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Growing up I was always more interested in the arts. It was when I went to study in the United States that my mind was opened up to the possibilities of science. The receptivity to creativity and the facilities available made me realise the possibilities of translating a hypothesis into practical use.

For me it is critical that the work, the research I am involved in can be applied in my lifetime. I am interested in translational research which combines the fundamental discovery with technology platforms to create innovations of use to the client. Specifically, for me, the real challenge of research is to provide solutions to the base of society.  I am driven by innovation and creativity but most of all, it must be practical for people. It matters to me who will benefit from what I have done. I am very passionate about wanting to bring an idea to market and to touch base with the people. The process is simple; brains to business, benefits to humanity.

Much of my personal philosophy stems from being a Muslim with passion to make a positive, far- reaching, sustainable impact. I take my lead from the Nobel laureate Ahmad Zewail who said, “If we work on research topics that the West is not interested in, we will always be 20 years ahead. If we work on topics that the West is interested in we will always be 20 years behind”. We can potentially solve half the world's problems by developing products for Asian interests.

However, it is critical, particularly for a westerner, to understand how different the challenges are for researchers in a developing or underdeveloped countries.  For example, when I returned to Malaysia from the USA the differences could not have been more marked! Nonetheless, the lack of adequate facilities and funding drove me to be more creative and resourceful. It also meant a steep learning curve that has helped me understand the importance of complementary disciplines; research, patents, business, marketing, packaging, etc to ensure that you can get your products to the people who need them. Hence the research into diagnostics.

People ask me why my research has been into diagnostics rather than vaccines or drugs. The answer is simple. Bio-diagnostics benefit from little regulation, fast turn-over for product development, lower costs and minimal skill required  by the user.

Our flagship product basically came about by matching my research with the needs of the people we sought to help. It became quickly evident that our high-end research needed to provide low tech solutions. Encouraged and supported by Dr K J Ratnam,  instead of just making discoveries and publishing it, I combined the scientific discovery with the technology platform that I had learned in the United States. Together with my research team we   created Typhidot — a diagnostic kit to detect acute  typhoid.  Our current breakthrough to develop   diagnostic tests for typhoid carriers enables treatment for the carrier, creation of a carrier registry, isolation of S. Typhi from the carriers, and the monitoring and reduction of transmission of the disease. All these factors contribute to a reduction in health costs for government.

Patenting and commercialisation came next — very unusual in Malaysia in 1994!  Support from the Malaysian Government enabled the injection of venture capital and we developed the patent into a product. We resisted attempts from the USA to buy the patent because I needed to ensure that the research would be put to good use. We've maintained that principle with all subsequent patents.   Typhidot    became the flagship product for  Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and a new spin-off company was created by the government to commercialise the product globally .   After that it was a long and bumpy ride, but Typhidot  continues to be in the market for 15 years and is still doing very well.It has brought me 87 awards and  profit to the university in terms of royalties.   Most importantly,  the kit launched the biodiagnostic industry in Malaysia and people across the world are benefiting.

Based on that learning experience I helped set up the Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM). INFORMM is the first multi disciplinary cluster based research institute in the country. When you have a team which is providing a solution from a multi-disciplinary angle then the solution provided is much more dynamic and probably much more practical; you are ultimately providing a better solution to the public. At INFORMM, USM,  we drive the entire innovation system because that is the only way we can ensure that we commercialise the products during our lifetime.

INFORMM created an impact especially in underdeveloped countries in just five years because of the various products produced and our ability to commercialise at least six diagnostic kits for the world. What's more important is that it has created a pathway for a lot more research to be able to see success out of the R&D rather than just working in the lab and producing publications. Rapid diagnostic tests that are now available include filariasis, cholera, dysenteru and for typhoid carriers.  

In  future I hope I can help put Malaysia on the map as a leader in the 'K' economy. My contribution will be to the bio-diagnostic industry but I  welcome the opportunity to use my experience to support other areas in establishing themselves.

As far as Thomson Reuters is concerned I have found Researcher ID important and useful. It's a tool that has helped me find other complementary people and research quickly and efficiently.