OXFORD: Malaysian Dr Masliza Mahmod, 48, was recently made associate professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford.
The head of Clinical Trials Group at the Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, received the award in recognition of independent research achievement, along with contributions to the general academic life of the Medical Sciences Division and the department.
"This is for Malaysia. Being here at Oxford, I am in a better position to help Malaysia in Cardiovascular Medicine by opening up training opportunities for Malaysians and for research collaborations.
"I am grateful to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which has allowed me to pursue my career in Oxford following my PhD. It has always been my intention to give back to the country," said Masliza, of Batu Pahat, Johor.
The scientist and her team at Oxford University are working with Institut Jantung Negara to obtain a research grant for Covid-19 research in Malaysia.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in his congratulatory message, said: "There is no stopping her now to achieve greater heights...."
Dr Masliza obtained her DPhil (PhD) in Cardiovascular Medicine from the University of Oxford, Master's of Medicine from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians from the UK and primary medical degree from the University of Otago, New Zealand.
She was awarded Young Investigator Fellowship for her work in hypertension at Malaysian Society of Hypertension in Kuala Lumpur in 2009.
In 2005, her research on newly diagnosed hypertensive won the Young Investigator Award at the Singapore-Malaysia Congress of Medicine.
Masliza is not the first Malaysian to receive the University of Oxford honour - Dr Phaik Yeong Cheah has been associate professor at the venerated institution since 2016, and is currently head of Department of Bioethics and Engagement at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Bangkok.