USM EXCELS IN NRIC 2012

PENANG, July 20, 2012 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has again maintained its reputation among the best universities in the development of successful research when it clinched three of the five major awards for the contest, including first place in the CoRIC awards in the Novel Research & Innovation Competition (NIRC) 2012.

At the competition, USM managed to win the The Best NRIC Award 2012, Sustainable / Green Technology Award category, Social Policy Impact Award category and CoRIC Award category.

According to Yong Bang Ming, Head of Group for the FPGA-Based Cervical Pre-Cancerous Diagnostic Kit project which won The Best NRIC Award this year, said that he did not expect the new products created last year would received recognition from the jury of professionals.

"I am very heartened by this decision and express my deepest appreciation for the recognition given by the jury for this project," he said at a special press conference for the winners after the official closing of the NRIC 2012.

Commenting on the project, Yong, 23, a third year student from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said the project focuses on the cervical cancer prevention through early diagnosis using only the visual method without having to take samples and laboratory test for results.

“We have created a device which is able to scan the image area suspected to be cancerous through a microscope. It can provide diagnosis decision within 15 seconds on whether the scanned area is normal or not.”

“Conventional treatment in practice now requires up to 3 weeks for a diagnosis because it takes close scrutiny in terms of sampling, laboratory testing and several other stages before a decision is derived.”

Yong added that with only 15 seconds to conduct the diagnosis, it is so easy and the accuracy of the results have been certified by Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), this product can certainly help in the early prevention of cancer in patients in the future.

Yong together with two friends, Teng Yuan Jun, 22, and Qiao Ho Yee, 23, also from the same School, took home RM5,000 cash, certificates and trophies.

NRIC Closing Ceremony this year was graced by Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Minister in the Prime Minister Department, Malaysia, who also presented awards to the main winners.

This year’s NRIC received overwhelming participation from undergraduate students from 17 local IPTA and IPTS including three ASEAN universities, namely Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering, Brunei, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand, and Princess of Naradhiwas University, Thailand.

A total of 138 projects being contested this year, offering a total of 23 gold medals, 24 silver medals and 37 bronze medals.

Also present at the prize-giving ceremony were Prof. Dato’ Omar Osman, USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Asma Ismail, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), and Prof. Adnan Hussein, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Development).