On 18 September 2026, Cochrane Malaysia organized a meeting with Malaysian Patient Support Groups (PSG) to have a discussion on getting public and patient involvement in research started in Malaysia. We invited Dr Jack Nunn, Director of Science For All, who was one of the plenary speakers of the Guidelines International Network (GIN) Conference 2026, to share his expertise in this area.
The meeting started with introduction of the 9 PSG represented as well as the Malaysian Cochrane Coordinating Group members. Dr Nunn took the participants through an interactive 2 hour about what is public involvement in research, the research cycle, and stakeholder mapping. One important outcome from these discussions was the unanimous agreement for a Community of Practice to be established.
The meeting ended with Associate Professor Dr Tan May Loong introducing Cochrane Malaysia, and the support that could be provided moving forward.
We would like to thank all the attendees for showing interest and engaging in all the activities. We would also like to thank Dr Jack Nunn for collaborating with us to make this a successful meeting. We hope that the meeting was meaningful and resourceful, and we look forward to working together with the patient support groups moving forward!
Group photo for the Guidelines International Network (GIN) Conference Satellite Meeting with Patient Support Groups. Back row from left: Dr Siti Sabrina Bt Kamaruddin (Institut Kesihatan Negara), Dalia Maria Noordin (Endometriosis Association of Malaysia), Dr Norhafizah Binti Mohd Noor (Institut Kesihatan Negara), Zuraini Ghazali (Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia), Abiramy A/P Rajendra (Endometriosis Association of Malaysia), Dr Surita Mogan (Endometriosis Association of Malaysia), Dr Rimah Melati Bt Ab. Ghani (Institut Kesihatan Negara) , Dr Jack Nunn (Science For All) (Behind), Professor Jacqueline Ho (Cochrane Malaysia), Leong Wai Sum (Cochrane Malaysia), Shakira Jamil binti Fisal (Spinal Muscular Atrophy Malaysia), Professor Karanth Kota Laxminarayan (Manipal University College Malaysia), Lee Jin Choong (Arthritis Foundation Malaysia; Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Support Group), Dr Fariz Yahya (Arthritis Foundation Malaysia). Front row from left: Zainal Azhar Ahmad (Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Malaysia), Associate Professor Dr Teguh Haryo Sasongko (IMU University), Associate Professor Dr Tan May Loong (Cochrane Malaysia), Professor Moy Foong Ming (Universiti Malaya), Dr Inthirani A/P Sivarajah (Diabetes Malaysia), Fatiha Shuib (SAPOT Tech PLT), Imliya Binti Ibrahim (National Kidney Foundation Malaysia), Miza Marsya Roslan (Spinal Muscular Atrophy Malaysia).