News

Dengue fever researcher announced as inaugural PM Malaysia Scholar

Media Release, Friday 8 April 2005

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, today announced that young University of Malaya immunologist Sook-San Wong is the inaugural University of Melbourne Prime Minister of Malaysia Scholar.

Ms Wong, who is enrolled in a Master of Medical Science degree at the University of Malaya, has a research background in dengue fever viruses, in particular dengue virus type 2.

At a ceremony in Sydney organised by the University of Melbourne’s Asialink Centre, Prime Minister Badawi announced the Scholarship would be awarded to Ms Wong, on behalf of the University of Melbourne.

The Scholarship, a joint initiative of the University and its alumni in Malaysia, is intended to support emerging academic talent in Malaysia in key areas of national importance. It covers tuition and a living allowance for an early career Malaysian researcher to undertake PhD studies at Melbourne in the fields of either engineering, science or in medical and health sciences.

From Kuala Lumpur, Ms Wong said she was excited and proud to receive the award, which will allow her to research the development of a vaccine to combat the disease.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related viruses that affects millions of people globally. All four types of the virus are endemic in Malaysia. Ms Wong says the viruses are capable of causing cyclic outbreaks, resulting in a substantial health and economic burden in Malaysia, and that the disease is potentially fatal when it manifests as haemorrhage or shock in sufferers. Victims of the disease can suffer infection from any of the four viruses over a lifetime, although immunity to each virus results from previous infection.

Ms Wong says there are currently no approved dengue vaccines or therapeutic treatments available, and patients often rely solely on supportive treatment for recovery (bed rest, anti-fever medicines and fluids).

“In addition, severe dengue virus infection is caused by a phenomenon known as antibody-dependant enhancement, in which existing dengue antibodies from a previous infection worsen the subsequent infection by another dengue virus type.

“Because of this, development of a vaccine is hampered by the potential danger of causing severe secondary dengue virus infection.

“A safe and effective vaccine that will target all four types of dengue viruses and not cause infection is urgently needed” she says.

Ms Wong explains that her proposed PhD research will focus on developing a “dendritic cell based dengue vaccine”. Dendritic cells (DCs) are a subset of cells that allow the T or B immune cells to recognize pathogens and respond with antigens.

“DC vaccines have the advantage over their genetic counterparts of specificity” says Ms Wong. “That means they have the ability to effect a targeted immune response”.

A Bachelor of Biomedical Science graduate of the University of Malaya, Ms Wong is already familiar with Australia through a research attachment in molecular virology at the Queensland University of Technology in 2003.

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis, today congratulated Ms Wong on her award. The University, he said, is delighted the Prime Minister had selected such a promising researcher to receive the inaugural scholarship in his name.

“Ms Wong is an outstanding student who will be a very welcome addition to our research community“ Professor Davis said. “She will also play an important role in representing Malaysian scholars at Melbourne.”

“The University of Melbourne has had a long association with high-quality students from Malaysia. This continues after graduation through its special relationship with its alumni in Malaysia.”

** Background to the Prime Minister of Malaysia Scholarship
The Prime Minister of Malaysia Scholarship was first discussed at the Annual Dinner of the University of Melbourne Alumni Association in Kuala Lumpur in 2004 and is indicative of the high esteem with which the University regards its Malaysian alumni.

Announcing the establishment of the Scholarship late in 2004 the University said that it was offered “to express its appreciation for the strong support it has received from the people of Malaysia, and to recognize the significant contribution Malaysian students and alumni have made to the University’s growing stature as a leading international university”.

The Scholarship will cover tuition fees for the successful candidate’s PhD program in the fields of either science, engineering or health sciences, for up to four years, an annual stipend and a special status allowance.

It is intended that the Scholarship will support an academic in the early stages of their career who shows outstanding promise and leadership potential and that “The successful candidate would represent the Prime Minister’s choice of highest calibre candidate from among outstanding academic applicants”.


High resolution photographs of Ms Wong are available online at:
http://128.250.164.143/~ajm/mediapix/index.htm

Contact:

Ms Sook-San Wong
Inaugural Prime Minister of Malaysia Melbourne Scholar
Tel: 60 3 7967 5757
Email: sooksan@um.edu.my ; sooksanwong@yahoo.com

Professor Barbara Evans (for further information about the Scholarship)
Dean, School of Graduate Studies
University of Melbourne
Tel: +61 3 8344 8479
Email: bke@unimelb.edu.au

Dato’ Peter Tan
President, University of Melbourne Malaysian Alumni Association
c/o Muhammad Ali Yusof
Tower 2 Petronas Twin Towers
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Tel: + 60 3 2072 1800
Email: Ali@pcpp.com.my