaborating with institutions such as the British Antarctic Survey, Universidad de Magallanes, Chile/ Centro de Investigacion y Monitoreo Ambiental Antàrctico, Shibaura Institute Technology, Japan, the University of the Western Cape and Northumbria University.
With a vast network of international collaborators for Antarctic research, the group has embarked on both Antarctic and Arctic expeditions to conduct field experiments.
The group’s work has been published in over 70 scientific papers and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Phycology, Polar Science, Frontiers in Microbiology, PLOS One, Plants, Agronomy and Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology.
More than 35 postgraduate students and 40 undergraduate students from the BSc (Hons) in Medical Biotechnology programme in IMU were trained and completed their research project in the field of algal biotechnology.
The curriculum of IMU’s medical biotechnology degree is developed to meet international standards and is accepted by its renowned international partner university, University of Newcastle, Australia for credit transfer into relevant programmes. Students can also complete the entire degree at IMU.
Medical Biotechnology graduates also have the chance to gain direct entry into the Strathclyde MSc Industrial Biotechnology or MSc Forensic Science. They only need to spend one year in Strathclyde to complete their master’s degree.
Commencement of this programme is in July and September. If you have pre-university qualifications and an interest in medical biotechnology, apply online now.
If you have just completed your SPM and do not have pre-university qualification, consider enrolling in the one-year IMU Foundation in Science, the direct route for entry into any of the university’s degree programmes.
■ For more details, visit www.imu. edu.my or email start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03-2731 7272.