CANCER Research Malaysia (CRMY) announced the retirement of Professor Datin Paduka Dr Teo Soo Hwang, the founding Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), effective April 30, 2024.
Serving as the Founding Chief Executive from January 2001 to March 2003 and again from July 2006 to February 2020, she has been a driving force behind numerous groundbreaking initiatives.
CRMY has emerged as a leading force in cancer research, making significant breakthroughs in genetic studies and personalised risk assessment tools. Under her leadership, CRMY initiated the Malaysian Breast Cancer Genetic Study, leading to significant advancements in understanding cancer risk factors and the development of the Asian Genetic Risk Calculator (ARiCa).[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]
In recognition of her contributions, Teo was honoured with the title of Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 2018, a testament to her dedication to advancing medical research.
Reflecting on her retirement, Teo said, “The best time for a founder to move on is when the organisation is strong. I realised that CRMY is much bigger than any one individual and that to grow, it must evolve. Having a leader stay for too long can inhibit this evolution.”
Stepping into the role of Chief Scientific Officer is Professor Dr Cheong Sok Ching, an esteemed scientist and leader in translational cancer biology and digital health.
Her research focuses on refining cancer treatment and patient outcomes by investigating cancer development at a molecular level. Having been a part of CRMY’s family since 2002, Cheong initially joined as a Postdoctoral Fellow and has steadily progressed to the role of Senior Group Leader in 2016.
Just before this latest promotion, Cheong held the position of Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for the past several years since before the pandemic. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently demonstrated a strong dedication to advancing cancer research and innovation, making significant contributions to the organisation’s mission.
One of Cheong’s notable achievements is the development of the MeMoSA (Mobile Mouth Screening Anywhere) app, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital health platform for early detection of oral cancer.
Her groundbreaking work on MeMoSA earned her the Senior Scientist Category award in the 8th Underwriters Laboratories-Asean-US Science Prize for Women in 2022.
“I want science in our country to work well, with everyone involved, like ministries and businesses, working together for good changes that last. By fostering strong partnerships and alignment across sectors, we can ensure that advancements in science benefit everyone, driving progress and prosperity for generations to come,” said Cheong.
Andy Khoo, CEO of Cancer Research Malaysia, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, warmly welcomed Cheong Sok Ching into her new role as the organisation’s Chief Scientific Officer. He shared that the Board of Trustees expressed tremendous excitement about looking forward to Cheong’s fresh scientific leadership in advancing the organisation’s future research efforts.
Khoo also emphasised Cheong’s pivotal role in driving forward the organisation’s research initiatives in past projects and is anticipating her contributions to further advance CRMY’s mission in combating cancer.
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