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Dr Hanis Hidayu Kasim's PhD focused on lipidomics to study how prematurity affects infant metabolism and glucose regulation from birth to one year.
– Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) medical lecturer Hanis Hidayu Kasim completed her doctorate at the University of Cambridge with zero corrections – a rare distinction in the academic world.
She described the feat as “surreal”.
Dr Hanis, a pioneer in research on metabolism in preterm infants, said she was initially unsure which university to go to to pursue her doctorate, but her passion for child health led her to Cambridge.
“I wanted to do research in paediatric groups, focusing on how early life shapes health. My search pointed straight to Cambridge, whose global reputation and pioneering work stood out,” she added.
Her PhD focused on lipidomics, a cutting-edge method of analysing fat molecules, to study how prematurity affects infant metabolism and glucose regulation from birth to one year.
“This research provides the first detailed map of how prematurity shapes fat metabolism and glucose regulation throughout infancy.
“It opens the door to tailored nutritional interventions and targeted health markers for preterm infants, ultimately improving their long-term outcomes,” she noted.
The 39-year-old said when she was told her thesis required no corrections, she was dumbfounded.
“It’s rare, possibly unheard of. When I saw the degree committee’s report, I had to read it several times to understand this. I even asked my husband to read the report,” she added.
She said it became a reality after her supervisor congratulated her on the rare achievement.
Dr Hanis attributed her success to careful preparation, transparency in acknowledging limitations and openness to feedback.
“I had 110 drafts overall. I made sure every point was supported by evidence and that my writing was clear.
“The support from my supervisors, mentors and collaborators at Cambridge was crucial,” she added.
Her journey was not without challenges as she began her PhD during the Covid-19 lockdown, moving to Cambridge with her husband and four-year-old daughter Hannah.
“Everything was remote for a year. Then, my supervisor passed away just seven months into the programme, and I had to revise my study plans. Later, when recruiting parents of preterm babies, I approached over 400 families, but only 73 agreed to participate,” she said.
She faced personal loss when her father died while she was writing her final chapter.
“Through each struggle, I held tightly to my purpose, leaned on mentors and stayed close to family. Humility and perseverance kept me going,” she added.
Dr Hanis credited her time at Cambridge for shaping her as an academic and researcher.
“Working in cutting-edge labs taught me that groundbreaking research requires curiosity, perseverance and humility. I also learnt the importance of networking, mentorship and giving back to the academic community,” she said.
She hopes her achievement will inspire Malaysian students to strive for excellence.
“Hard work, ideas and dreams are valued on the world stage. Dream the highest you can, talk to the right people and never lose sight of your purpose. With determination and faith, nothing is impossible,” she added.
For Usim, she believes the recognition highlights its commitment to academic excellence and could open doors for future collaborations.
Dr Hanis plans to expand her research in lipidomics and preterm physiology, publish more papers and translate her findings into better clinical practice while innovating educational content for future doctors.
“Personally, this is both an honour and a responsibility to contribute to Malaysian healthcare and global science,” she said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
[SRC] https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-completes-cambridge-doctorate-with-zero-corrections-on-thesis
