QIU is proud to announce that Professor Dr Aman Shah bin Abdul Majid of the Faculty of Medicine has been recognised with the prestigious MRANTI Industrial Grant Award 2026, securing RM1 million in funding to advance research and commercialisation in natural product therapeutics.
Professor Dr Aman Shah, Principal Investigator and Project Leader at QIU’s Department of Pharmacology, Centre for Natural Product and Clinical Research, is leading the project in collaboration with Malaysian biotechnology company Natureceuticals Sdn Bhd. The grant reflects the strength of the university-industry partnership and the growing impact of QIU’s research in translating scientific discoveries into solutions with real-world healthcare applications.
The RM1 million grant will support the development and commercialisation of Nuvastatic, a clinically validated botanical therapeutic being developed for the management of cancer-related fatigue (CRF), an important supportive-care challenge affecting cancer patients.
As Principal Investigator and project lead, Professor Dr Aman Shah brings his expertise in pharmacology, natural product research and translational research to the initiative. His leadership was highlighted by Natureceuticals, which formally acknowledged his contribution and the strength of its collaboration with QIU’s Department of Pharmacology and Centre for Natural Product and Clinical Research.
The grant is being awarded under the MRANTI Dana Pengkomersialan (RMK-13) programme, administered by MRANTI Corporation Sdn Bhd on behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The award is scheduled to be officially conferred at the National Innovation & Commercialisation Expo (NICE) 2026 on 27 August, where it will be presented by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Datuk Chang Lih Kang, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The project will run over a 36-month development and commercialisation period from August 2026 to July 2029, followed by a structured 24-month post-launch support phase. Among its key objectives are increasing sustainable raw material cultivation, enhancing GMP manufacturing capacity, progressing regulatory submissions, generating real-world clinical evidence and strengthening engagement with oncologists through Key Opinion Leader and Continuing Medical Education programmes.
The initiative will also explore strategic distribution partnerships across ASEAN markets, supporting the broader ambition of developing locally driven, evidence-based therapeutic solutions with regional potential.
For QIU, the achievement represents more than a significant research grant. It demonstrates the University’s commitment to fostering research that moves beyond the laboratory, connecting academic expertise with industry capabilities to address pressing healthcare needs.
Through collaborations such as this, QIU continues to strengthen its role in Malaysia’s research and innovation ecosystem, while providing its academics with opportunities to contribute to high-impact projects that can deliver tangible benefits to society.
Professor Dr Aman Shah’s recognition also underscores the calibre of research being undertaken within QIU’s Faculty of Medicine and its Centre for Natural Product and Clinical Research, reinforcing the University’s commitment to advancing innovative approaches in healthcare and natural product science.
The RM1 million award is therefore a significant milestone not only for Professor Dr Aman Shah, but also for QIU’s continuing journey to build impactful university-industry partnerships and translate research excellence into meaningful outcomes for patients and the wider community.
