USM lecturer bags innovation award

NST: GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia bagged the prestigious national innovation award for human tissue transplant techniques last month.
Medical lecturer and surgeon Dr Suzina Sheikh Abdul Hamid, 40, beat 13 contestants from the public sector after producing high quality bone grafts and skin substitute for about 10,000 bone disease patients this year.
The improved grafts also provide relief to patients suffering from moderate burns or related skin ailments.
An ear, nose, throat specialist, Dr Suzina, who is the co-ordinator at the USM Health campus, attributed the success to her team of surgeons.
She also acknowledged the technical assistance from Malaysian Nuclear Agency and other government agencies. The only tissue bank in Malaysia is at USM.
"USM has managed to enhance the existing technology in producing durable sea coral as well as bovine bone graft for human tissue replacement.
"Our objective is to produce graft tissues from local donors and modify them to suit individual needs," Dr Sunzina said yesterday.
Another recipient of the award in the product category was Prof Sureswaran Ramadass, who came out with an advanced video conferencing system that is adaptable to all personal computers.
The national innovation award was introduced last year as part of the initiatives by the government to strengthen the country's human capital development.
Meanwhile, seven other USM researchers received various accolades at the 56th World Exhibition of Innovation, Research and New Technologies at Brussels from Nov 22 to 25.
Three of them bagged gold medals while the rest were awarded silver medals in the fields of engineering and sciences.
USM vice-chancellor Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak urged Malaysians to showcase their unique inventions overseas.
"It is important for Malaysian inventions to gain international recognition, particularly from scientifically advanced countries.
"Positive review will encourage other Malaysians to come out with more inventions."