2021 CAAD Event

Recently, Prof. Subha Bhassu from Animal Genetics and Genome Evolutionary Lab (AGAGEL), University of Malaya, had attended the "3rd International Symposium on The Control of Aquatic Animal Diseases (2021 CAAD)" event as an invited speaker. A Ph.D. student of AGAGEL lab, Christie Soo, who is at the end of his Ph.D. years, also joined the event as a student oral presenter. This virtual conference was organised by National Cheng Kung University (NCKU). The joint participations by NCKU and UM can foster deeper collaborations in teaching, research, and translation of research to community. AGAGEL lab was represented by Prof. Subha Bhassu, Mr. Christie Soo, postgraduate students, and undergraduate students. The titles of the talks were “Biology and evolutionary dynamics of selected functional genes in crustaceans” (Prof. Subha Bhassu) and “Shrimp health diagnosis and disease control through biochemical, gut microbiome, and immune genes strategies” (Mr. Christie Soo).

The event was organized on 10 September 2021 and went on smoothly with great research work presentations by various plenary or invited speakers, including Prof Ikuo Hirono (Japan), Prof. Hidehiro Kondo (Japan), Prof. Sasimanas Unajak (Thailand), Prof. Yu-Hung Lin (Taiwan), Prof. Mary Beth B. Maningas (Philippines), Dr. Keiichiro Koiwai (Japan), Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos (Philippines), Prof. Shang-Yin Vanson Liu (Taiwan), Prof. Goshi Kato (Japan), Prof. Han-Ching Wang (Taiwan), Dr. Rod Russel R. Alenton (USA), Prof. Kunlaya Somboonwiwat (Thailand), and Prof. Shih-Shun Lin (Taiwan). The virtual platforms utilized especially Gather Town were unique and interesting which also brought valuable interactive opportunities between participants. Exposure to different research works in the field of aquatic animal diseases had definitely boosted our motivation and interest in research. This is supported by the personal experience of Mr. Christie Soo, who not only gained further research motivation, but was also able to communicate and link with previously or newly known researchers. This conference can pave the way for tighter research collaborations between ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, and Philippines, to achieve stronger competitive spirit and power at global level. Thank you from AGAGEL team.

Posted by: Christie Soo (Lab Manager/Ph.D. Student)