Dr Ravigadevi becomes first Malaysian elected to Royal Society
KUALA LUMPUR: A Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, making her the first Malaysian scientist at the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific academy.
It also marks a historic milestone for the country.
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), in a statement today, said Ravigadevi will be officially inducted into the Society in London on July 11, 2025, where she will sign the Royal Society's historic Charter Book, a record that bears the signatures of scientific luminaries spanning more than three centuries.
A pioneering biotechnologist, Ravigadevi was appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in 2010 and is currently the Chair of the Biological, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Discipline.
She is also a Fellow of the World Academy of Sciences and a former Director of the Advanced Biotechnology and Breeding Centre at the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), where she led transformative research in oil palm biochemistry and genomics.
'Her innovations have had a global impact, particularly in improving yield, resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.
'One of her most significant achievements was leading the team that decoded the oil palm genome, a major scientific breakthrough published in the prestigious journal Nature. This led to the discovery of the SHELL gene, which plays a key role in determining oil yield,' the statement read.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, lauded the achievement, saying that Ravigadevi's election as the first Malaysian Fellow of the Royal Society marks a proud moment for the nation.
'This recognition is not only a personal triumph but also a symbol of what Malaysia stands for under the Malaysia MADANI framework, a nation that uplifts prosperity through knowledge and champions sustainability through innovation.
'MOSTI will continue to build an ecosystem that nurtures excellence, accelerates impact and positions Malaysia as a respected contributor to global science,' he said.
In response to the honour, Ravigadevi said the recognition was not a personal achievement, but a tribute to the exceptional teams she had the privilege of working with.
'Scientific progress is never the work of one individual. It is the product of shared vision, dedication, and collaboration. The vibrant research ecosystem at MPOB and our committed collaborators made all of this possible,' she said.
Meanwhile, ASM President Academician Datuk Dr Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc said the inclusion of a Malaysian in the prestigious fellowship signals the increasing impact of Malaysia's scientific contributions globally.
'More importantly, Dr Ravigadevi's research has advanced scientific understanding and brought tangible societal benefits,' he said.
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society counts among its Fellows many of history's most influential scientists, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.
For 2025, more than 90 individuals from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, China and Switzerland have been selected as Fellows of the Royal Society.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Nations's First-of-its-Kind Endometriosis Scientific Workshop Aims to Improve the Quality of Life for Malaysian Women
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 4 June 2025 - Thomson Fertility (also known as TMC Fertility) marked a significant milestone in women's healthcare by hosting the Holistic Endometriosis Care Scientific Workshop at Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara. The event brought together international experts from the University of Oxford's Endometriosis CaRe Centre, Monash University (Malaysia & Australia), and University of Warwick to address the complex management of endometriosis – a condition affecting 1 in 10 Malaysian women. Themed ' Holistic Endometriosis Care – From Bench to Bedside ', the workshop was designed to elevate awareness, diagnostics, and multidisciplinary care beginning at the primary healthcare level, while reinforcing the link between endometriosis and infertility. In her opening remarks, Ms Lakshmi Menon, CEO of Thomson Fertility (also known as TMC Fertility), shared the team's long-term commitment to raising the standard of care in women's health and fertility: 'We are proud to lead conversations that matter. This workshop underscores our role not just as a fertility centre, but as a regional leader in holistic women's healthcare. Empowering primary care providers is key to ensuring women get the right diagnosis early—especially when endometriosis is so closely linked with fertility struggles. Together with our international partners, we aim to transform the future of women's care in Malaysia.' Driving Early Diagnosis, Multidisciplinary Management and Fertility Education The workshop featured cutting-edge research and practical approaches to improve diagnosis, pain management, and long-term care for women with endometriosis. Among the key topics discussed: • Proven practices from Oxford's Endometriosis CaRe Centre that have improved patient outcomes in the UK. • The importance of early diagnosis and the role of primary care in managing chronic pelvic pain. • Updates on the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) guidelines on endometriosis treatment. • Fertility preservation strategies and the impact of untreated endometriosis on reproductive health. Expert Perspectives on a Global Health Challenge Prof. Dr. Prasanna Supramaniam, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Thomson Fertility (also known as TMC Fertility) and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Oxford, stated: 'This is the first workshop of its kind in Malaysia, and it's time we addressed the reality that many women suffer in silence. Pain is not normal, and primary care doctors are our first line of defence. This initiative is part of our long-standing commitment to endometriosis education, awareness, and fertility support.' Prof. Christian Becker, Lead of the Oxford BSGE Endometriosis Centre and Co-Director of the Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, added: 'Endometriosis remains underdiagnosed globally. I'm honoured to share our research and see Thomson Fertility take a leadership role in improving care pathways in this region.' Globally, endometriosis remains one of the most underdiagnosed chronic conditions, affecting millions of women—often without their knowledge. According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, approximately 1 in 10 Malaysian women are believed to suffer from endometriosis, yet many remain unaware of their condition due to delayed diagnosis and lack of awareness. The disease characterised by tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus can cause debilitating pain, especially during menstruation, sexual intercourse, urination, or defecation. If left untreated, it can significantly affect fertility and quality of life. Adding a local perspective, Prof. J. Ravichandran, Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Maternal Foetal Medicine Consultant at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, shared: 'Endometriosis is an enigmatic