Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) strengthened its international research exposure in infectious diseases and global health through a five-day research mobility programme at the Vietnamese-German Centre for Medical Research (VG-CARE) in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Held from 16 to 20 March 2026 under the UniKL Global Research Mobility Incentive 2026, the research attachment involved Dr Vignesh Ramachandran from UniKL RCMP’s Faculty of Medicine and focused on infectious disease research, outbreak preparedness, molecular diagnostics and translational biomedical research.
The mobility also supported UniKL’s engagement with the Pan ASEAN Coalition for Epidemic and Outbreak Preparedness (PACE-UP) initiative, coordinated by VG-CARE.
UniKL became an official PACE-UP partner in 2025, providing a platform for research engagement in infectious diseases, outbreak preparedness, biomedical research and human capital development.
During the research attachment, Dr Vignesh was immersed in VG-CARE’s laboratory and clinical research environment, gaining exposure to specimen processing, molecular diagnostic techniques, biosafety practices and laboratory workflows across areas including microbiology, genetics, mycobacteriology and parasitology.
The mobility also included visits to clinical infectious disease units covering tuberculosis, sepsis, respiratory infections, food-borne infections and hepatitis. Discussions extended to emerging research areas such as bacteriophage research, mobile laboratory deployment and the use of existing patient cohorts and archived specimens for future collaborative studies.
Beyond knowledge exchange, the visit was structured around generating tangible research outcomes for UniKL. Work progressed on the DREAM4HEALTH grant application, while potential collaborative funding pipelines and research projects under the PACE-UP framework were explored with VG-CARE researchers.
The engagement also opened opportunities for joint Scopus-indexed publications, postgraduate co-supervision, PhD research attachments and structured skills transfer between UniKL and VG-CARE.
These initiatives are expected to expand UniKL’s international research collaboration and strengthen connections among researchers working on infectious disease challenges in Southeast Asia.
The mobility also strengthened UniKL’s engagement with a wider international research ecosystem. Dr Vignesh participated in the PACE-UP quarterly meeting, engaged with key VG-CARE researchers and joined a strategic discussion with a World Health Organization (WHO) Vietnam officer on potential alignment in public health research.
The initiative particularly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through infectious disease and public health research, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through international research collaboration.
