About Us
Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
The Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) was conceptualised in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for improved pandemic preparedness. Established in 2020, SIDC is a translational infectious disease centre equipped with a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, focusing on research, diagnostic kit development, medical equipment testing, and human capital development. The SIDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC).
Our Mission
To enable and drive infectious disease management and catalyse the biomedical industry in Sarawak through cutting edge technology and data-driven approach, attracting world-class talent and building networks of global partners.
The SIDC will achieve its missions through:
- Disease surveillance and monitoring
- Fundamental and applied research in infectious diseases
- Developing novel theranostic solutions
- Research and development of vaccines and treatments
- Supporting Sarawak in pandemic preparedness and response
Our Vision
Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Through Advancement in Research and Development
Our Core Values
To serve dutifully to develop and protect Sarawak
Serve with strong moral and ethical principles and practices
Ready to respond anytime
Working together synergistically for greater impact
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Our Organisational Chart
Meet The Team
Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre
Profile
Assoc Prof. Ivan K. S. Yap’s main research focus is in the area of precision medicine and application of phenomics in infectious disease and cardiovascular disease. After his PhD, he took up the position as Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London from 2005 – 2010 with focus on metabonomics as a molecular epidemiology tool to investigate the effect of dietary intake, physical activity and lifestyle in cardiovascular disease, and the metabolic sequelae of infectious diseases. He returned to Malaysia in 2011 and joined International Medical University (IMU) as a lecturer. He subsequently took up the position as Head of Life Science Department in 2016. In the same year, he established and headed the Centre of Translational Research in IMU. He joined Clinical Research Centre Sarawak General Hospital in 2018 as a Translational Research Scientist, and then as the Deputy General Manager at the Sarawak Research and Development Council in 2019. Assoc Prof. Yap was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre in 2023. He worked closely with Prof. Jeremy Nicholson, Prof. Elaine Holmes and Dr Bong Sze How from Australian National Phenome Centre, Murdoch University (Australia) in phenome research, Assoc Prof Chong Chun Wie at Monash University Malaysia in gut microbiome research and with Prof Juerg Utzinger, Director of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in the area of infectious disease.
Academic Qualifications:
PhD in Chemistry (2005)
Diploma of Imperial College London (2007)
BSc. (Hons) 1st Class in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2001)
Diploma in Industrial Studies (2001)
External positions
Adjunct Associate Professor, Murdoch University, Perth Australia (2023 – 2024)
Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University Malaysia (2023 – 2025)
H-index: 27
Academic qualification
BSc (Biological Sciences)
MSc (Medical Biotechnology)
Professional experience
Sunita has embarked on a diverse career path. She started as a nursing aide, worked as a medical laboratory technician, moved on as a research assistant with a penchant for fieldwork, and was an educator. She continues as a copy editor and a science/public health communicator/writer as she finally makes a career in research on infectious diseases.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she collated, summarised, and presented information or data about COVID-19, other diseases of public health concern, and public health policies from international and national sources to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee. She also related relevant situational information about One Health, both regional and international, to the committee. She continues to work on this as a Team member at the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre.
Interests
- One Health
- Public health policies
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases
Easygoing though sometimes serious, she loves being outdoors, books are a source of escape, people and culture an inspiration, and running allows her thoughts to flow. She has on many occasions volunteered for the renowned international music festival in Kuching, Sarawak.
Academic qualifications
BSc (Animal Resource Science and Management)
MSc (Molecular Biology)
Professional Profile
Angelesa’s interest in public health was initially ignited by entomological investigations into bancroftian filariasis transmission within endemic areas of Sarawak. During her postgraduate studies, she expanded her expertise in molecular biology through research focusing on protein-level studies of malaria. Amid the pandemic era, she actively participated as a Covid-19 Frontliner in the laboratory, contributing to the fight against the coronavirus outbreak. Her experience in resource-limited laboratory settings improved her proficiency in clinical diagnosis, utilizing both conventional and molecular techniques. Subsequently, her exposure to natural product screening techniques broadened her understanding of the potential for traditional remedies in modern therapeutics. Her recent participation in SIDC reflects her ongoing dedication to public health and infectious disease research.
