Highest honour: Prof Lim is the latest recipient of the prestigious Sandosham Gold Medal.
THE word “Parasite” may bring to mind the titular 2019 South Korean Oscar-winning film for many people.
However, for Prof Dr Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, parasites hold a special place in her heart for an entirely different reason.
For nearly three decades, she has studied parasitic infections among underserved indigenous communities while also educating the next generation of students in the Department of Parasitology at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Medicine since 2003.
With climate change intensifying globally, Prof Lim says it is crucial that more people, especially the younger generation, take an interest in parasitology.
“Parasitic infections are very much related to the tropical belt, where the hot and humid environment allows parasites to thrive.
“Global warming, driven by climate change, could cause the tropical belt to expand, which means more countries may be affected by parasitic infections,” she told StarEdu.
Postulating that the study of parasites will become even more important, Prof Lim said the world will need experts to address this growing concern when the time comes.
The latest recipient of the prestigious Sandosham Gold Medal, however, highlighted that parasites should not be viewed solely as harmful, as studies related to the hygiene hypothesis have shown that small amounts of parasitic infections can actually be beneficial.
“That’s the interesting part about these infections. There’s always a threshold, so we need to learn to keep it under control to ensure it benefits us rather than becoming detrimental,” said Prof Lim, who received the award at the 21st International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria on Sept 22, 2024.
Awarded every three years, the Sandosham Gold Medal is the highest honour conferred by the Malaysian Society of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (MSPTM) to outstanding scientists for their achievements in parasitology and tropical medicine.
“Being able to receive this award and be recognised in this manner is truly an honour.
“It has not always been smooth sailing, but I have had an amazing journey as both a woman researcher and a career mother, with strong support from my family,” said Prof Lim, who is also the co-chair of the Asia Pacific Women in Leadership Programme under the Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
The award is another milestone in Prof Lim’s illustrious career. Over the years, she has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition by Stanford University as one of the world’s top 2% of scientists in her field of expertise in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
Counting the late Universiti Sains Malaysia Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr C.P. Ramachandran – the first recipient of the Sandosham Gold Medal – as one of her inspirational figures, Prof Lim said she was even more drawn to parasitology when she found the experts in the field to be very “enlightened, united, and always helping each other”.
“It’s so important to have mentors because they are the ones who will encourage us. Senior members (past and present) of the MSPTM have been very instrumental in shaping and moulding me, encouraging me in different ways,” said Prof Lim, who joined the society as an undergraduate in 1996.
Describing parasites as beautiful and mysterious, Prof Lim, who earned her bachelor’s degree and PhD in zoology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said it was her fascination with living things – especially animals – and how diseases come about that first drew her to study these organisms.
She added that another factor that drew her to this field was knowing that parasitic infections are very much related to underserved communities.
“I always thought we can contribute back to society. When I was doing my final year in university, I conducted a project where I engaged with the Orang Asli community. It was then that the whole idea about parasitic diseases became real to me,” she recalled.
She also said seeing Prof Ramachandran conducting presentations as a World Health Organization representative gave her insights into the global context.
She realised then that it was not just a Malaysian problem but a global issue for which “we need to come together and provide a shared solution”.
“That was very powerful because it provided me with a sense of purpose. I like to be of help,” she enthused.
On managing parasitic infections among the underserved, she said providing appropriate accessible treatment and ensuring regular compliance are crucial.“We encourage them to stay on treatment so that they get better and, at the same time, work on reducing misconceptions and discrimination. It’s important that we educate healthcare workers as well as the community,” she said.
To aspiring researchers, Prof Lim, who has supervised over 40 postgraduates at UM to completion, emphasised the importance of incorporating both field-based observations and lab-based data in research.
She also called on senior researchers to encourage the younger generation to be at the forefront.
“When we do research, it is to bring solutions back to the people. When we are able to do this, we need to share with others, encourage the junior ones to come along, introduce them to collaborators and give them the platform to speak.
“We need to spread the seeds of positivity. That’s very important, even in the research field,” she said.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1 List at least three new facts you learnt from reading this article. Write them down in your notebook.
2 A parasitologist is a scientist who studies parasites. Can you think of other types of scientists? Do some simple research and create a list of five. Then, with a partner, play a game of charades. Take turns acting out the roles of the scientists without speaking, while the other guesses who they are. Have fun!
Li Lian, 19, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.
For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
