The Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), successfully organized the BIOCOMP Bootcamp: Integration of Computational Tools in Antibacterial and Anticancer Agent Development from 23–24 September 2025 at PBL1 Room, Level 3, Building T02, Faculty of Science, UTM.
The program was held in collaboration with the UVIS Committee of the Department of Biosciences as part of the department’s initiative to promote digital competency and computational literacy among life science researchers.
Under the leadership of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Wagiran as Advisor and Ts. Dr. Syazwani Itri Amran as Program Director, the two-day intensive workshop provided an immersive learning platform for postgraduate students from the Departments of Biosciences and Chemistry. Participants explored the fundamentals of computational chemistry and bioinformatics with practical exposure to target identification, virtual screening, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic (ADMET) analyses—key tools in modern drug discovery.
Bridging Biology and Digital Science
The bootcamp served as a strategic platform to bridge traditional biological sciences with digital and computational technologies. Through guided training sessions, participants gained essential skills to simulate molecular interactions and evaluate potential antibacterial and anticancer compounds before laboratory testing. This integration of in silico approaches not only enhances research efficiency but also reduces experimental costs and time in early-stage compound screening.
The program reflects UTM’s commitment to equipping researchers with data-driven problem-solving skills and fostering a new generation of scientists capable of using computational intelligence to accelerate biomedical innovation. Such initiatives also align with the Faculty of Science’s strategic direction to cultivate multidisciplinary expertise and encourage translational research with industrial and clinical relevance.
Impact on Research and Innovation
The BIOCOMP Bootcamp has strengthened the participants’ ability to integrate computational modeling into their postgraduate research projects, enabling them to design experiments more strategically and interpret molecular data more effectively. This has significant implications for ongoing studies related to natural product-based drug discovery, nanomaterial-biomolecule interaction, and toxicology assessment within the faculty.
In the broader context, this workshop contributes to the development of a computational research culture within UTM’s Faculty of Science—supporting the university’s vision of becoming a hub for integrated bioscience and digital innovation.
The success of this program also sets a strong foundation for future offerings, including potential regional or online bootcamps that can attract participants from other institutions and industries.
The Faculty of Science continues to champion initiatives that enhance scientific capability, innovation, and digital readiness in the era of bioinformatics and computational biology.
🔗 Explore more UTM research and innovation highlights at: https://science.utm.my/utmfsresearch/