disease. Many women live through cycles of pain, ineffective medication, and repeat surgeries due to delayed or inadequate treatment. There is an urgent need for better data and early intervention strategies to optimise care.' Monthly Endometriosis Day Initiative by Thomson Fertility As part of its ongoing mission to reshape women's healthcare in Malaysia, Thomson Fertility (also known as TMC Fertility) has launched Endo Care @ Thomson—a monthly awareness initiative held on the first Saturday of every month. Each session offers educational talks and workshops by fertility and gynaecology experts. This monthly programme is open to the public and aims to break the silence around menstrual health and endometriosis, helping women seek the care they need without hesitation. The workshop featured a distinguished panel of medical professionals, each contributing valuable expertise on endometriosis management: • Prof. Dr. Prasanna Supramaniam – Associate Professor, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, TMC Fertility @Thomson Hospital, Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeon, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Oxford • Prof. Krina Zondervan – Head of Department, Professor of Reproductive & Genomic Epidemiology, Co-Director Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford • Prof. Christian Becker – Professor of Reproductive Science, Consultant Gynaecologist Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine, Lead for Oxford BSGE Endometriosis Centre, Co-Director Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford • Prof. Katy Vincent – Senior Fellow in Pain in Women, Professor in Gynaecological Pain Principal Investigator, Research Group Leader, Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, University of Oxford • Dr. Thomas Tapmeier – Head, Uterine Biology & Gynaecological Disease Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University, Visiting Fellow, Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford • Dr. Kurtis Garbutt – Data Scientist, Endometriosis CaRe Centre, University of Oxford • Prof. Beverley Vollenhoven Am – Carl Wood Chair, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Director of Gynaecology and Research, Women's and Newborn Program, Monash Health, Monash University • Prof. J. Ravichandran – Professor of O&G, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Senior Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Maternal Foetal Medicine Consultant, Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru • Dr. Hannah Nazri – NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Warwick, Early Career Ambassador of World Endometriosis Society, International Relations Research Subcommittee Member of BSGE, President of Boston Congress of Public Health
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
UM leads in latest rankings amid global competition
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's oldest varsity continues to hold its spot as the nation's top-ranked higher education institution in global rankings. Universiti Malaya (UM) is ranked first among nine Malaysian institutions featured in the 2025 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR). However, on the global stage, UM dropped 12 spots from last year to the 411th position - due to declines in employability and research indicators. Only a third of the Malaysian universities in this year's Global 2000 list improved their positions from last year. The universities that improved are Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which climbed 10 spots to 810th; Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, which rose 13 spots to 1,738th; and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, which entered the list at 1,913th place. The primary reason for the overall decline in rankings is weaker research performance, amid intensifying global competition from well-funded institutions. The other five Malaysian universities in the Global 2000 are Universiti Sains Malaysia (785th), Universiti Putra Malaysia (845th), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (853rd), Universiti Teknologi Mara (1,581st), and the International Islamic University Malaysia (1,675th). CWUR president Dr Nadim Mahassen said without stronger funding and strategic planning, Malaysia risks falling further behind in the rapidly evolving global academic landscape. "While Malaysia has nine representatives among the world's top universities, what is alarming is the slide of the nation's academic institutions due to weakening research performance and limited financial backing from the government. "At a time when several countries are placing the development of education and science high on their agenda, Malaysia is struggling to keep pace," he said. CWUR's Global 2000 list is the only university performance table that measures the quality of education, employability, faculty quality, and research without relying on surveys and university data submissions. For this year's edition, CWUR analysed 74 million outcome-based data points to rank universities worldwide. Out of 21,462 universities evaluated, the top performers were included in the Global 2000 list - representing institutions from 94 countries. For the 14th year in a row, Harvard University ranks first globally, followed by two other private institutions in the United States - the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. The University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom - ranked fourth and fifth, respectively - are the world's highest-ranking public universities. Asia's top five universities this year are the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Seoul National University, Tsinghua University and Peking University. Based in the United Arab Emirates, the CWUR is a consulting organisation providing policy advice, strategic insights and consulting services to governments and universities to improve educational and research outcomes. The full rankings, released on Monday (June 2), can be found at
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Don't Miss It: 2026 Taiwan Fellowship
> Malaysian scholars, namely, professors, associate professors, senior lecturers, lecturers, PhD candidates and research fellows, are invited to apply for the 2026 Taiwan Fellowship. > The aim of the fellowship is to award foreign experts and scholars specialised in social sciences and humanities related to Taiwan to conduct advanced research at universities or academic institutions in Taiwan. > Topics of research should be related to Taiwan, cross-strait relations, mainland China, the Asia Pacific, and Sinology. > The duration of the fellowship is between three months and a year, depending on the research proposal. > The fellowship covers a monthly stipend from NT$50,000 to NT$60,000 (approximately from RM7,072 to RM8,487), one direct round-trip economy-class air ticket between Malaysia and Taiwan, and accident insurance coverage. > Applicants are requested to first complete online application on the website ( before sending hard copy of the documentation by post to the Taipei Economic and Cultural office in Malaysia (Address: Level 7, Menara Yayasan Tun Razak, 200, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur). Details: (website); twfellowship@ / mys@ (email); or (03) 2161-4439 (call).
