Universiti Malaya (UM) Biomedical Engineering final year undergraduate, Isma Danial Ahmad Nasir, recently won a Gold Award at the INNOMD: Innovation Pitching Powered by PERANTIM, held during the International Healthcare Week 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.
Guided under the supervision of Professor Ir. Dr. Fatimah Ibrahim, Director of the Center for Innovation in Medical Engineering (CIME), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UM, Isma impressed both the judges and the audience with his pitch.
He presented an innovation he co-developed at CIME titled A Low-Cost, Portable, and Mobile-Based Bioimpedance Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema (BRCL) Diagnosis and Monitoring System (Mobilymph). Isma further refined the concept and delivered a compelling presentation that not only promoted the innovation but also captivated nine panellists and an audience of nearly 200 and stakeholders from the healthcare sector, making him one of the standout participants of the event.
The INNOMD is Malaysia’s first open platform dedicated exclusively to medical device innovation, providing a transparent stage for researchers, startups, and inventors to showcase solutions directly to investors, regulators, and industry leaders. Unlike traditional closed-door competitions, INNOMD champions collaboration, visibility, and pathways to commercialisation. This year’s edition saw participation from seven universities, including UKM, University of Cyberjaya, MAHSA University, and Asia Pacific University, each presenting their cutting-edge healthcare technologies.
The competition was powered by Persatuan Anggota Industri Perubatan dan Kesihatan Malaysia (PERANTIM), a national association that brings together professionals and stakeholders across Malaysia’s medical and healthcare industry. PERANTIM plays an active role in strengthening Malaysia’s medical technology ecosystem by bridging academia, industry, and government agencies through initiatives like INNOMD, aimed at positioning Malaysia as a regional hub for healthcare innovation.
“This award highlights the creativity and technical skills of our students in transforming healthcare challenges into impactful innovations,” said Prof. Fatimah. “Such achievements not only showcase their potential but also reflect the importance of collaboration between academia and industry.”
Beyond the competition, Isma also gained valuable hands-on experience through research opportunities at CIME and through collaborations with Lightnium International Sdn. Bhd., a medical device design, development, and consultancy company. His current project focuses on the development of a low-cost, portable EMG-based Neck Pain Monitoring System integrated with a mobile application. The prototype, designed to capture neck muscle activity and provide real-time feedback through a smartphone, demonstrates strong potential as an accessible tool for both clinical and personal health monitoring.
Reflecting on his journey, Isma shared, “The opportunity to pitch in front of experts and to be involved in research and development at CIME and Lightnium International has been invaluable. Winning the award was an honour, but what matters most is the potential of these innovations to improve patient care.”
Further details about the competition may be acquired from Prof Ir Dr Fatimah Ibrahim, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, at fatimah@um.edu.my