HAT YAI, Aug 28 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) strengthened its international engagement in biosciences and biomedical research through the organisation of the 8th International Conference on Biosciences and Biomedical (ICBME) 2026, held from 26 to 28 August 2026 at Buri Sriphu Hotel, Hat Yai, Thailand.

Carrying the theme “Emerging Technologies in Biosciences & Biomedical Research,” the three-day event was organised by the Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science, UTM, together with university partners. International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) was among the collaborating institutions from Malaysia, while Udayana University (UNUD), Indonesia, also participated as a collaborating institution. From Türkiye, Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) served as a co-organiser, with Haliç University and Marmara University among the collaborating institutions.

ICBME 2026 brought together participants from 13 countries, with delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Türkiye, China, and India attending, while contributions from Algeria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Nepal, Iraq, Guyana, and the Philippines were featured through the Abstract Showcase.

The event was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Ch.M. Dr. Roswanira Ab. Wahab of UTM, supported by an organising committee comprising academics from UTM and partner institutions. Prof. Hasan Murat Aksoy of OMU served as one of the co-chairs, while Dr. Ida Bagus Wayan Gunam of UNUD contributed to the organisation.

The scientific programme opened with keynote lectures by Prof. Dr. Zafarina Zainuddin on mitochondrial DNA and its applications in tracing identity and population history, and Prof. Dr. Jichuan Qiu of Shandong University (SDU), China, on material-cell interactions for advanced stem-cell therapy in brain injuries. The plenary programme featured Prof. Dr. Hong Liu of SDU on stem-cell fate for treating neurodegenerative diseases, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tewin Tencomnao of Chulalongkorn University (CU), Thailand, on natural products for neuroprotection and anti-ageing.

Invited and parallel sessions covered microplastics and human health, antimicrobial resistance, endophytic microorganisms, bioremediation, artificial intelligence in disease diagnosis, forensic science, nanotechnology, natural products, cancer research, bioplastics, and environmental sustainability. Researchers from OMU contributed to several scientific sessions, including Dr. Yilmaz Kaya, who presented on the biotechnological roles of endophytic microorganisms in plant stress tolerance and bioremediation. UNUD researchers also presented studies in bioethanol production, Balinese rice genetic diversity, natural products, and environmental research, while representatives shared progress in ongoing collaborative research with UTM.

A distinctive feature of ICBME 2026 was its emphasis on research training across different levels of higher education. UTM undergraduate students participated as conference delegates, while postgraduate students communicated their research through oral and poster presentations. Among them were four students from UTM’s Master of Science Biotechnology mixed-mode programme, while PhD candidates strengthened their scientific communication skills through presentations before a wider academic audience ahead of their final viva voce examinations.

The second day extended participation through online presentations for researchers unable to travel to Hat Yai. On the final day, UTM and UNUD representatives held a business and planning meeting on continuing research activities and the future direction of ICBME. The conference will return to Bali, Indonesia, in 2027, continuing a journey that began at UTM Johor Bahru in 2016 and has expanded across Malaysia and Indonesia.