Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr. Looi Lai Meng

About

Professor Looi Lai Meng holds the position of Malaysia's first National Distinguished Professor, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Malaya, while also acting as Senior Consultant Histopathologist at University Malaya Medical Centre. Her medical degree was earned as a Malaysian Federal Scholar at the University of Singapore, after which she pursued advanced training in Surgical Pathology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School (UK) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (USA). Her doctoral research centred on amyloidosis.

At just 36, she was appointed Chair of Pathology at UM, reflecting early leadership. Throughout her extensive career, she has guided important committees (Postgraduate Studies, Medical Research Ethics, External Academic Evaluators, Medical Advisory, and others), made foundational contributions to amyloidosis, nephropathology and oncopathology, and authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. Her academic leadership has been instrumental in shaping national policies and standards, such as pathology laboratory accreditation in Malaysia, the Pathology Act, and national guidelines on lab practices.

On the international stage, Professor Looi has undertaken significant roles: past President of the World Association of Societies of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, co-chair of global panels (InterAcademy Medical Panel / Partnership), editor for leading pathology journals, and a contributor to ethical and research standards. Among her numerous honours are the Merdeka Award for Health, Science & Technology, Distinguished Fellowship from the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia, the National Science Award, the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist Award, and a place in Stanford University's Top 2% Scientists list.

Where Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr. Looi Lai Meng practises

• UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) — Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur

Procedures & Expertise

• Mole and Skin Lesion Evaluation
• Skin Biopsy
• Endometrial Biopsy
• Liver Biopsy
• Thyroid Biopsy
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Test
• Testicular Biopsy
• Bone Marrow Aspiration
• Breast Biopsy
• Cancer Staging
• Lymph Node Biopsy
• Pap Smear Test
• Prostate Biopsy

Qualifications

• MBBS (Singapore)
• MPath, (Histopathology) (UM)
• MRCPath (UK)
• MIAC, FRCPA (Aus)
• MD (UM)
• FRCPath (UK)

Languages

Indonesian, Malay, English