About the P.I.

Choo Hock Tan is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the School of Medicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan. He is also jointly appointed as a researcher at the Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology of the university. 

 

Choo Hock was trained as a medical doctor (MBBS) in Malaysia before receiving two research doctoral degrees (PhD, MD)  in the field of pharmacology and toxinology from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. 

 

His research focuses on understanding how bioactive compounds such as snake venom proteins work, and how these can be harnessed to improve human health. Currently, Dr. Tan has over 100 publications, an H-index of 33 and around 3,000 citations. More about his academic profile can be found at:

 

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.my/citations?user=cfceeIcAAAAJ&hl=en

Research ID: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/B-9905-2010

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Choo-Tan-2

 

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Internationally, Choo Hock is affiliated to several professional bodies. Among these are:

 

• WHO Snakebite Envenoming Roster of Experts, WHO-appointed member, 2021-present

• Panel of Experts (POE), First-in-Human (FIH) Clinical Investigations, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, 2020-present

• International Society on Toxinology, Life Member

• Malaysian Society on Toxinology, Member cum Honorary Secretary, 2013-present

• Malaysian Medical Council, registered practitioner, 2006-present

• Laboratory Animal Science Association of Malaysia, Life Member

• Young Scientist Network-Academy of Science Malaysia (YSN-ASM), Member, 2023-present

• Young Scientist Network-Academy of Science Malaysia (YSN-ASM), Affiliate member 2018-2022

• Frontiers in Pharmacology, Guest Editor, 2021-2022

• Frontiers in Immunology, Guest Editor, 2021

• Journal of Health and Translational Medicine (JUMMEC), Editor, 2018-present

• Malaysian Medical Association, Ordinary Member

• ASEAN Marine Animals & Snake Envenoming (Poisoning) Management Network (AMSEM), faculty and advisory panel, 2012-present

• Clinical Guidelines for Snakebite Envenoming Management, Ministry of Health, Malaysia, panel and advisory member, 2017-present

• Toxinological Society of India Conference 2015, Faculty

• BioMed Research International Journal, Guest Editor

 

He has also been appointed to serve some administrative roles, including:

 

• Scientific Committee Member, Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee (IACUC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2023)

• Deputy Head, Research Management Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2020)

• Coordinator and Trainer for tutor facilitation and case design, PBL (Problem-Based Learning) Module, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2015-present)

• Acting Head, Research Management Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (24/6/2018-10/8/2018)

• Editor, PULSE@UM, Newsletters for Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2023)

• Chief Editor, MST Newsletter, Malaysian Society on Toxinology (2014-present)

• Coordinator, Science Cafe, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2020)

• Assistant Coordinator, University of Malaya Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya

• Assistant Coordinator, Experimental Animal Ethics Module, Master of Health Research Ethics (MOHRE) program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2020)

• OSH Health Officer, Medical Screening Program, Laboratory Animal Experimental Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya (2018-2019)

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Besides, he has been an active science communicators and has appeared regularly in mass media for talks related to his research expertise. He has also won a number of awards and recognitions, for examples:

 

• Young Investigator Award, Malaysian Society of Physiology and Pharmacology, 2021, Malaysia.

• Second-runner up, FameLab National Science Communication Competition 2020, Malaysia.

• Plaque of Appreciation: Contribution towards humanity, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah, Pakistan, 2020.

• Central Heat Winner and National Finalist, FameLab science communication competition 2020, Malaysia

• National Finalist, Malaysian Research University Network (MYRUN) Pitching for Young Researchers.

• National Finalist, FameLab science communication competition 2018, Malaysia

• Best Poster Award, Conference for Safe and Secure Science, NASEM-ASM, Malaysia, 2018

• Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellent Service Award), University of Malaya, 2016

• Recipient of funded participation for the 3rd Japan Medical Innovation Tour, Kyushu University and Japan Science and Technology Agency, 2016

• Recipient of funded participation for DIES-DAAD ProGrant Workshop (Jakarta) by the University of Cologne, Germany, 2016

• Sijil Perkhidmatan Cemerlang (Excellent Service Certificate), University of Malaya, 2015

• Cover Art Award for Special Issue (FOM Research Week 2015) in the Journal of Health and Translational Medicine, 2015

• Certificate of Appreciation for Significant Contribution as Hon. Secretary of the Malaysian Society on Toxinology, 2015, 2017, 2019

• University of Malaya Excellence Award on Thesis Completion for staff, University of Malaya, 2013/14

• International Award (Young Scientist), Japanese Association of Laboratory Animal Sciences, 2014

• Best Poster Presentation, 38th MSBMB Conference, 2013

• Post-graduate Research Award (Ph.D level) finalist certificate, Post-graduate Research Day & 17th MSMBB, Kuala Lumpur, 2012

• 3-Minute Thesis (Ph.D) Award, second runner-up: Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, University of Malaya, 2012

• Travel Grant Award, Japanese Pharmacological Society, 2011

• Best Oral Free Communication, 24th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society of Pharmacology and Physiology, 2010

• Student Award, Asia-Pacific Joint PBL Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010

• Skim Latihan Akademik Institut Pengajian Tinggi Awam (SLAI) - Scholarship Award, University of Malaya and the Ministry of Higher Education, 2010

• Best Poster Presentation, 18th Scientific Meeting of the Malaysian Society for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 2009

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