I am honored to share that my research has been featured in QS GEN's article, "On the World Map with Coronavirus Research." This recognition highlights the significant contributions made by researchers in understanding the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

The study, conducted by a team at Management and Science University (MSU) in Malaysia, including me and Bachelor in Bioinformatics (Hons) student Thiviya S. Thambiraja, focused on a comparative computational analysis of the spike proteins of the Omicron and Delta variants. Their findings revealed that the Omicron variant has a higher affinity for the human ACE2 receptor, suggesting a potential for increased transmissibility compared to the Delta variant.

This research has garnered international attention, being spotlighted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, highlighted in the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Critical Intelligence Unit brief report, and cited in the Ontario Public Health Evidence Brief risk assessment report. Such recognition underscores the global impact of the study and its relevance in informing public health strategies.

Being featured in QS GEN not only brings attention to the critical work being done at MSU but also emphasizes the importance of collaborative research efforts in addressing global health challenges. I am proud to be part of a team contributing valuable insights into the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

For more details, you can read the full article here: On the World Map with Coronavirus Research.

On August 07, 2025, I was contacted by Peter Landers of The Wall Street Journal in Tokyo regarding my preprint on the Omicron variant. The discussion centered on whether the BA.2 subvariant differs enough from BA.1 to merit a new Greek-letter name, following input from Prof. Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo. 

https://thesun.my/education/exploring-ai-in-health-sciences-PH12624579

Exploring AI in health sciences

For further details see: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.13277

Intermittent Fasting: A Promising Neuroprotective Strategy Featured in News-Medical.net

We are thrilled to share that our recent publication, Intermittent Fasting as a Neuroprotective Strategy: Gut–Brain Axis Modulation and Metabolic Reprogramming in Neurodegenerative Disorders, has been highlighted in a feature article by News-Medical.net. The article, titled "Fasting triggers neuroprotective changes that could delay dementia", explores the groundbreaking findings from our study, published on July 11, 2025.

Our research delves into the potential of intermittent fasting as a neuroprotective approach, emphasizing its role in modulating the gut–brain axis and driving metabolic reprogramming to combat neurodegenerative disorders. The study highlights how fasting may trigger cellular and molecular changes that could delay the onset or progression of conditions like dementia, offering new hope for preventive and therapeutic strategies.

We are honored to see our work recognized and are excited to continue exploring innovative solutions to improve brain health and combat neurodegenerative diseases. Read the full News-Medical.net article here to learn more about how intermittent fasting could pave the way for healthier aging.

Stay tuned for more updates on our research and its impact on advancing medical science!

Publication: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/14/2266

Read more at: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250711/Fasting-triggers-neuroprotective-changes-that-could-delay-dementia.aspx

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/malaysian-researchers-discover-that-sars-cov-2-infections-and-lung-cancer-share-common-pathways-and-genes

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20210219/COVID-19-and-lung-cancer-have-a-common-pathway-say-researchers.aspx

Malaysian Researchers Uncover Shared Genetic Pathways Between COVID-19 and Lung Cancer 

A groundbreaking study by Malaysian scientists reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infections and lung cancer activate similar genes and cellular pathways, suggesting potential long-term cancer risks associated with COVID-19. The research, conducted by experts from Management and Science University and the University of Oxford, highlights the upregulation of cancer-related genes in infected individuals, pointing to overlapping mechanisms in immune response and cell cycle regulation. 

For details see: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.16.431364v1

​Appeared in news outlet: https://es.theepochtimes.com/news/este-virus-comun-podria-ser-responsable-alzheimer-1266413.html

A recent comprehensive review titled “Unravelling the Connection Between COVID-19 and Alzheimer’s Disease”, co-authored by Dr. Suresh Kumar and Muhammad Danial Che Ramli from Management and Science University (MSU), sheds light on the intricate relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infections and Alzheimer's disease (AD) .​

Key Findings:

• Neurological Impact of SARS-CoV-2: The virus's ability to invade the central nervous system (CNS) is facilitated by ACE2 receptors, which are abundantly present in brain regions like the hippocampus and temporal lobe—areas crucial for memory and cognition and commonly affected in AD.​PMC
  
  

• Genetic Link via OAS1 Gene: The study highlights the OAS1 gene as a potential genetic bridge between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's, suggesting that individuals with specific OAS1 variants might be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 outcomes and cognitive decline.​Frontiers+3PubMed+3PMC+3
  
  

• Increased Risk for AD Patients: Individuals with pre-existing Alzheimer's disease may face heightened risks of severe COVID-19 complications, including ICU admissions, pneumonia, and mortality.​PubMed
  
  

These findings underscore the need for personalized care strategies for AD patients during the pandemic and prompt further research into the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19.​

For a detailed exploration of this study, refer to the full article in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1274452/full

Our research on the shared genetic mechanisms between COVID-19 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was recently featured in News-Medical.net. Utilizing a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network approach, we identified ten key genes common to both conditions, shedding light on the molecular pathways that may contribute to increased disease severity in patients with COPD who contract COVID-19.​

Notably, our study highlighted the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-18, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α. These findings suggest a heightened inflammatory response in individuals with both COPD and COVID-19, potentially explaining the increased risk of severe outcomes in this patient population.​News-Medical

This research underscores the importance of considering underlying chronic conditions like COPD when assessing COVID-19 risk and tailoring treatment strategies. It also demonstrates the power of bioinformatics in uncovering complex disease interactions.​

For a more detailed overview, you can read the full article on News-Medical.net: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211102/Identification-of-common-genes-in-COVID-19-and-COPD.aspx

For further details of this study: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.10.28.466298v1.abstract

Our study comparing the structural binding of the Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 gained international attention and was widely shared on social media platforms, including Twitter.

Prof. Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s Federal Minister of Health, highlighted our work in a tweet, describing it as “breathtaking.”  Also by expert like Eric Jeffrey Topol and George A. Mensah, National Institutes of Health, Harvard University. The research, conducted by our collaborative team from Oxford and Malaysia, used computational models to compare the spike protein structures of Delta and Omicron variants. We found that Omicron exhibits significantly more stable and stronger binding to the ACE2 receptor compared to Delta, which may explain its rapid spread despite milder symptoms.

This acknowledgment by global health leaders underscores the importance and impact of our work in understanding viral evolution and transmission. It also demonstrates the vital role of structural bioinformatics in pandemic research and public health policy.

Our recent study on Long COVID and its associated biomarkers has attracted widespread attention on social media, including recognition from advocacy and research organizations like Long Covid Kids.

The study identified approximately 255 symptoms associated with Long COVID, supported by predicted biomarkers and enriched pathway and gene ontology analyses. These findings aim to help uncover the underlying causes of Long COVID and improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies—especially in children and young adults, a demographic increasingly affected but often overlooked.

Our infographic summarizing these symptoms and affected systems—ranging from neurological and cardiovascular to dermatological and immunological—was highlighted in a Facebook post by Long Covid Kids, where it was praised as a powerful visual tool for understanding the scope of Long COVID’s impact. The post emphasized the urgency of addressing Long COVID and predicted it as the “next silent pandemic.”

This recognition further validates the importance of our bioinformatics-driven approach in identifying biomarkers for early detection and intervention, and in shaping future clinical responses to post-viral syndromes.

For further information about our study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmv.29077

https://www.msu.edu.my/MSUexps/June2024-2nd-International-Conference-in-Computational-Biology-and-Precision-Medicine