By UMADT
6-7th October 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The UM Affordable Diagnostics & Therapeutics (UMADT) team under the umbrella of International Affordable Diagnostics & Therapeutics Alliance (IA-DATA), in collaboration with City St George’s, University of London, Mediven, Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research delivered a two-day Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) Workshop aimed at strengthening regional capacity in diagnostic development and validation.
The workshop formed part of a broader programme to support affordable diagnostics and pandemic preparedness across Malaysia and ASEAN.
Day 1: Foundations of LFA Development
Participants gained expert-led insights into antibody selection and assay design, validation approaches and performance evaluation, regulatory standards and quality considerations.
Feedback indicated that the sessions were highly relevant and provided practical knowledge that participants could immediately apply in their own work.
Speakers included:
- Dr. Yolanda Augustin, City St George’s, University of London – Introduction to IA-DATA
Dr David Clark, City St George’s, University of London – Antibody fundamentals, selection/assessment and target selection.
Dr Nick Eckersley, City St George’s, University of London – Lateral Flow Technology: Principles and Design.
Dr Teh Boon Sun, Mediven – Quality assurance and Regulatory of LFA production in Malaysia and ASEAN.
Ms. Salome Steinke, VG-CARE – Novel emerging LFA technologies – molecular on LFA
Dr. Henry Staines, City St George’s, University of London – Verification and evaluation.
Day 2: Hands-On Laboratory Training
The second day focused on hands-on testing, enabling participants to:
- Apply theoretical concepts in a laboratory setting
- Gain practical experience in ensuring diagnostic tests are safe, reliable, and effective
The interactive format supported skills development and peer learning across institutions and countries.
