Research Lab Visit to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

On 1 December 2025, three lecturers and ten undergraduates from the Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Southern University College, were invited to visit the research laboratories and institutes at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The three-hour visit offered students a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of scientific research and to appreciate the importance of applying scientific knowledge in their future careers in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The visit began at Associate Professor Dr. See Hong Heng’s laboratory at the Faculty of Science. Dr. See also serves as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Sustainable Nanomaterials, Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research. His postdoctoral researcher and PhD students introduced the analytical instruments available in the lab, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), capillary electrophoresis (CE) and laser direct infrared (LDIR) chemical imaging spectroscopy. They explained the significance of these instruments and engaged the visitors in discussions about their basic principles and applications in analytical chemistry, such as quantifying microplastics in commercial beverages and human waste, as well as analyzing drug absorption levels in human samples.

The group then proceeded to the Institute of Bioproduct Development (IBD). With arrangements made by Associate Professor Dr. Chua Lee Suan, students were able to observe and learn about procedures and large-scale equipment commonly used in bioproduct manufacturing and downstream processing.

Research officers, including Puan Nurarbainah and Dr. Nor Farahiyah, provided detailed explanations on regulatory requirements for commercializing bio-based products in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and health-supplement industries. They also offered important insights for future TCM practitioners, emphasizing key considerations for bringing TCM supplements and medicines to market, particularly the necessity of obtaining Halal certification.

The final stop was the Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), one of Malaysia’s Higher Institution Centres of Excellence (HICoE). Researchers at AMTEC focus on membrane-based technologies for water and wastewater treatment. Guided by Professor Dr. Lau Woei Jye, head of the Organic Membrane Research Group (OMRG), the visit strengthened the students’ understanding of wastewater treatment processes and related analytical methods. Dr. Lau also demonstrated the use of a hemodialyzer—an essential membrane technology used in dialysis treatment for kidney patients, which has saved countless lives worldwide.

This visit not only broadened the students’ scientific research horizons but also strengthened their confidence in applying modern scientific technology within the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

2025年12月1日，来自南方大学学院中医药学院的三位讲师和十名本科生受邀前往马来西亚工艺大学（UTM），参观研究实验室和相关研究机构。这次为期三小时的参访为学生们提供了宝贵的机会，帮助他们加深对科学研究的理解，并认识到在未来中医职业中应用科学知识的重要性。

参访首先从科学学院的施宏兴副教授的实验室开始。施副教授同时担任科学与工业研究所可持续纳米材料中心副主任。他的博士后研究员和博士生向来访者介绍了实验室的分析仪器，包括高效液相色谱（HPLC）、气相色谱-质谱联用（GC-MS）、毛细管电泳（CE）以及激光直接红外（LDIR）化学成像光谱。他们不仅解释了这些仪器的重要性，还与来访者讨论了其基本原理及在分析化学中的应用，例如检测商业饮料和人体排泄物中的微塑料，以及分析人体样本中的药物吸收水平。

随后，团队前往生物产品开发研究所（IBD）。在蔡莉碹副教授的安排下，学生们有机会观察并学习生物产品制造及下游加工中常用的工艺和大型设备。研究员Nurarbainah女士和Nor Farahiyah博士，详细讲解了生物基产品在化妆品、药品和保健品行业商业化过程中所需的法规要求。他们还为未来的中医从业者提供了重要见解，强调在将中医补充剂和药品推向市场时必须考虑的关键因素，尤其是获得清真认证的必要性。

最后一站是先进膜技术研究中心（AMTEC），该中心是马来西亚高等院校卓越中心（HICoE）之一。AMTEC的研究人员专注于用于水和废水处理的膜技术。在有机膜研究组（OMRG）负责人刘伟杰教授的带领下，学生们了解对废水处理工艺及相关分析方法。刘教授还演示了操作血液透析器——这是一种用于肾病患者透析治疗的重要膜技术，已在全球挽救了无数生命。

此次参访不仅拓宽了学生的科研视野，更强化了他们在中医领域应用现代科学技术的信心。通过与专家的深入交流，学生们深刻认识到跨学科合作在推动中医药创新与发展的重要作用。