Staff Directory


Norafiza Binti Zainuddin

Academic Qualification

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Genetics - Doctor of Philosophy, Uppsala University, Sweden
  • Master of Science (Medical Sciences) - Masters Degree, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science) - Bachelor Degree, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

Norafiza Binti Zainuddin (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)

Associate Professor
IIUM Kuantan Campus

KULLIYYAH OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES


znorafiza@iium.edu.my
5232


Expert Profile


Dr. Norafiza Zainuddin is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, IIUM. Dr. Norafiza obtained her BSc (Hon) from University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Campus in Biomedical Science. She completed a 4-year research Masters degree from Universiti Sains Malaysia in the field of Human Genetics. She then pursued her PhD at the Uppsala University, Sweden in 2006 in the field of Oncology and Clinical Genetics, under the Islamic Development Bank (Jeddah) Scholarship Award, Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology. Upon completion of PhD, she returned to Malaysia in May 2010 and continued her career as an academician at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus. Her main research interests are in molecular biology, genetics and epigenetics. Dr. Norafiza is committed to promoting sustainability and STEM education among schoolchildren, and highly supported sustainable ecotourism practices in community, particularly in Pahang. She is currently involved in community-based awareness, prevention and response on zoonotic leptospirosis and melioidosis, which is a collaborative project composed of IIUM Biomedical Science and Marine Science researchers. She is also actively conducting assessments on COVID-19 transmission knowledge and preventive actions in ecotourism areas with a group of IIUM Biomedical Science researchers and collaborators from the Department of Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA. Apart from these, Dr. Norafiza is also involved in a joint research project with Universiti Putra Malaysia on the molecular characterization of Canine Distemper virus as a threat to the Malayan Tiger. In addition, she has a deep interest and long-term engagement in molecular genetics and epigenetics fundamental research. One of her active projects is to identify lactation-specific microRNAs, which may be potential biomarkers that contribute to milk-kinship in Islam. In her previous research, Dr. Norafiza had explored the roles of DNA methylation, mutation, polymorphism, gene expression and microRNA overexpression in B cell lymphomas and other cancers, as well as in trisomy 21 cases. 


Area of Specialisation


  • Biotechnology ~ Biotechnology ~ Molecular Biology ~ Other Molecular Biology n.e.c. - Molecular Biology of Cancer
  • Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Genetics ~ Molecular Genetics - Genetics, Epigenetics, SNP, Pyrosequencing, DNA Methylation
  • Natural Science ~ Biological Sciences ~ Genetics ~ Other Genetics n.e.c. - Clinical Genetics and Cancer Research


Professional Membership


  • 2015 - 2016: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Associate Member), Malaysian Oncological Society
  • 2017 - 2018: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Member), Human Genome Organisation
  • 2018: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Lifetime Member), Malaysian Association for Cancer Research
  • 2018: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Lifetime Member), Persatuan Sains Bioperubatan Malaysia
  • 2021: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Lifetime Member), Abu Hurairah Sociey for Animals (reg no PPM-101-10-28082019)
  • 2021: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Lifetime Member), Persatuan Sains Bioperubatan Negeri Pahang
  • 2022: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Lifetime Member), Malaysian Society of Human Genetics
  • 2024 - 2024: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Ordinary Member), Persatuan Genetik Malaysia
  • 2024 - 2024: Member of Profesional Body / Association: (Ordinary Member), Malaysian Society For Biochemistry and Molecular Biology


