Meet Cancer Research Malaysia’s founding chief executive Professor Dr Teo Soo-Hwang, who led Cancer Research Malaysia to become a leading force in cancer research, making significant breakthroughs in genetic studies and personalised risk assessment tools
In the field of medical research, few stories are as inspiring as that of Professor Dr Teo Soo-Hwang, the founding chief executive of Cancer Research Malaysia. From her days as a Yayasan Sime Darby scholar to leading groundbreaking cancer research efforts in Malaysia, Teo’s journey exemplifies passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
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Teo recalls her time at Cambridge with a sense of awe and gratitude. “Being a Yayasan Sime Darby scholar at the University of Cambridge, I had the privilege of meeting Nobel laureates and many other super smart people who were making incredible discoveries in human health that would change the way we prevent and cure diseases,” she shares.
However, this exposure illuminated a stark reality: much of the research was Eurocentric, with little focus on the Asian population. So, when approached by Tan Sri Tunku Ahmad Yahaya about establishing cancer research in Malaysia, Teo saw a unique opportunity to serve and learn simultaneously. “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure,” she reflects.
Setting up Cancer Research Malaysia came with its share of challenges. As a young woman of Chinese descent, convincing donors and building an organisation from scratch in a low and middle-income setting was daunting. “It wasn’t easy to persuade donors to start everything from scratch, especially for something as cutting-edge as medical research,” she explains. Her success is attributed to the support of a fantastic board of trustees, generous donors like Yayasan Sime Darby and Yayasan Petronas, and a team of dedicated, intelligent individuals.
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Reflecting on her career, Teo admits to bouts of self-doubt. “Even I had suffered from impostor syndrome! If I could go back and mentor myself, I would tell my younger self that it is ok to fail and it is ok to be vulnerable,” she advises. One piece of advice from her mentor that has stayed with her is, “Don’t be afraid, just GO!” It’s a mantra she wishes to pass on to the younger generation, encouraging them to pursue their passions fearlessly.
