6 May 2019 (Monday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has won the ‘Best Invention in Biotechnology Award’ Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), a gold and a silver medal at the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition 2019 (ITEX’19) on 5 May in Kuala Lumpur.

The JIPA award certificate and medal received.	Tnah explaining her innovation project to a jury.

ITEX’19, organised by the Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS), was participated by universities, corporate bodies as well as individuals from ASEAN and Asian countries.

FRIM innovation project, ‘DNA Barcording System for Malaysian Plant Species Identification and Authentication – Malaysia Barcode of Plant (MYBOP)’ clinched the JIPA Award and ITEX gold medal. The project headed by Dr Tnah Lee Hong and Dr Lee Soon Leong from FRIM Genetics Laboratory (MG) was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) in 2017 as being the “First to use DNA Barcoding System for Malaysian Plant Species Identification and Authentication”.

DNA barcoding is a diagnostic technique using DNA for species identification and authentication. The technique can be used to verify the raw material species, to detect pollution of herbal products in the herbal industry, as well as to help the timber industry in identifying wood species.

From left: Teng, Lee, Mohamad Nasir, Ng and Tnah posing for a photograph at the FRIM exhibition booth.

The project on ‘MYBiocide: An Effective Solution for Tropical Wood’ led by FRIM Wood Protection Branch Head Dr Mohamad Nasir Mat Arip won the ITEX silver medal.

Also present, MG Researcher Dr Kevin Ng Kit Siong dan MYBiocide collaborator from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Teng Teck Jin.