JOHOR BAHRU, 10 September 2026 – The Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), strengthened its international academic and research engagement by welcoming Prof. Dr. Pilar Blancafort from the University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia, in conjunction with The 6th Asian Federation of Biotechnology Malaysia Chapter International Symposium 2026 (AFOBMCIS 2026).
The symposium was held from 6 to 9 September 2026 at Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre, followed by Prof. Blancafort’s academic visit to the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, on 10 September 2026.
Prof. Blancafort is a leading researcher in cancer epigenetics and serves as Head of the Cancer Program at the Harry Perkins Medical Research Institute, UWA. Her participation in the programme supported UTM’s ASCEND 2030 aspiration to strengthen international engagement with distinguished researchers from leading global universities. The report identifies UWA as ranked 77th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Exploring New Frontiers in Cancer Epigenetics
A major highlight of Prof. Blancafort’s participation in AFOBMCIS 2026 was her plenary lecture entitled “Genome Engineering for the Reprogramming of Cancer Phenotypes using Multigenic Epigenetic Editing Technologies.”
Her presentation introduced emerging precision-medicine strategies that use genome and epigenome engineering to reprogramme cancer-related cellular behaviour. The lecture highlighted CRISPR-based epigenome-editing approaches designed to selectively activate or silence cancer-associated genes, providing new possibilities for controlling tumour growth, cancer progression and therapeutic response.
Particular attention was given to the targeting of gene programmes associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays an important role in cancer metastasis and drug resistance. Prof. Blancafort also discussed new oncogenic drivers associated with aggressive breast and ovarian cancers, as well as potential molecular strategies for improving tumour sensitivity to existing treatments.
The plenary session provided participants with valuable exposure to current developments in cancer epigenetics, genome engineering and precision oncology, while highlighting the potential of multigenic epigenetic editing for future therapeutic applications.
Academic Engagement at the Faculty of Science
Following the symposium, Prof. Blancafort visited the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, on 10 September 2026.
Her visit included tours of several research facilities, including the Cancer Research Laboratory (CRL), the Nanotechnology Laboratory, and the postgraduate office. She also engaged in discussions with Prof. Dr. Shafinaz Shahir, Dean of the Faculty of Science, as well as members of the Cancer & Infectious Diseases (CAID) research group.
The academic programme continued with a Meet & Greet session at the Department of Biosciences, followed by a sharing session delivered by Prof. Blancafort to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Al-Razi Auditorium. The sharing session provided students and researchers with an opportunity to learn directly from an international expert working at the forefront of cancer research.
Building Opportunities for Future UTM–UWA Collaboration
Beyond the scientific discussions, the visit served as an important platform to explore potential future collaboration between the Faculty of Science, UTM and the University of Western Australia.
The programme created opportunities for researchers to exchange ideas, identify areas of mutual research interest and develop pathways for future academic and research cooperation. According to the programme report, the engagement formally opened opportunities for future bilateral collaboration between the Faculty of Science and UWA.
The visit also demonstrated the value of integrating major international conferences with focused institutional engagements, allowing international experts to interact more closely with UTM researchers and students.
Through initiatives such as AFOBMCIS 2026 and the hosting of distinguished international scholars, the Faculty of Science continues to strengthen its global research network, enhance knowledge exchange and create meaningful opportunities for research collaboration in emerging scientific fields.