Teaching Responsibilities


ADVANCED HAEMATOLOGY 2017/2018 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
ADVANCES IN BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2019/2020
BASIC IMMUNOLOGY 2014/2015 2013/2014
BASIC PATHOLOGY 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019
BIOMEDICAL PRACTICUM A 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016
BIOMEDICAL PRACTICUM B 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016
BIOMEDICAL PRACTICUM I 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021
BIOMEDICAL PRACTICUM II 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR HEALTH SCIENCE 2012/2013
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2012/2013
EMBRYOLOGY & ONCOLOGY 2013/2014
ETHICS & LAW FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2019/2020 2017/2018 2015/2016
ETHICS AND LAW FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021
FINAL YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT 1 2019/2020 2018/2019 2016/2017
FINAL YEAR RESEARCH PROJECT 2 2018/2019 2017/2018
FOUNDATION PATHOLOGY 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
FOUNDATION PATHOLOGY FOR MEDICAL IMAGING 2021/2022 2020/2021 2018/2019 2017/2018
FUNCTIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY 2011/2012
GENETICS 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
HAEMATOLOGY 2023/2024 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019
HAEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY 2013/2014 2011/2012
HUMAN GENETIC 2012/2013
IMMUNOLOGY 2013/2014
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014 2012/2013
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 2011/2012
Molecular Biology 2015/2016 2012/2013 2011/2012
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & CYTOGENETIC TECHNIQUES 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TECHNIQUES 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020
MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021
NUTRITION AND GENES 2012/2013 2010/2011
OCULAR GENETICS 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019
PAEDIATRIC AUDIOLOGY & SPEECH 2016/2017 2015/2016 2012/2013
PAEDIATRICS AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018
Paediatrics for Audiology and Speech Sciences 2023/2024 2022/2023
PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY 2012/2013
PATHOLOGY 2013/2014
PATHOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
PATHOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2021/2022 2020/2021
PATHOLOGY, HISTOPATHOLOGY & CYTOLOGY 2017/2018 2016/2017 2015/2016 2014/2015 2013/2014
PRINCIPLES OF GENETICS 2023/2024 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021 2019/2020 2018/2019 2017/2018
RESEARCH PROJECT 1 2021/2022 2020/2021
RESEARCH PROJECT 2 2022/2023 2021/2022 2020/2021


Supervision


Indentifying The Dna Methylation Differences In Cell-Free Fetal Dna (Ccfdna) & Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitudes Of Pregnant Women For Ccfdna- Based Prenatal Diagnosis Of Trisomy.
Ph.D In Progress Main Supervisor
Collaboration Between Allied Science And O&G In A New Subject Related To Genetic Engineering That Might Open A New Scope For Future Health Problem Solving.
Master Completed 2022 Co-supervisor
Phylogenetic Analyses Of Malaysia Sea Anemone In Selected Locations.
Master Completed 2022 Co-supervisor
Identification Of Epigenetic Methylation Silencing In Diffusing Large B Cell Lymphoma In East Coast Malaysia.
Master Completed 2016 Main Supervisor
Ibdv 3529/92 Segment A Orf 2 Gene Analysis And Expression Studies In Pichia Pastoris.
Master Completed 2015 Co-supervisor
In Vitro Cytotoxicity Study Of Melastoma Malabathricum Linn.: The Effects Toward Mmp-13 Expression And Apoptosis.
Master Completed 2015 Co-supervisor
Cloning And Production Of Fused Protein Consisting Of Viral Protein 2 From Infectious Bursal Disease Virus And Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase From Newcastle Disease Virus.
Master Completed 2015 Co-supervisor
Specific Micrornas Among Milk Siblings: Anepigenetics Approach Towards Understanding Thebasis Of Milk Kinship.
Master In Progress Main Supervisor


Research Projects


Completed
2018 - 2020 Transferring knowledge on childhood sexual abuse to kindergarten teachers
2015 - 2019 Circulating microRNA Expression in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Towards Understanding of its Role in Oncogenesis and Tumor Progression.
2014 - 2018 Epigenetics of Schizophrenia: A Focus on the DNA Methylation Mechanism and Expression of DISC1 Gene
2013 - 2016 The Epigenetics Status of B-Cell Lymphoma In Malaysia: A Focus on DNA Methylation and Gene Expression.
2012 - 2013 Exploring the Knowledge and Awareness of University Students on the Deadly Diseases, Cervical Cancer and H1N1 Influenza, as well as the Practice of Vaccination against HPV and H1N1
2011 - 2014 RU 2011 -In vitro anticancel activityof underutilized Melastoma malabathricum L (senduduk) on several cancer cell lines.
2011 - 2013 RU 2011 - Genetic screening of the Common GJB2 (Connexin26) 35DELG Mutation in Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss Patient at IIUM Hearing and Speech Clinic.
2010 - 2012 Food Habits among Adolescents with Reported Parental Overweight
2010 - 2013 Formation of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus-Like Particles in Pichia Pastoris
On-Going
2023 - Present Sustainable EcoTourism Practices in Kampung Kuala Sat, Jerantut, Pahang: Community-based Awareness, Prevention and Response on Zoonotic Leptospirosis and Melioidosis Diseases
2023 - Present Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Assessments on COVID- 19 Transmission Knowledge and Preventive Actions among Operators of International Attraction Ecotourism Areas in Rural Pahang State, Malaysia.
2021 - Present CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR GENETICS STUDIES ON DOMESTIC AND STRAY DOGS AND ITS THREAT TO THE CONSERVATION OF MALAYAN TIGER (Panthera tigris tigris Jacksonii)
2019 - Present Specific microRNAs among milk siblings: An epigenetics approach towards understanding the basis of milk kinship
2015 - Present Identifying the DNA Methylation Differences in Cell-free Fetal DNA: An Approach towards Non-invasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Trisomy 21 in Malaysia
2015 - Present Differential Expression and Pathway Analysis of miR-744 AND Mir-101 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
2013 - Present IIUM MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY RESEARCH CLUSTER (iMoleC)


