Committee Members

Abstract

There is an exponential increase in the global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in all populations. The objective of this review is to examine how different cultures and molecular entities influence the progression of NAFLD.

Research databases, including PubMed, Scopus, the American Diabetes Association, The American Liver Foundation, and Diabetes UK, were used to retrieve information. Our data analysis showed that cultural norms shape the perceptions of health, illness, and

mortality, thus influencing how individuals view themselves and express their experiences and may also affect decisions related to treatment and healthcare. Cultural competence, the ability to understand and navigate cultural differences, is essential for

eliciting patient and practitioner perspectives and integrating this understanding into diagnostic and treatment plans. By acknowledging and respecting a patient’s cultural background, healthcare providers can foster trust, improve care quality, enhance

acceptance of diagnoses, and boost treatment adherence. Although cultural factors play a crucial role in the progression of NAFLD, the disease is also shaped by genetic predispositions, molecular mechanisms, and comorbidities. Molecular pathways involved

in the development and progression of NAFLD include alterations in lipid metabolism, Insulin signaling, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, defective gut microbiome, and Inflammation. This study concludes that a combination of cultural preferences and

molecular factors has contributed to the worldwide exponential rise in the prevalence of NAFLD, which in turn has led to an increase in the prevalence of comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome.

Abstract

The blending of ancient healing practices with modern medical science marks a significant shift towards a more complete approach to healthcare. This fusion recognizes that true health goes beyond just being free from illness; it includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well- being. Traditional medicine systems, honed over thousands of years through careful observation and cultural sharing, provide valuable insights into preventive care, personalized treatment, and the deep connections between our minds, bodies, and environments.

While modern medicine shines in areas like diagnostic accuracy, technological advancements, and evidence-based treatments, it often misses the mark when it comes to tackling the underlying causes of illness and understanding the patient’s overall experience. Traditional methods such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, indigenous healing practices, and herbal remedies offer complementary viewpoints that focus on balance, individualized care, and natural healing techniques.

To make this integrative approach work, we need to rigorously validate traditional practices through scientific research while respecting their philosophical roots. Successful integration will involve collaborative research efforts, training healthcare providers in cross-cultural competencies, and creating standardized protocols that honor the strengths of both systems. Growing evidence supports the effectiveness of integrative treatments for chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and preventive care.

The transformative power of this combination goes beyond just improving individual patient outcomes; it can also shape healthcare policies, medical education, and global health equity. By merging traditional wisdom with modern advancements, we can develop healthcare solutions that are more accessible, culturally aware, and cost-effective.

This holistic approach tackles healthcare inequalities while encouraging sustainable practices that honor both human well-being and our planet. By committing to this integration, we pave the way for transformative solutions that respect the rich tapestry of humanity’s healing traditions while

embracing the latest medical innovations. The goal? To build a more inclusive, compassionate, and sustainable healthcare system for generations to come.

Dr. Akowuah received his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Science Malaysia. He is a seasoned academic with extensive experience in higher education and research supervision at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. He currently serves as a member of the academic staff at the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia. His research interests include the development and validation of analytical and bioanalytical techniques, pharmacokinetic interaction studies, and the evaluation of bioactive compounds for their potential inhibitory effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Jie Liu earned Ph.D in Pharmacology/Toxicology in 1992 at University of Kansa Medical Center, and was a Staff Scientist at NCI at NIEHS/NIH and a Research Assistant/Associate/Professor at KU Medical Center. Dr. Jie Liu became a Visiting Professor at Zunyi Medical University since 2010. Dr. Jie Liu has 315 publications in PubMed, including 50+ on metals in traditional medicines.  Dr. Jie Liu was the lead Guest Editor on Special issue of Evid-based Complement Alt Med to address the issue and currently on the Editorial Board of Front Pharmacol and Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. His paper “A review of cinnabar (HgS) and/or realgar (As4S4)-containing traditional medicines. J Ethnopharmacol, 2018, 210:340” has been cited 31 times

CHAN is now the CEO and Principal Scientist of Gallant Biotechnology Limited who was Research Associate of Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine at HKUST and Research Assistant Professor of HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute. He has strong enthusiasm in developing quality assurance standards in valuable Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and nutraceuticals. He has been trained as a molecular biologist during his study of undergraduate and Master of Philosophy. After that, he has applied molecular authentication on TCM materials for more than 15 years. During the years he studied in HKUST, Dr. CHAN has equipped himself with frontier technology of quality control including the application of LC-MS/MS, macroscopic and microscopic identification of TCM and different cellular and pharmaceutical assays. His expertise is using multi-disciplinal quality assurance methods on a single specific subject. This style has been fully revealed on his PhD thesis about the quality assurance study on cubilose/edible bird‘s nest (EBN). After he has obtained his PhD in 2013, Dr. Chan switch his focus on cosmetics science and development of nutraceuticals products. In need of seeking new targets for product development, Dr. Chan also keen on developing high-throughput screening technology for drug screening. From 2013 to 2021, he has been involved in managing more than 10 government funded projects. He has published 38 papers on international scientific journals and 28 patents. He was the chief editor of a special issue of the scientific journal eCAM.

