About US
My Gut-Brain Center is a center that provides niche services, research opportunities and collaborations on GI motility and functional GI diseases. Our primary goal is to provide solutions for gut-brain disorders through clinical consultancy, research, education, training and innovation.
A little history about us...
2009 - 2012
2016 - Present
We started as a service unit to the endoscopy center of the hospital, providing only upper GI motility testing. Testing only occurred intermittently, however this changed in 2013 when Prof. Lee, the current director took over.
2013 - 2016
The unit expanded to include many other motility tests, and the volume increased to approximately 400-500 cases per year. In 2016, the hospital had given recognition to the unit, and this was later named as the GI Function and Motility Unit. In the same year, the unit had successfully organised the first national meeting, the giFM Workshop at the Renaissance Hotel, Kota Bharu.
We have a humble beginning since 2013, recognised by the hospital in 2016, and now the establishment is an internationally and nationally recognised center for gut-brain disorders.
From 2016 till now, the center has further expanded to encompass not just clinical services, but also research, education, training and more recently products.
Our Vision
Dedicated to deliver effective and efficient services with passion and integrity.
Our Mission
To advance global health solutions and deliver quality treatments for the community.
Our Achievements
272
Publications
Active Research
37
350
Annual number of patients treated
Meet Our Lead
Clinical Director
Yeong Yeh LEE
Professor of Medicine | Consultant of Gastroenterology
Prof. Lee is the primary lead and director of the center. After his gastroenterology fellowship, he completed his PhD in Glasgow, United Kingdom and later postdoctoral fellowship in the United States. He has numerous papers in high-impact journals including Gastroenterology and Gut, a number of book chapters and numerous conference proceedings. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Malaysian Award by JCI Malaysia in 2015 and the Top Research Scientist of Malaysia by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia in 2018. Among his current research interests include gut microbiota, neurogastroenterology, functional gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obesity and endoscopy. Currently, he is President-elect of Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Committee member of the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO), OESO and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). He is Scientific Chair of Asia Pacific Digestive Week (APDW) 2021, Kuala Lumpur.
Meet Our Team
Meet the brilliant members in our team!
Dr Joash Tan-Loh
Physician, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellow Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr Joash Tan-Loh is a Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellow with a clinical and academic interest in gastrointestinal motility and disorders of gut–brain interaction. His areas of interest include esophageal motility, reflux disease, high-resolution manometry, ambulatory reflux monitoring, and functional gastrointestinal disorders, with a particular interest in translating gastrointestinal physiology into clinical practice and research. He actively participates in local and regional studies in the various aspects of oesophageal disorders including overlapping disorders of gut-brain interactions and EGJ disorders.
Dr Mohamad Hizami bin Mohamad Nor
Physician, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Fellow
Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory,
Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Dr Mohamad Hizami bin Mohamad Nor is an Internal Medicine Specialist undergoing subspecialty training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. His clinical and research interests encompass gastroenterology, hepatology and gastrointestinal physiology. His research has explored the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier function and gut–liver interactions, complementing his developing interests in gastrointestinal function and esophageal disease. He actively participates in clinical trials and exploratory studies in the area of EGJ disorders.
Asst Prof Dr Rona Lawenko
Assistant Professor, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines
Dr. Rona Lawenko is a Gastroenterologist from the Philippines. She is an Assistant Professor at the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute and serves as Training Officer for its Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. She is a current Board Member of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology and previously chaired its National Council on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Dr. Lawenko also serves on the Rome Foundation’s Rome Partners Listserv Committee, an international community dedicated to advancing the care of patients with disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) worldwide. She was one of the early day fellows that was trained in the GIFM laboratory and continues to participate in multicentre studies with the GIFM laboratory.
Siti Norhasliza binti Muhamad
Gastrointestinal Physiology & Motility Nurse
Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory,
Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Madam Siti is a GI Physiology & Motility Nurse at the Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is involved in the performance of gastrointestinal physiological investigations, with particular experience in high-resolution esophageal manometry and ambulatory reflux monitoring, and supports the clinical, training and research activities of the laboratory.
Azliani binti Abd Aziz
Gastrointestinal Physiology & Motility Nurse
Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory,
Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Mdm Azliani is a GI Physiology & Motility Nurse at the Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is involved in the performance of gastrointestinal physiological investigations, with particular experience in high-resolution esophageal manometry and ambulatory reflux monitoring, and supports the clinical, training and research activities of the laboratory.
Noriha binti Dal Nial
Gastrointestinal Physiology & Motility Nurse Assistant Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia
Ms Noriha is a GI Physiology & Motility Nursing Assistant at the Gastrointestinal Function and Motility Laboratory, Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia. She is involved in the performance of gastrointestinal physiological investigations, with particular experience in high-resolution esophageal manometry and ambulatory reflux monitoring, and supports the clinical, training and research activities of the laboratory.
ZALINA ZAHARI, PhD
LECTURER, PHARMACIST (UNISZA)
I am conducting genetic association study for IBS and FD.
Tengku Ahmad Iskandar T. Alang, PhD
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
I am interested in studies focusing on anorectal disorders and its engineering aspects. My current research focused on the prototype development of a personalized home monitoring device for improving diagnosis and therapy of bowel diseases.
Nur Fazimah Sahran, MSc
PHD STUDENT, LECTURER
My primary research interest in clinical nutrition is directed toward understanding the mechanistic action of maternal gut microbiome and metabolome and the risk of infant's food allergy.
Nurhazwani Hamid, MSc, PHD
RESEARCH FELLOW
I am conducting a research on marital quality and associated factors between patients with IBS, FD and IBS-FD overlap.
Vincent Tee Wei Shen, MD, MSc
RESEARCH FELLOW
I am a recent medical graduate, aspire to explore the wonders of medicine and expanding my horizon for future collaborations in different fields.
Nurzulaikha Abdullah, MSc, PHD
RESEARCH FELLOW
I am interested in the application of bio-statistic in healthcare. I am currently working on a study related to abdominal bloating symptom.
Thai Hau Koo, M.D.
RESEARCH FELLOW
I am a research fellow specializing in gastroenterology, with a keen interest in gut microbiota and motility studies. My focus areas include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and esophageal diseases. Currently, my research is centered around advancing understanding in gut microbiota and investigating motility patterns in gastrointestinal disorders.