Award & Recognition


04 Jun, 2007 Merit Scholarship Programme for High Technology - Islamic Development Bank International


Publications


Article

2023 Antibody response against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom Coronavirus 2 messenger Ribonucleic Acid vaccines in infected individuals: a systematic review. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 30 (3) pp. 8-24
2023 Antibody response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines in infected individuals: a systematic review. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 30 (4) pp. 8-24
2023 Genetic and maternal factors in Hyperemesis Gravidarum: a systematic review. Journal of Health and Translational Medicine, 26 (1) pp. 38-48
2023 Specific microRNAs among milk siblings: an epigenetics approach towards understanding the basis of milk kinship. Asia Pacific Journal of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, 31 (2) pp. 86-86
2022 Genetic and maternal factors in Hyperemesis Gravidarum: a systematic review. Journal of Health and Translational Medicine (JUMMEC), () pp.
2022 Knowledge and attitude towards biomedical science career options among biomedical science undergraduate students in International Islamic University Malaysia. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 6 (2) pp. 2610-2617
2021 Human milk MicroRNAs in the development of infant’s immune system: a systematic review. Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (JBCS), 6 (1) pp. 10-15
2021 Optimization of cell-free plasma RNA extraction for downstream application. Science Letters, 15 (2) pp. 60-78
2021 The application and factors influencing the implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) worldwide: a review. International Journal of Allied Health Science, 4 (4) pp. 1671-1682
2020 A survey on medication adherence and knowledge on hyperlipidaemia among hyperlipidaemia patients attending the IIUM Family Health Clinic, Kuantan. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 4 (2) pp. 1223-1235
2020 Quality of life of hypertensive patients visiting the Family Health Clinic, IIUM Kuantan. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 9 (5) pp. 63-74
2019 Microrna as a potential biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a systematic review. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 3 (2) pp. 694-724
2019 Microrna as a potential biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a systematic review. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences (IJAHS), 3 (2) pp. 694-724
2018 Knowledge and perception regarding colorectal cancer among IIUM Kuantan undergraduates. Asian Journal of Medicine and Biomedicine, 2 (1) pp. 6-15
2018 Knowledge and perception regarding prenatal genetic screening of thalassemia, down syndrome and neural tube defects: a study among IIUM Kuantan undergraduates. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 18 (1) pp. 88-96
2017 Knowledge and perception on lung cancer and its screening: a study among undergraduate students of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus. Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 2 (2) pp. 61-66
2017 MGMT and SPOCK2 promoter methylation in diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma: a study in two tertiary health centres in the East Coast of Malaysia = Metilasi promoter MGMT dan SPOCK2 dalam diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: satu kajian yang dijalankan di dua pusat Kesihatan di Pantai Timur Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences, 15 (2) pp. 77-82
2017 p16 tumor suppressor gene methylation in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a study of 88 cases at two hospitals in the East Coast of Malaysia. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 18 (10) pp. 2781-2785
2017 The presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in hps4 gene in a subset of schizophrenic patients in Pahang: a preliminary study. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 1 (2) pp. 14-27
2016 Pyrosequencing-based quantitative identification of p16 methylation in diffuse large b-cell lymphoma at two centres in the east coast of malaysia. Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 1 (1) pp. 12-17
2015 Epigenetic silencing status of p16INK4a and MGMT promoter regions identified qualitatively in diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Public Health Genomics, 18 (supp.1) pp. 20-20
2014 Expression of segment a of infectious bursal disease virus in pichia pastoris. Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology, 8 spl () pp. 875-879
2014 The MDM2 polymorphism SNP309 is associated with clinical characteristics and outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. European Journal of Haematology, 93 (6) pp. 500-508
2013 Cytotoxicity effect of melastoma malabatricum on skin melanoma and cervical cancer in vitro. The Open Conference Proceedings Journal, 4 () pp. 249-249
2013 Genomic analysis and comparison of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) affecting Malaysian poultry chickens with other IBDV strains. Annals of Biological Research, 4 (5) pp. 92-104
2011 Is a TNF alpha polymorphism responsible for mutations in the TP53 gene?. Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 73 (2) pp. 154-155
2011 Quantitative evaluation of p16INK4a promoter methylation using pyrosequencing in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Leukemia Research, 35 (4) pp. 438-443
2011 TP53 mutations are infrequent in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukimia. Leukemia Research, 35 (2) pp. 272-274
2011 TP53 mutations are infrequent in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukimia. Leukemia Research, 35 (2) pp. 272-274
2010 Lack of association between the MDM2 promoter polymorphism SNP309 and clinical outcome in chronic lymphocytic leukimia. Leukemia Research, 34 (3) pp. 335-339
2008 TP53 mutations predict for poor survival in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of germinal center subtype. Leukemia Research, 33 () pp. 60-66
2005 Malignant glioma: The involvement of loss of allelic heterozygosity and PTEN mutations in a group of Malay patients. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, 36 (3) pp. 748-756
2004 Loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 10q, 9p, 17p and 13q in malays with malignant glioma.. Neurological Research , 26 (1) pp. 88-92
2004 Presence of allelic loss and PTEN mutations in malignant gliomas from Malay patients. Medical Journal of Malaysia, 59 (4) pp. 468-479
2003 Molecular genetic analysis of phosphatase and tensin homolog and p16 tumor suppressor genes in patients with malignant glioma. Neurosurgical Focus, 14 (4) pp. 1-7
Conference or Workshop Item