David William James, ND, is a naturopathic physician and researcher specializing in integrative oncology and chronic pain management. He has completed extensive clinical training in naturopathic oncology, regenerative medicine, and supportive cancer care. He has presented research on cellular therapy in oncology at OncANP and will be speaking at the 2025 Connecticut Naturopathic Physicians Association Conference on Breast Cancer. His focus is on bridging conventional and integrative approaches to optimize patient resilience and quality of life. Dr. James is an incoming PGY! resident at Naturoapthic Specialists LLC training under 2024 AANP Physician of the Year and founding President of the OncANP, Dr. Dan Rubin ND FABNO.

Chenzhong LI is the X.Q. Deng Presidential Chair Professor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) (CUHKSZ), the co-editor-in-chiefs of the international flagship journal Biosensor and Bioelectronics. Before joining CUHK Shenzhen in 2023, Li helds positions such as the research officer at the National Research Council Canada (NRC), the World Ahead professor at Florida International University, the professor of Biomedical Engineering at Tulane University, and the Program Director in the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) Division of National Science Foundation to oversee AI biosensors and biomedical devices research and manage grants for hundreds of research projects nationwide. Li is an expert in bioinstrumentation, specifically in the development of biomedical devices for both diagnostic and therapeutic, which could also have cross-applications for environmental, food safety monitoring, agriculture, and homeland security. Li is the Member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Member of the National Academy of Inventors, AIMBE fellow of the American Academy of Medical Biological Sciences. By 2025, he has published nearly 210 research papers, and is the main inventor of 21 international patents. He was the founder and technical director of three start-up companies in China, the United States, and Canada.

Jiaxu Chen is Chair Professor of the School of Chinese Medicine; Director of TCM Formula-pattern Research Center of Jinan University (JNU), Guangzhou, China. Chair Professor of Chinese Medicine Diagnostics in Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). He has received the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Scholar award, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, and the Distinguished Young Scholar in the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Prof. Jiaxu Chen focuses on the standardization of TCM syndromes and their biological basis of emotional disorders. His current research topics are the neurobiological pathology of depression and the antidepressant mechanism of Chinese medicine, Xiaoyaosan.

Zhaotong Cong is a researcher and Deputy Director of the Institute of Materia Medica Genomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She received Ph.D. in 2021 from the School of Pharmacy, Fudan University. Her primary research focuses on the molecular pharmacology of traditional Chinese medicine, with an emphasis on GPCR-targeted drug discovery. As one of the principal investigators, she established the GPCR target library and high-throughput screening technology system for traditional Chinese medicine. She has published more than ten academic papers as the first author or corresponding author in internationally renowned journals, including PNAS (2021, 2022, 2023), Nature Communications (2020, 2021, 2022), Cell Discovery (2024a, 2024b), and The Innovation (2025).

Victor Benno MEYER-ROCHOW is a New Zealander with a PhD in Neurobiology and a DSc in Ethnobiomedical Studies (both from the Australian National University in Canberra). His physiological research took him several times to Antarctica and the Arctic, but whose ethnobiomedicall work focused on Central and Western Australia, Papua New Guinea, North-East India and the DPRK (North Korea). For 14 years (2000-2014) he worked at the International University in Bremen before becoming the Managing Director of the Research Institute of Luminous Organisms on the Japanese Pacific island of Hachijojima for 5 years. He then worked as Senior Scientist and Visiting Professor on a 3-year contract at Andong National University in Korea util June 2022 and is now back at Oulu University, Oulu SF-90140, Finland as an Emeritus Professor.

Over the past seven years, my research has focused on developing treatment strategies for various cancers, particularly lung cancer. My projects have included screening of medicinal plants for bioactive compounds, alongside the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles aimed at enhancing targeted drug delivery. Currently, my PhD research explores the application of lithium as a potential inhibitor of inflammatory responses in lung adenocarcinoma cells stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 glycoproteins. This study aims to bridge oncology and infectious disease research by examining how lithium modulates key inflammatory markers, potentially offering insight into therapeutic approaches for cancer patients with COVID-19-associated complications.

