27 February 2026 | Media
Nearly half of the world’s population still lacks access to basic diagnostic tests, despite their critical role in healthcare decision making. In Malaysia, advanced cancer treatments remain unaffordable for many, while essential diagnostic tests for endemic diseases are often unavailable in rural areas where they are most needed.
The Universiti Malaya Affordable Diagnostics & Therapeutics (UMADT), based at Universiti Malaya, was established to address this gap. As a flagship initiative under the International Affordable Diagnostics & Therapeutics Alliance (IA-DATA), UMADT focuses on developing affordable diagnostics and repurposed therapeutics targeting cancer, infectious diseases, and other unmet health needs.
Through interdisciplinary quadruple helix collaboration bringing together academia, government, industry, and civil society, UMADT ensures innovations are designed for real world settings, particularly for underserved communities. The initiative also collaborates internationally, including with Global Access Diagnostics in the United Kingdom, to expand access to point of care technologies and strengthen local manufacturing capacity.
UMADT represents a new model of research that places affordability, access, and equity at the heart of innovation.
🔗 Read the full article in The Star.