GEORGE TOWN, May 16 – Associate Professor Dr. Gokula Kumar Appalanaido and his multidisciplinary team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have received international acclaim at ESTRO 2025 in Vienna, earning the prestigious Top-Scoring Abstract Certificate for their pioneering work on the HyBIRT technique—a novel combination of Hybrid HDRIBT and IMRT for treating oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma.
Their research placed among the top 5% of global submissions, highlighting Malaysia’s rising influence in advanced cancer treatment and positioning USM as a leader in brachytherapy innovation. Developed at USM’s Bertam Medical Centre, the HyBIRT method marks a significant breakthrough in organ-preserving cancer therapy, with global recognition for its clinical promise.
USM is also one of the few institutions worldwide designated as a Centre of Excellence for head and neck brachytherapy by the Netherlands-based BrachyAcademy. This achievement not only showcases the brilliance of Malaysian medical talent but also reinforces USM’s commitment to impactful, innovative cancer care that sets new global standards.
