26 February 2020:
How do we learn what’s in the mind of cells in our body?
What and how would they respond next?
And ultimately, how to “remote control” these cells to our liking?
“The answer lies in the engineering of the surrounding cells or the cells themselves. These can be done via biotechnology”, said Dr. Siti Hawa Ngalim, YSN member and a research scientist in the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
“We can make a concoction of biomolecules grafted on implants, so cells will behave like how we want them to”. The young scientists shared during the science cafe session in USM.
More about the young scientist
Dr Siti’s research interest is on the topic of bio-interface and directing cellular behaviour. The nature of her research is interdisciplinary whereby microfabrication and nanopatterning, surface chemistry, advanced light microscopy and animal cell culture are commonly done.
She was trained at the Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany (2017 Visiting Scientist); Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia (class of 2013 PhD in Pathology); Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne UK (class of 2008; MRes in Nanomedicine) and The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA USA (class of 2007 BSc in Biotechnology, minor in Microbiology).