Aicha Boubker is currently a third-year PhD student in the Department of Chemistry at theFaculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco. Her research centers on aromaticand medicinal plants, with a special focus on the phytochemical profiling, antioxidant potential,chromatographic behavior, and microbiological properties of plant extracts.Through a multidisciplinary scientific approach, she explores the identification and characterizationof bioactive compounds, aiming to highlight their therapeutic potential and their applicability inhealthcare, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry. Her work contributes to the growing field ofnatural product research and the development of sustainable alternatives to synthetic compounds.

Nurdiana is currently the Head of the TuAH Industrial Research Laboratory and an Associate Professor at the School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). She graduated with a Bachelor of Biochemistry (Hons.) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2005. Dr Nurdiana obtained her MSc in Physiology from UiTM and completed her PhD in Animal Physiology at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Dr Nurdiana strengthened her leadership and proficiency in academic administration at the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, UiTM. She has successfully coordinated the Master of Applied Biology programme from 2018 to 2019 and contributed to the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences track from 2019 to 2020 and the Health and Wellness track from 2020 to 2022. Over 15 years of service, she has been a Resource Person for multiple undergraduate and postgraduate courses, demonstrating her commitment to education and curriculum development. Her active involvement as a committee member of UiTM CARE highlights her dedication to the university community. Her service excellence has been recognized with several awards, including the Excellence Service Award by UiTM and the Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation. As a researcher, Dr Nurdiana specializes in physiology, biochemistry, and natural products, focusing on investigating the biochemical and pathophysiological changes associated with diabetes, obesity, dementia, ageing, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Her research also extends to developing biomaterial carriers for a better chance of delivering active substances to specific tissue as an adjunct treatment. Dr Nurdiana has published over 20 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, accumulating more than 262 citations and achieving an h-index of 9 in Scopus. She has been awarded numerous national grants as a principal investigator, amounting to RM 1,477,600.00, and her work has gained international recognition, with features in Asia Research News and Wikipedia. Her innovation has garnered multiple awards, including a Grand Award from Bank Islam, 1 diamond, 5 golds, 3 silver, 1st running up in healthy lifestyle track, and accolades for best poster and best booth from 2017 to 2023. Her expertise is well recognized as she is the Editorial Board Member of multiple scientific journals like Scientific Research Journal (SRJ), International Pharmacy Acta (IPA) from Iran, Clinical Research in Nephrology & Kidney Diseases from India, and Journal of Advanced Agricultural Technologies (JOAAT) from Thailand. Dr Nurdiana was invited as a Visiting Professor at the Kazakh National Medical University (KazNMU) in 2023. With a mission to impart knowledge for the betterment of the nation, Dr Nurdiana decided to actively collaborate with industry partners to expedite the commercialization of research outputs. She initiated the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and Agreement between UiTM and Bio Fluid Sdn Bhd in 2020 and 2022. Dr Nurdiana is the first researcher at UiTM registered under the Researcher Industry Scientific Exchange (RISE) program by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI). Beyond her academic and research achievements, Dr Nurdiana is dedicated to community engagement. She serves as an innovation advisor to nurture young talent at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Saujana Utama and as secretary for the Setia Impian 3 Resident Association.

Mohd Azmuddin Abdullah obtained an M. Eng in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (1994) from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), United Kingdom, and a PhD in Bioprocess Engineering (1999) from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He was a Visiting Scientist (1997) at the Plant Physiology Laboratory, Kinki University, Japan, and a Post-Doctoral Fellow (2000-2001) at the Biomaterials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He was an Academic in the Department of Biotechnology, UPM (1994-2004), Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (2004-2014), and in the Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (2015-2021). He was appointed as the Director of R&D in SIBCo Medical and Pharmaceuticals Sdn. Bhd. since August 2021. He has authored/co-authored 200 articles, presented in 50 conferences and had 6 Malaysian patents granted, and 3 trademarks, on bioenergy, bioproducts and biopharmaceuticals. In 2015, he was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award for “Health, Safety and Environment as the basis for innovative T, R, D, C & E on Sustainability” by the Association for the Advancement of Biodiversity Science (AABS), India; and in 2017, the Scientist Medal by the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), at the European Advanced Material Congress, Sweden. In August 2022, he was appointed as Fellow by the IAAM for the contribution on “Integrated Biorefinery for Sustainable Energy and Bioproducts”