JOHOR BAHRU, Jul 29 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) welcomed Dr. Ahmed Sh. A. Lafi, Lecturer from the Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Anbar, Iraq and researcher at the Centre of Desert Studies, for a strategic meeting to finalise the Last Call promotional campaign for the 8th International Conference on Biosciences and Biomedical (ICBME 2026).

Organised by the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, in collaboration with international academic partners, ICBME 2026 will be held at Buri Sriphu Hotel, Hat Yai, Thailand, from 26 to 28 August 2026 under the theme Innovative Biosciences and Biomedical for a Sustainable Future. The conference is expected to bring together researchers, academicians, and industry experts to exchange knowledge and showcase the latest advancements in biosciences and biomedical research.

As an International Executive Member, International Scientific Committee Member and conference promoter, Dr. Ahmed joined the organising committee in reviewing the conference’s final promotional materials and discussing strategies to enhance international participation. With preparations entering the final stage, the committee is intensifying its global outreach to encourage researchers to share their latest scientific findings at ICBME 2026.

The meeting also highlighted publication opportunities available to conference participants. Presenters will be invited to submit their full manuscripts to the conference’s partnering journal, the SCOPUS-indexed Journal of Tropical Life Science (JTLS), where selected submissions will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process before being considered for publication. In addition, accepted conference abstracts will be published in the official ICBME 2026 Abstract Book, which will carry an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) registered with the National Library of Malaysia. These publication opportunities further enhance the value of the conference by providing researchers with internationally recognised publication platforms.

Dr. Ahmed is no stranger to UTM, having obtained his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University in 2019, when the programme was offered under the former Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering (FBME).

Since returning to Iraq, he has established an active international academic profile, serving on the Editorial Board of the Iraqi Journal of Desert Studies and as a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

His visit reflects the enduring academic relationship between UTM and the University of Anbar while demonstrating the valuable role of UTM alumni in strengthening international research networks. Through initiatives such as ICBME 2026, UTM continues to expand global collaboration, promote scientific excellence and provide researchers with international platforms for knowledge exchange and scholarly publication. The conference also reflects UTM’s continued commitment to strengthening international partnerships and advancing impactful scientific research.