Nucleic Acid-Based Theory: Hope or Hype?
02 April 2021 | 5 - 7pm (+8 GMT)
Course Synopsis
As the trends in drug discovery undeniably heading towards more personalized medicines and nucleic-acid based therapy as evident by the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, it is crucial that STEM-related graduates keep abreast with advances in drug development. This course will introduce fresh and advanced molecular concepts behind nucleic-acid therapy that complement students from all health-science backgrounds, the challenges and strategies in developing them, with special emphasis on cancer therapy and COVID-19 vaccine.
The Expert
Dr. Nur Akmarina Binti Mohd Said
Dr. Nur Akmarina is a pharmacist who developed a keen interest in molecular biology to specifically improve treatment outcomes. She obtained her PhD from Monash University, Australia where she has successfully identified mediators of cancer metastasis on a unique bladder cancer model by screening the RNAi, miRNA and kinase inhibitors libraries. Currently she is the Head of Department of Pharmaceutical Life Sciences in Faculty of Pharmacy, UM and part of the Metastasis & Tumor Microenvironment research group in Translational Core Laboratory, University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Dr Akmarina has a special interest in translational research programs and currently leading various miRNA-related studies on chemoresistance in bladder cancer. She is also actively contributing to the community through her role as a guest-writer for the Root of Science website.