Dr Zarina Amin

About

Zarina Amin

Zarina Amin is currently Director of the Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI) at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), established in 2002 as a University Center of Excellence (COE) in the field of biotechnology.  She obtained her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Adelaide, Australia. As Director of the BRI, she is bringing together established and emerging researchers with synergistic skills to accelerate basic and applied research in microbial biotechnology and translate basic discoveries into products and services for societal well being and as the nation’s predominant income generator.

A critical element of synergistic research carried out at the BRI is collaboration with the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI), another UMS COE, which undertakes and promotes high quality research, training and outreach in the fields of marine science and aquaculture. The Institute has emerged as a venue for pursuing excellence in demand-driven advance research, and synthesis and dissemination of knowledge across a wide range of these subjects in regional, national and international contexts.

The collaborative vision of the BRI and BMRI is to be the leading research centre in marine biotechnology. Collaboration between the two Institutes involves a team of researchers who have expertise in the field of marine molecular microbiology and they comprise Prof Dr. Rossita Sapawi (BMRI Director), Zarina Amin (BRI Director), Dr. Rafidah Othman, Dr Cahyo Budiman, and Dr. Mohammad Tamrin Mohd Lal.

By promoting R&D in life sciences, both the Institutes aim

To develop and integrate a critical mass of researchers with multi-disciplinary expertise, with a common focus on marine biotechnology.
To generate new knowledge on marine biotechnology at a leading international level.
To make a major contribution to global management of infectious diseases by translating basic research discoveries into new and improved vaccines and novel anti-infectives.

Research that are currently and have previously been carried out both in BRI and BMRI include:

Vaccine development against vibriosis
Attenuated vaccine against vibriosis
Bacteriophage therapy against Virbiosis
Investigation of Coral Diversity in Sabah Marine Waters
Fluorescent Proteins produced by the coral for further applications
Algal Biotechnology for Biofuel
Genomic Studies on Sabah Seaweeds
Harvesting Microalgae by Bio-flotation Method Using Plant Material Based Coagulant Protein – A novel Approach