Dr Kooi Yeong Khaw joined the School of Pharmacy, Monash Malaysia as an Assistant Lecturer in 2019. He obtained his PhD from the School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland. Kooi-Yeong research interests are drug discovery, green extraction and, pharmaceutical analysis. His long-term career goal is to discover a cost-effective and efficacy drug to improve the quality of life of human beings.

Pharmaceutical Biodiscovery

The primary research interest of our laboratory is focused on Pharmaceutical biodiscovery. We are interested to discover and harness the potential of natural molecules as the next-generation drug candidate for neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease) and cancer.

The laboratory uses various techniques such as extraction, fractionation, semi-synthesis, enzymatic, and molecular biology to identify and characterise novel compounds. Potent compounds will be carried forward to evaluate their mechanisms of action in-vivo with our local and international collaborators.

Green Chemistry

The use of a sustainable and green extraction method for natural products is required in the modern age to minimize environmental impact and ensure the safety of human beings. One of the ways is to reduce and replace the use of toxic, flammable and corrosive solvents in the extraction processes. The use of solventless systems, supercritical fluids and ionic liquids have been advocated as an alternative method to replace the notoriously unfavourable organic solvents. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction offers alternative means for the extraction of natural products. It has been used to extract value-added bioactive compounds such as α-tocopherol, hyperforin and carotenoids. Our laboratory is interested to optimise factors that potentially governed the extraction processes and extraction of novel molecules from natural resources.

Pharmaceutical analysis

Another research domain of our laboratory focused on method development and analysis of active ingredients and contaminants in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and supplements. 

We are keen to work together with researchers from different fields. Prospective postgraduate students with or without funding are welcome to discuss their research interests and work together with us.

PHR 1022 How Medicine works 

PHR 2041 Pain, Dermatology and Wound 

PHR 5252 Inquiry & Innovation Results