25 August 2025– A delegation from Tottori University, Japan, visited the Institute of Bioscience (IBS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) from 2.30 pm to 3.45 pm. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen academic and research networking and explore collaboration opportunities in biotechnology and agriculture.

The delegates were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Ina Salwany Md Yassin, Deputy Director of IBS, who introduced IBS as a multidisciplinary research centre committed to advancing biotechnology, life sciences, and translational research. She highlighted IBS’s role as a Higher Education Centre of Excellence (HICoE), with a focus on sustainability and its core niche in vaccines and therapeutics.

The session continued with a discussion on potential research collaboration, particularly in the field of Lactic Acid Bacteria, led by Prof. Dr. Foo Hooi Ling. The discussion session was also attended by associate researcher Prof. Dr. Nurulfiza Mat Isa. Both institutions acknowledged the importance of this research area, given its broad applications in health, food, and biotechnology. The dialogue underscored the value of sharing expertise and resources to generate impactful research and foster long-term academic partnerships.

Following the discussion, the delegation toured several IBS laboratories, including Biodiversity Unit, which manages biological resources, UPM Microbial Culture Collection (UPMCC) which is a key microbial repository, and Microscopy Unit, that equipped with advanced imaging technologies for biological and material sciences. These visits showcased IBS’s research strengths and infrastructure. The visit concluded at 3.45 pm with mutual appreciation and a shared commitment to pursuing future collaboration.

Date of Input: 02/09/2025 | Updated: 02/09/2025 | azah