Research Interests
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases
- Emerging infectious diseases
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, his experience started as a research assistant for a post-graduate study to being a part of a team as a field biologist collecting samples from wild macaques looking for malaria parasites. Swiftly moving from non-human primates (NHPs) he dove into the domain of neuroscience with a private contract research office working exclusively with proprietary transgenic mice used to test schizophrenia drugs and compounds. There he worked as a behavioral scientist who eventually managed the in-house laboratory and its operation. Looking for a change of pace, he joined a nutraceutical company with a product development team creating natural-based products for animal health as supplements for targeted disease conditions or improving quality of life and general well-being. From the product development role, he goes back to the Laboratory Manager role with the Department of Veterinary Services of Sarawak (DVSS), managing the State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (SVDL) day-to-day operations. With an awareness of the importance of integrating ICT into a modern diagnostic workflow, he expanded his knowledge in the ICT area by taking a Master in Information Technology Management (MITM) with UNIMAS. With the knowledge gained, the possibility of integrating ICTs and other IT methods with laboratory settings or science-based environments could improve the level of preparedness and diagnostic prowess significantly which goes hand in hand with SIDC’s visions and mission.
A Civil Engineer by profession, Ir Dr John Panil started his career with the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Sarawak in 1981. In 1984, he joined the Development Bank of Malaysia as a project officer.
In 1988, he joined Borneo Development Corporation (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd (BDC) as a project engineer, a Sarawak government-linked company involved in real estate development, construction and project management. Ir John retired from BDC in 2021 after having served as the General Manager of the company for 10 years.
In 2022, Ir John was appointed as an engineer with the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC) to assist overseeing the planning and development of the proposed Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC). His contract with SRDC is until early 2026.
Ir John was appointed as the Acting Chief Operating Officer of Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre Sdn Bhd in January 2024.
Emyliana’s infectious disease journey began with a dive into parasitology, malaria, and COVID-19. Complemented by proficiency in molecular epidemiology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), she utilized spatio-temporal analysis to shed light on their complexities. But her pursuit of knowledge goes beyond specific pathogens. Driven by an unwavering commitment to public health, Emyliana’s curiosity extends to exploring new and emerging infectious diseases. Her research findings have been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals and shared at conferences. Each data point and map she generates brings us one step closer to understanding, preventing, and controlling infectious diseases, ultimately keeping communities safe and healthy. Join Emyliana on this exciting journey as she tackles the world’s most pressing infectious disease challenges, one data point and map at a time.
Graduated with a BSc in Biotechnology from Swinburne University of Technology and MSc in Molecular Biology from University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). She has ventured into various fields throughout her career, including business and research. Her focus has predominantly been on clinical research, primarily in cardiovascular diseases, bioequivalence studies and plant studies, where she has gained valuable insights. This diverse experience has broadened her perspective, allowing her to understand the journey from raw natural resources to clinical trials and, ultimately, the societal benefits.
Coming Soon
Mr. Sim Tong Sen is our Finance Manager, with a strong aptitude for data-driven decision making and passion for streamlining processes to maximize organization’s operational efficiency.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy) Degree from University of Otago, New Zealand. He is a Certified Practising Accountant of CPA Australia – CPA (Aust) and also Chartered Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants- CA(M).
Mr. Sim Tong Sen has over 23 years of work experience in finance, audit and accounting covering various industries such as manufacturing, trading, property development and construction. He has worked extensively in various capacities, which includes stints at one of the Big Four accounting firms as an auditor.
He manages and oversees all the day-to-day operations of the finance department at the firm he was attended to. This includes Company’s Accounting, Financial Reporting and Management, Corporate Planning and Analysis.
Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biomedical Science; Doctor of Philosophy (Science)
Professional Profile
Being a devoted molecular biologist, Dr Wong’s biggest strength is his versatility in working with different biology systems, ranging from in vitro/in vivo mammalian models to plant-pathogen interactomes. His postgraduate study focused on the effect of coconut milk on lipid metabolism, particularly on the bile excretion process. Dr Wong then developed a great interest in pathogens’ colonisation and dissemination strategy during his postdoctoral stint at the Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. After four years of plant research, Dr Wong returned to Malaysia to pursue projects related to his core expertise–human health and biomedical research. His latest venture in Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) embarks into the world of public health and infectious diseases. Dr Wong is primarily interested in disease prevention research, specifically rapid diagnostic methods and vaccination strategies to curb regional health threats.
