KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) have officially launched the AACR on Campus-Malaysia programme at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre (CCEC), Kuala Lumpur.
The inaugural event, titled “Defeating Cancer Through Global Education and Training,” focuses on empowering early-career researchers and clinicians with the knowledge and skills to drive cancer control in Asia.
The ceremony was inaugurated by Dr Looi Lai Meng, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM), alongside Prof Dr Elizabeth M. Jaffee, Chair of the AACR Global Affairs Committee, and Prof Dr Cheong Sok Ching, Chief Scientific Officer of Cancer Research Malaysia and chairperson of the programme.
The two-day AACR on Campus programme on November 10 and 11, 2025, is strategically designed for early-career researchers and clinicians, with a curriculum focused on the unique cancer burden in Asia, where genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors create specific challenges.
Prof Cheong underscored the mission: “This collaboration serves as a vital platform to bridge the translational gap between preclinical, clinical and implementation studies in our region.
“By tailoring global expertise to our local context, we ensure that our work contributes to Malaysia’s National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control Programme 2021–2025; improving outcomes in prevention, early detection, and treatment access.”
Prof Jaffee highlighted the importance of this international exchange. “The AACR on Campus initiative is centred on the principle that to defeat cancer globally, we must empower and invest in scientists who understand their local populations.
“By bringing world-renowned experts to Kuala Lumpur, we are directly fostering collaborations and ensuring that breakthroughs in areas like cancer immunotherapy and precision oncology are translated into tangible improvements for patients across Southeast Asia.”
The programme’s core sessions cover:
- Advancement and Innovation in cancer immunotherapy.
- Leveraging cancer genomics for precision oncology.
- Early detection, prevention, screening, and implementation.
- Innovations and best practices in early clinical trial design.
“As the nation’s science advisory body, the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) supported this event as it invests in the next generation of scientists, ensuring they receive multidisciplinary training across medicine, data science, and engineering,” said Dr Looi.
“This event is a cornerstone in our strategy to nurture scientists whose discoveries are Asian by relevance, yet global by impact. We encourage all young attendees to seize this opportunity to build meaningful international collaborations with peers and experts.”
A key highlight of this programme is covered in Day 2, which focuses heavily on professional skill development, crucial for career progression and attracting international funding.
The AACR on Campus-Malaysia programme is supported by several local and international partners, including the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Business Events Sarawak (BE Sarawak), the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Yayasan Sime Darby, Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC), Malaysian Oncological Society (MOS), Academy of Sciences Malaysia (particularly the Young Scientist Network), University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and University of Nottingham, Malaysia and Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak.
It was attended by over 200 participants from Malaysia, and countries around the world, including Indonesia, Singapore, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, China, the United States, and many more.
