Dr Cheong Sok Ching

Group Leader, Oral Cancer
Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF)

Dr. Cheong received her first class honours degree in Biochemistry from the National University of Malaysia (UKM) and conducted her PhD studies in both the National Universiti of Malaysia (UKM) and St. Georges Hospital Medical School in London. Currently, Prof. Cheong leads the Oral Cancer Research Team at the Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (a non-governmental, non-profit research institute; CARIF). She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya. In collaboration with clinicians and scientists from local and international institutes, she and her team focuses on identifying the genes that drive oral cancer development that may be used as predictive markers, or developed further as therapeutic targets. In addition, Professor Cheong and her team are involved in creating awareness towards oral cancer in Malaysia and her work in this area has been supported by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Her work is recognized internationally and she has been presented with a number of awards including the Norman-Rowe Educational Trust, Loreal for Women in Science Award, AACR Scholar-In-Training Award, and several UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) Fellowships to work with other international scientists. She has published in both local and international peer-reviewed journals and is involved in reviewing papers and grants from international bodies including grants from the UICC.