Research Interest
- Fundamental Pathogenesis
- Epidemiology – Disease Dissemination
- Vaccine Development and Commercialisation
- Data Science / Biostatistics
Expertise
- Molecular biology
- Animal cell culture
- Confocal microscopy
- Plant-pathogen interactome
Currently serving as a research assistant for the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC), Geraldine graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Resource Biotechnology degree from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). Prior to graduating, she completed her internship at the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) where she was attached to the molecular biology lab. Some of her lab works include PCR, DNA extraction, PCR product purification, agarose gel electrophoresis & ELISA-based immunoassay antiviral property screening project. With a strong interest in molecular biology and the passion for learning new technologies, with SIDC she aims to help in this fight against current and emerging diseases in strengthening the state’s health security.
Dr. Tan Xian Wen holds a Ph.D. in Medical Science from Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Japan, supported by the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship. Prior to that, he earned his BSc. in Biotechnology and MSc. by Research through a bursary and scholarship program at Swinburne University of Technology, establishing the groundwork for his academic and research endeavours.
With over a decade of research experience and six years in teaching, Dr. Tan is a committed medical science academic researcher adept at providing research skills training to medical students and postgraduates from past affiliations. As a subject matter expert, he specialises in the pathology of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease, nasopharyngeal cancer research, fabrication of nanocarriers for theranostics, and the development of lateral immunoassay-based diagnostic kits. His proficiency extends to all facets of research needs, adhering to regulatory guidelines, optimising laboratory layouts, selecting equipment, and managing projects and budgets, including pioneering mammalian cell culture laboratory setup at Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.
Primary Research Interests
- Clinical OMICS and precision medicine
- Pathobiological sciences of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, malaria), cancers and cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis)
- Development of disease diagnostic tools, point-of-care
- Nutraceuticals and natural products, food sciences
Academic qualifications
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biology; Masters of Biotechnology; Doctor of Philosophy (Molecular Parasitology)
Profile
The identification of a novel species of malaria parasite and the non-human primates of Sarawak harbouring previously unrecorded parasite were the main highlights of Dr Thamayanthi’s doctoral research. Her prior exposure to aquaculture biotechnology and preclinical research in drug discovery positively catalysed her doctoral journey. During her postdoctoral stint at the Malaria Research Centre (MRC, UNIMAS), she documented the zoonotic capability of simian malaria parasites to naturally infect local Sarawakians. Currently, she is also a Research Fellow at MRC continuing her passion in malarial genomics. She strongly believes that understanding the biology of every pathogen is vital before we look into the crumps or clues the pathogen leaves while infecting its hosts to aid in the effort to curb the spread of local health threats and in contingency planning. Apart from scientific research, she is also experienced in academia and business development where she developed interest in the benefits of macronutrients from natural resources for targeted illnesses and general wellbeing.
Research Interest
- Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
- Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs)
- Infectious disease epidemiology
- Phylogenomic of infectious diseases
- Nutraceutical and commercialisation
Dr. Sharon has an extensive background in the field of infectious diseases. Her research has focused on studying vector-borne viruses like Dengue and Chikungunya, as well as enteroviruses responsible for hand foot and mouth disease, and respiratory viruses that impact the pediatric populations. She has contributed to disease surveillance and outbreak management for Dengue and Chikungunya fever, and H1N1 in Singapore. Moreover, she possesses expertise in fundamental research, having investigated genes that impact stem cells and the immune system, utilizing Drosophila as a model organism. Following almost a decade of research at overseas institutions, Dr. Sharon returned to Sarawak and joined UNIMAS as a postdoctoral researcher, where she investigated the viral etiologies of severe pediatric respiratory illnesses in the Sarawakian population. She has communicated the findings from her research endeavors through publication in multiple high-impact journals and presented in various prestigious international conferences. She has also mentored and supervised several undergraduate students and junior researchers. She earned her PhD from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, a master’s degree in biomedical science from King’s College London in the United Kingdom, and bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Monash University Malaysia. She aims to apply her expertise to support infectious disease research and initiatives in Sarawak through her work at SIDC.
Her research interests include:
1. Vector-borne diseases
2. Pediatric infectious diseases
3. Respiratory illnesses
4. Disease surveillance and epidemiology
SIDC Chronology of Events
Our Research Facilities
Including the BSL-3 Laboratory
