Dato Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Universiti Malaya was conferred Merdeka Award in the category of Health, Science and Technology for outstanding contribution in leading the mitigation of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS in Malaysia.
“I am deeply humbled by this recognition and want to first offer tribute to all healthcare frontliners in Malaysia who in the last two and a half years has work tirelessly to overcome the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would naturally like to dedicate this award to my colleagues at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya; Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) Universiti Malaya; Malaysian AIDS Foundation and Council; and colleagues at the International AIDS Society, for without their dedication, hard work and support, this would not have been possible” said Dato Professor Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman in her acceptance speech.
Dato Professor Dr. Adeeba is a driving force in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases whose work in structuring policy and responses to HIV/AIDS has contributed to the prevention, treatment and reduction of cases.
Trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases, Dato Professor Dr. Adeeba established the Infectious Diseases Unit at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and later the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS, which is one of the few dedicated HIV research centres in the region. Dato Professor Dr Adeeba has also been an adviser to numerous World Health Organisation (WHO) committees on HIV/AIDS, is a member of the UNAIDS Scientific Expert Panel on HIV and last year was the first Asian to serve as president of the International AIDS Society (IAS).
Apart from her exemplary work on HIV/AIDS, she was also part of the acclaimed investigating team of the highly infectious and rapidly fatal Nipah virus that brought the late-1990s outbreak in Malaysia under control. In 2021, Dato Professor Dr Adeeba was appointed as a member of the WHO’s Science Council, a high-level scientific advisory group that provides leadership and advice on scientific and technological advances that directly impact global health.
In 2007, Dato Professor Dr. Kamarulzaman established the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) at the Universiti Malaya, one of the few dedicated HIV research centres in the region. She has been a Yale-affiliated faculty member since 2012.
The winners of the 15th edition of the 2022 Merdeka Award recipients were presented with trophies by The Royal Patron and Chairman of the Award, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan.
The Merdeka Award was established on 27th August 2007 to recognise and reward excellent individuals and organisations whose works and achievements have not only contributed to the nation's growth but have also inspired greatness in the people of Malaysia. It is a prestigious award that honours their outstanding effort and role in living the 'Merdeka' spirit.
