Professor Dr. Khalijah Awang is one of Malaysia's foremost experts in natural products chemistry and pharmacognosy, internationally recognised for her pioneering research on bioactive compounds derived from Malaysia's rich biodiversity. Throughout her distinguished academic career at Universiti Malaya, she has dedicated her research to discovering novel chemical compounds from rare and endemic Malaysian plants with the potential to become future therapeutic agents. Her work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of natural products while promoting the sustainable utilisation of Malaysia's botanical resources for drug discovery and pharmaceutical innovation.
Professor Khalijah obtained her Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Waterloo, Canada, followed by a Master of Science from Universiti Malaya. She later earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Products Chemistry from Université René Descartes (Paris V), France, where she received the prestigious Menier Award for Best Thesis in Pharmacognosy in recognition of the outstanding quality of her doctoral research.
For more than three decades, Professor Khalijah has focused on the chemistry of medicinal plants and the discovery of novel bioactive natural products from the Malayan flora. She has investigated over 70 Malaysian plant species, leading to the discovery of numerous new compounds, including the Pahangine, Malayanine, and Lapidilactine series, which have attracted international scientific interest for their unique chemical structures and pharmaceutical potential. Her research also extends to medicinal plants widely used in traditional Malay medicine, including Alpinia conchigera, Brucea javanica, Curcuma zedoaria, Piper sarmentosum, and Kaempferia galanga, bridging traditional knowledge with modern scientific validation.
A defining feature of Professor Khalijah's career is her commitment to international scientific collaboration. She has maintained a research partnership with the Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles (ICSN) for more than 30 years, making it one of Universiti Malaya's longest-standing international research collaborations. This partnership led to the establishment of the International French Malaysian Natural Products Laboratory (IFM-NatProLab), which was conferred the prestigious status of an Associated International Laboratory (Laboratoire International Associé, LIA) by French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The collaboration has strengthened scientific exchange between Malaysia and France while elevating Malaysia's standing in natural products research on the global stage.
Professor Khalijah is also among Malaysia's most accomplished researchers. She has produced more than 369 ISI journal publications, authored six chapters in books, secured research funding exceeding RM5.9 million, and established extensive collaborations with universities and research institutions both nationally and internationally. Her sustained research excellence has earned her recognition among Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. In 2021, the French Government honoured her with the prestigious title of Knight in the Order of Palmes Académiques, one of France's highest distinctions recognising outstanding contributions to education and science. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia and a recipient of the Top Research Scientists Malaysia (TRSM) award.
Beyond her research achievements, Professor Khalijah has played a significant role in developing Malaysia's scientific community through postgraduate supervision, research leadership and international networking. She has led major research laboratories, coordinated international programmes, and served on numerous national and international scientific committees. Through her unwavering commitment to scientific excellence, collaborative research and the discovery of natural products with therapeutic potential, Professor Khalijah continues to advance the global recognition of Malaysian natural products research while inspiring future generations of scientists to unlock the vast potential of the nation's biodiversity.
