14/08/2026
The Cell and Gene Therapy Congress 2026, jointly organized by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) and the College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (CPathAMM), was held from 6 to 8 August 2026 at The Vertical, Connexion Conference & Event Centre.
The congress brought together distinguished speakers and session chairs from Malaysia, Singapore, China, India and Australia, representing leading universities, hospitals and industry. The programme covered the biology of mesenchymal stromal cells, including their development, defining characteristics, cell sources and mechanisms of action, as well as their approved and emerging clinical applications. Key clinical areas discussed included inflammatory diseases, osteoarthritis, fistulas, chronic limb-threatening ischaemia, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases and ophthalmic disorders.
The participation of Dr Shahleni, Dr Siti Zaleha and Ms Siti Nurfaizah from UMS reflects an important initial step towards building knowledge, expertise and collaboration in cell and gene therapy, a niche and emerging area with significant potential in modern healthcare.
Moving forward, Hospital Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS), through UMS, could explore and develop its involvement in this field, particularly in relation to haematology, cellular therapies and future clinical applications. Continued engagement in this emerging field could support HUMS in developing the necessary capabilities and positioning the institution to contribute to future cell and gene therapy services in Sabah.
