First LASAM International Conference LIC 2024: A Resounding Success

Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur – May 8-9, 2024

The inaugural LASAM International Conference (LIC 2024) marked a significant milestone in the field of animal welfare research, bringing together 102 participants from across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan. An additional 29 participants joined the conference virtually. This inaugural event, chaired by Dr. Muhammad Danial Bin Che Ramli, was held at the Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on May 8-9, 2024.

With the theme “Safeguarding Animal Welfare in Malaysia: Current Acts, Regulations, Practices, and the Role of Researchers,” LIC 2024 fostered insightful discussions, shared groundbreaking research, and established meaningful connections among professionals dedicated to advancing animal welfare.

Keynote and Plenary Speakers

The conference was honoured to have Dr. Rohana Abu Bakar, Director of the Veterinary Research Division at the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Rohana’s address set the tone for the conference, highlighting the critical role of veterinary research in promoting animal welfare.

The plenary session featured a diverse panel of esteemed speakers:

1. Professor Dr. Goh Yong Meng, Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2. Dr. Natasha Karp, Director of Biostatistics, Cambridge, United Kingdom
3. Dr. Vanessa Gris, Cesumar University Center, Brazil
4. Dr. Faisalina Ahmad Fisol, Malaysian Institute of Pharmaceuticals and Nutraceuticals (IPharm)
5. Assoc Prof Dr. Chong Ju Lian, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
6. Assoc Prof Dr. Huda Shalahudin Darusman, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia

Conference Highlights

In addition to the keynote and plenary presentations, LIC 2024 featured a robust programme with 8 poster presentations and 11 oral presentations. Postgraduate presenters were eligible for Best Oral and Best Poster Presentation awards.

Awards

The postgraduate winners were:

• Best Oral Presentation: Salfaizza Shuhaimi from the University of Malaya who won for her research on the “Effects of Hericium erinaceus on Traumatic Brain Injury in Adult Zebrafish”.
• Best Poster Presentation: Priscilla Nasthalina Jabing from Universiti Putra Malaysia who won on her study of “Food Choice Selection Behaviour of Long-Tailed Macaque from Human-Related Incidental Provision”.

LIC 2024 was also a celebration of LASAM’s 30th anniversary. It was 30 years ago, in 1994, that Dr. G. Baskaran and Dr. Fuzina Nor Hussein proposed the formation of an Association of Laboratory Animal Science in Malaysia. The first constitution of the Laboratory Animal Science Association of Malaysia (LASAM) or “Persatuan Sains Haiwan Makmal Malaysia” was submitted to the Registrar of Society of Malaysia (ROS) on the 14th of July 1994, and on 12th October 1995, the first official Annual General Meeting and election of the official office bearers was held with Dr. G. Baskaran as LASAM’s first President.

To symbolize LASAM’s 30 years, a logo design competition was launched at the end of 2023. The theme for the competition was, “30 years of compassion: Celebrating animal welfare and building a future of kindness”. The competition winners were announced during LIC 2024’s closing ceremony.

Mr. Wan Fikri Wan Ahmad, a freelance Multimedia Designer based in Kota Bharu, Kelantan won the Grand Prize! Wan Fikri graduated from Multimedia University (MMU) with a major in Advertising Design in 2019. While at MMU, Wan Fikri established and grew his passion for the creative industry and became passionate about creating designs.

For his fantastic blue, orange and green logo design, which incorporates human palms held out to cradle some common laboratory animals against a backdrop of a paw print and the shape of a heart, Wan Fikri won the grand prize of RM1,000.00 and a certificate.

The competition also acknowledged three consolation prize winners, who won RM100 and a certificate each. The consolation prize winners were Ms. Nur Hani Zulkifli, Ms. Chong Yi Min, and Ms. Nur Atikah Maisarah Abdullah.

Sponsors

LIC 2024 was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors:

• Silver Sponsors: Interscience Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), Shinva (China)
• Bronze Sponsors: Kolo Medical (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (China), Gaia Science (Malaysia), Biomics Solutions (Malaysia), Biosys Corporation (Singapore), Allpets Asia – LabDiet (Singapore)

The success of LIC 2024 has set a high standard for future conferences, and participants are already looking forward to reconvening in 2026. This event has not only advanced the field of animal welfare research but also strengthened the bonds within the international research community.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, speakers, and sponsors for their contributions to this landmark event. Together, we are shaping the future of animal welfare research and practice.

Photo Gallery

For more information and updates on future events, please visit our website.