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Inaugural Dentistry Research Day Showcases Student Research and Professional Knowledge Exchange

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On 4 September 2026, ten final-year (Year 3) UBD dental students presented their research at the inaugural Dentistry Research Day to practising dental professionals from the Ministry of Health and academics from PAPRSB IHS.

The half-day event showcased projects undertaken as part of Special Study Module 2 (SSM2), a research component of the undergraduate dental curriculum. Each presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session and assessed by judges from UBD and the Ministry of Health, allowing students to receive professional feedback and discuss their findings.

The Guest of Honour was Dr Hajah Mawarti binti Haji Emran, Director of Dental Services, Ministry of Health. Other attendees included Chief Clinical of Specialist Services Dr Norazah Abu Bakar; Deputy Chiefs Clinical of Specialist Services Dr Siti Waznah binti Haji Abdul Wahab and Dr Jacqueline Maryam Kamaluddin; Dean of PAPRSB IHS Professor Kenneth Kok Yuh Yen; Deputy Deans Pg Dr Hjh Nurolaini Pg Hj Muhd Kifli and Dr Hjh Fazean Irdayati Hj Idris; and Dentistry Programme Leader Dr Mary Cheong Poh Hua.

The event strengthened engagement between academia and clinical practice, helping students develop scientific communication skills and explore how their findings could support evidence-based oral healthcare. It concluded with a prize-giving ceremony, with Sim Jia Wei awarded first place, Siti Farzana binti Abu Kasim second place, and Syafiah Widadina binti Haji Mohamad Sahraini third place.

Welcome IHS Freshies

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PAPRSB IHS Welcomes a New Semester

By: Dr May Goh Poh Yik

2 September 2026

 

PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) warmly welcomes approximately 200 new students as it begins a new academic semester running from September 2026 to January 2027.

Before joining the Institute, the students participated in UniStart, UBD’s university-wide freshers’ programme, from 17 to 21 August. The week featured activities centred on personal values, strengths, resilience and wellbeing, national identity, leadership, community engagement and sports.

This was followed by the PAPRSB IHS Faculty Orientation on 24 and 26 August. Students were introduced to UBD’s academic systems and the Institute’s management team, while briefings covered academic, programme, health and safety matters. They also met their academic mentors, toured the faculty’s teaching and clinical facilities, and—where applicable—attended a problem-based learning workshop.

The programme concluded with an energetic ice-breaking and interprofessional education session led by the IHS Student Council. Through games and group activities, students from Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Midwifery, Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy began building connections across programmes, marking a positive start to their journey at PAPRSB IHS.

Beyond 44 Now Available Online

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Wrap-Up Summary: UBD–Snibe Symposium 2026

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Group Photo at Closing

UBD–Snibe Symposium 2026 Showcases Advances in Laboratory Medicine

By: Dr Liyana Ahmad

On: 23 June 2026

 

Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), in collaboration with Shenzhen New Industries Biomedical Engineering Co Ltd (Snibe), hosted the UBD-Snibe Symposium 2026 to discuss emerging developments in diagnostic science and laboratory medicine from 20th to 21st June 2026 at Pro-Chancellor Arts Centre, UBD.

Held under the theme ‘Advances in Clinical Chemistry & Immunoassay Technologies,’ the symposium was organised with support from RTCT Diagnostics and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) and was held in conjunction with the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE).

The opening ceremony was officiated by UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr. Hazri Haji Kifle as the guest of honour. The event attracted over 100 participants from across Brunei Darussalam and the region, bringing together researchers, clinicians, laboratory professionals, policymakers, academics, students, and industry experts.

The symposium marked a significant milestone as the first scientific symposium jointly organised by UBD and Snibe in Brunei Darussalam. Building on a strategic partnership established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2025 between UBD and Snibe, the event reflected a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration among academia, healthcare institutions, policymakers, and industry partners to advance laboratory medicine and diagnostic innovation. Key initiatives under the MoU include student and staff exchange programmes, internship opportunities, joint research projects in biomedical innovation, and specialised training programmes in advanced biomedical diagnostics, laying the foundation for sustained capacity building and scientific advancement in the region.

In her welcoming remarks, the chairperson of the UBD-Snibe Symposium 2026 and the Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation & Sustainability) at PAPRSB IHS Dr. Suwarni Haji Md Diah, highlighted the importance of innovative diagnostic technologies in improving patient care, enabling early disease detection, and supporting evidence-based clinical decision-making. She noted that the symposium aligned closely with Brunei Darussalam’s aspirations to strengthen healthcare quality, enhance laboratory capacity, and develop a future-ready healthcare workforce.

Vice President of International Business at Snibe, Lucy Liu, emphasised their commitment to promoting technological innovation, academic sharing, and clinical transformation in laboratory medicine through their partnership with UBD, and remarked that at Snibe, they will continuously upgrade intelligent diagnostic solutions, empower local laboratory construction, and jointly safeguard public health and well-being across Brunei Darussalam and the surrounding region.

The two-day programme comprised three plenary sessions, a panel discussion, a technology spotlight session, and a poster pitch session. It featured presentations by internationally renowned experts on immunoassay technologies, laboratory automation, biomarker discovery, quality assurance, and diagnostics for non-communicable diseases. Participants also explored the translation of diagnostic innovation into clinical practice, laboratory standards, and workforce development through expert discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions.

The poster pitch session provided a platform for students and early-career researchers to present their work and engage with experts and participants. The session concluded with a poster competition, where Nur Izzah Binti Bungsu (PhD in Biomedical Sciences, PAPRSB IHS), received first place, Dr. Hjh Nur Atiqah binti Hj Suhaili (Research Assistant, Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, UBD) was awarded second place, and Amira Asyiqin Abdul Wahab (MHSc in Biomedical Science, PAPRSB IHS) received third place for their outstanding presentations.

The symposium strengthened academic-industry collaboration, enhanced understanding of emerging diagnostic technologies, and supported capacity building within Brunei Darussalam’s laboratory workforce. It also lays the foundation for future partnerships in research, professional development, and healthcare innovation.

In his closing remarks, the co-chairperson of the symposium and the Programme Leader of the Biomedical Science programme at PAPRSB IHS Dr. Muhammad Hazim Haji Abdul Ghani, expressed hope that the professional connections and collaborative opportunities that have emerged from this symposium have the potential to strengthen research, education, innovation, and healthcare delivery both nationally and beyond. Through the symposium, UBD and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, fostering meaningful collaboration, and supporting excellence in healthcare for the benefit of Brunei Darussalam and the wider region.