UMPSA Young Scientists achieve International Recognition at Microbiome Summit 2025

HONG KONG, 11 January 2025 – Research conducted by postgraduate students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) won the Best Research Abstract Award and Best Poster Presentation Award at the Microbiome Summit 2025.

Under the guidance of Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Hajar Fauzan Ahmad from the Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology (FSTI) and sponsorship from the industry partner B-Crobes Laboratory Sdn. Bhd, postgraduate students Jasmine Teoh Wen Yi and Siti Khadijah Kiraman served as poster presenters.

Jasmine Teoh Wen Yi presented a study titled ‘Bifidobacterium adolescentis: A Promising Probiotic for Promoting Holistic Wellness in Young Athletes’, focusing on screening the potential of probiotics from young athletes to discover new therapeutic strategies to enhance athletic performance and overall wellness through gut microbiome manipulation.

Meanwhile, Siti Khadijah Kiraman presented a study titled ‘Therapeutic Potential of GABA-producing Gut Microbiota in Reducing Methamphetamine Addiction’, highlighting the discovery of next-generation probiotics with potential roles in the gut-brain axis, capable of addressing mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

According to Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Hajar Fauzan, the Microbiome Summit 2025, an international conference, gathered experts including medical doctors and scientists to delve deeper into the connections between humans and the microbiome.

The summit, held at Hong Kong Science Park, was also attended by renowned speakers and panel members from around the world, including the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Gut, Professor Emad El-Omar, Professor Eugene Chang from the United States, Professor Michael Kamm from Australia, Professor Jan Knol from the Netherlands who is also a scientist at Danone, and Professor Martin Wong from Hong Kong.

“This achievement will certainly inspire other students to continue striving for success and provide opportunities to exchange ideas and gain experience from experts,” he said.

By: Associate Professor Ts. Dr. Hajar Fauzan Ahmad, Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology (FSTI)
Translation by: Dr.  Rozaimi  Abu  Samah, UMPSA Press