My PhD research focuses on elucidation of the molecular basis of cardiomyopathies (CMP) in the Malaysian population, utilizing whole exome sequencing and in vitro cardiomyocyte analysis to improve disease diagnosis and develop targeted therapeutic strategies for the CMP patients. The Hong Kong Laureate Forum 2025 presents an irreplaceable opportunity for me to engage in insightful scientific conversation with other attending talented peers as well as leading scientists in their respective fields. I am enthusiastic to meet Professor Eva Nogales, one of the participating laureates, whose pioneering work in using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to study cytoskeletal dynamics and interaction in cell division. In cardiomyocytes, cytoskeleton is crucial in maintaining the morphology and physiology of contractile unit (sarcomere). Mutations in cytoskeletal proteins can disrupt sarcomere organization, leading to reduced cardiac contractility, and potentially the manifestation of cardiomyopathies. Professor Nogales’s expertise will offer key perspectives relevant to my studies. The Forum’s program, including plenary sessions and institutional visits, will foster knowledge expansion and collaborative networking. The experience gained through this prestigious Forum will not only enrich my research trajectory but also inspire me as a young scientist in contributing to advancements of genetic medicine.

My doctoral research elucidates the genetic aetiology of cardiomyopathies, specifically dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, within the Malaysian population. Building upon my Master degree’s research, which identified potential differences in the genetic architecture of cardiomyopathies between Malaysian and Caucasian populations through targeted sequencing of five key genes (LMNA, MYH7, MYBPC3, TNNT2, and TPM1), my PhD work will expand this scope through clinical, genomics and molecular techniques. Whole exome sequencing will be performed to discover novel and known CMP-associated pathogenic variants in the local population, which is underreported in comparison to the Caucasian population. Furthermore, the extensive demographic and clinical data of Malaysian cardiomyopathy (CMP) patients will be collected to establish genotype-phenotype correlations of the disease. Co-segregation analysis will be performed in affected families to confirm the pathogenicity and the inheritance pattern of the variants. In addition, in-vitro functional analysis of CMP-associated variants will be performed to investigate the molecular impact of these variants on cardiomyocyte structure and function. This multi-faceted approach, combining clinical, genomics, and molecular biology techniques, seeks to advance our understanding of cardiomyopathies, leading to improved diagnostic precision, and the development of targeted therapies for affected individuals.