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Lecturer, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia

Trained as a microbiologist, Dr Polly Yap combines culture-based and advanced sequencing techniques to enhance pathogen detection and surveillance – critical first steps in preventing disease transmission.

Since 2022, Dr Yap has served as the point of contact and principal investigator for an international partnership with Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC, focusing on enhancing capacity building to strengthen viral infection surveillance in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through portable sequencing technologies. This initiative aims to improve the rapid detection and monitoring of pathogens, fostering collaboration and skill development across LMICs.

Her involvement in LMIC-focused partnerships was further demonstrated through her role on the global training team for Wellcome Connecting Science’s Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens – Asia program in 2025. She is currently a Lecturer at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia.