MECOH Lab Visits Lab of Microbial Ecology (LME), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Kozo Watanabe, accompanied by Ph.D. candidate KyleYoung Low, visited Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Their main objectives were to survey potential sampling sites, discuss future project designs, and lay the foundation for an International collaborative research lab (ICRL) in Malaysia. The 2-day visit proved to be productive.

From left: Dr. ChoonWeng Lee, Prof. Dr. Kozo Watanabe, Dr. ChuiWei Bong, and research assistant YiYou Wong.

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​The first day, June 5th, consisted of a field survey exploring the estuary of Kuala Selangor by boat.

​After visiting an exposed seabed off the coast of the Selangor Estuary. The entourage continued the expedition car to a nearby coastal town to savour some local seafood delicacies before heading to the Selangor River Dam. Insights were gained through direct observations of the sites.

​The next day, June 6th, a series of discussions and a lab visit were underway at Universiti Malaya.

The meetings centred around the progress of the LAMER project by Dr. ChoonWeng Lee and Dr. ChuiWei Bong. They have discussed future research collaboration, avenues of establishing an International collaborative research lab (ICRL) under Ehime University at Universiti Malaya, and cross-employment opportunities for academicians. The two universities plan to combine their research goals to shine a light on global occurrences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antibiotic pollution, metaviromics, and environmental pathogens on sites covered from the day before. Finally, a potential visit by our collaborators from Universiti Malaya is in the works.

​No stone is left unturned.

​Between meetings, the participants made a delightful visit to the botanical garden at Universiti Malaya for a guided tour with the local plant expert employed by the university. Edible parts were plucked and sampled from the medicinal plants first-hand, of course, with expert guidance! 

With all things said and done. The visit was a productive one that concluded on a high note. With each interaction, the researchers witnessed the power of collaboration and the potential it holds for advancing scientific knowledge. Despite being an ocean apart, the shared vision and dedication of the teams transcend distance, together anything is possible.