2023 Specific MicroRNAs among milk siblings: an epigenetics approach towards understanding the basis of milk kinship. In: 6th International Conference on Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (ICMBB2023),
2022 Effects of different incubation times toward RNA recovery in plasma RNA extraction. In: Asian Conference on Biomedical Research and Laboratory Medicine 2021,
2022 Roles of human milk miRNAs and microbiota in infants gut: a systematic review. In: International Conference on Shariah Compliant Breastfeeding Practices 2022,
2019 Fetal down syndrome: determining the risk based on fetal-specific DNA methylation ratio. In: 5th International Conference on Public Health (ICOPH 2019),
2019 Knowledge on Down Syndrome and Down Syndrome prenatal screening tests among pregnant women in Kuantan, Pahang. In: International Postgraduate Research Conference (2nd IPRC),
2019 Non-invasive prenatal testing: MeDIP-PCR to detect trisomy 21 from maternal plasma. In: Graduate Research Symposium 2019,
2017 Methylation-sppecific PCR assay for quantification of DNA methylation of SPG20 gene in colorectal cancer. In: 7th Regional Conference on Molecular Medicine (RCMM) in conjunction with 3rd National Conference for Cancer Research,
2017 Non-invasive prenatal testing using cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma: a review. In: KAHS Research Week 2016,
2016 Epidemiology of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) in Pahang, Malaysia. In: 3rd Pan Asian Biomedical Science Conference 2016,
2016 Epigenetic methylation status of P16, MGMT and SPOCK2 in diffuse Large B cell lymphoma. In: Medical Research Symposium & Pacific Partnership in conjunction with Kuantan Research Day 2016,
2016 Methylation status of MGMT and SPOCK2 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In: 3rd Pan Asian Biomedical Science Conference,
2015 Methylation-specific PCR Revealed Aberrant Promoter Gene Methylation of p16, MGMT and SPOCK2 in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. In: International Conference on Biomedical and Health Sciences Research 2015,
2014 16S rRNA gene sequencing for phylogenetic analysis of Malaysian sea anemones. In: 2nd International Symposium and Workshop on Functional Genomics and Structural Biology,
2014 Detection of p16INK4a (p16) methylation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma using methylation-specific PCR. In: International Health Conference IIUM 2014,
2014 Qualitative detection of p16INK4a tumor suppressor gene methylation in diffuse large b-cell lymphoma using methylation-specific PCR. In: KAHS Research Week,
2013 Mitochondrial genes sequencing of Malaysian sea anemones – Towards IIUM Molecular Ecology Database (IMED). In: IIUM Research, Invention and Innovation Exhibition (IRIIE) 2013,
2011 Involvement of the P53 pathway and P161NK4A in the pathogenesis of b-cell lymphomas. In: International Health Conference IIUM 2011 ,
Book

2010 Molecular genetic analysis in B-cell Lymphomas : a focus on the p53 pathway and p16INK4a. Uppsala University, Sweden, ISBN: 978-91-554-7729-5
Monograph

2019 Identifying the DNA methylation differences in cell-free fetal DNA: an approach towards non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 in Malaysia. In: ,