IJN Strengthens Regional Standing with Multiple Wins at NHAM Congress 2026
7 min read
Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) continues to strengthen its position as Malaysia’s leading cardiovascular centre and an emerging regional authority in cardiovascular medicine following multiple recognitions received by its specialists and researchers at the National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM) Congress 2026. The recognitions, which span categories including Heart Failure, Interventional Cardiology, Clinical Case Presentation, and the Young Investigator Award, reflect IJN’s depth of expertise across complex cardiovascular subspecialties, as well as its strong culture of clinical research, innovation, and academic excellence.
Among the key achievements, Dr Fa’iz bin Mashood, Clinical Fellow from the Department of Cardiology, was named Winner of the Free Paper Interventional Cardiology category for his study titled “Structural Tricuspid Intervention and Clinical Outcomes in Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Real World Evidence.” In the Free Paper Heart Failure category, Dr Daniel Eng Theng Sheng received the Winner award for his work entitled “Beyond Tricuspid Regurgitation Reduction: Early Dissociation Between Clinical Recovery and Right Ventricular Reverse Remodelling After Bicaval Valve Implantation.” The Heart Failure Research Award was presented to Dr Noor Muhammad Azlan Shah for his study “Pacing-Induced Cardiomyopathy: Prevalence, Time Course, Predictors, and Device-Specific Risk in Leadless Versus Transvenous Pacemakers — A 10-year Real-World Experience from a Southeast Asian National Heart Centre.” Meanwhile, the Clinical Case Presentation category was won by Dr Iskandar Mirza Amran for his case titled “From Rescue to Crushing,” and a Consolation Prize in the Young Investigator Award category was awarded to Dr Soh Si Ling for her study “Mid and Long-Term Outcomes After Mitral Valve Repair for Severe Primary Mitral Regurgitation: A 10-Year Analysis with Echocardiographic and Strain Phenotyping.”
IJN Group Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, said the recognitions reflect IJN’s ongoing commitment to advancing cardiovascular medicine through research, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. He said the achievements are significant not only for the awards themselves, but also for the meaningful scientific contributions that have the potential to improve patient outcomes, treatment strategies, and long-term cardiovascular care. He also noted that many of the studies are based on real-world Southeast Asian data and long-term clinical outcomes derived from IJN’s own patient population, further strengthening Malaysia’s contribution to global cardiovascular science and highlighting the relevance of Asian data in shaping future treatment approaches.
He added that the achievements also underscore IJN’s role in developing the next generation of clinician-scientists and cardiovascular leaders. At IJN, he said, research and innovation are deeply embedded within the clinical ecosystem, where the focus extends beyond patient treatment to knowledge generation, medical advancement, specialist training, and continuous improvement in care quality and safety.
IJN Chief Clinical Officer, Datuk Dr. Shaiful Azmi Yahaya, said research at IJN has evolved beyond an academic requirement and is now an integral part of its clinical culture. He explained that IJN clinicians are actively engaged in scientific advancement through real-world data analysis, innovation, and long-term outcome studies, enabling daily clinical experiences to be translated into knowledge that benefits patients in Malaysia and across the region. He added that IJN’s multidisciplinary environment, high patient volumes, and exposure to complex cases provide a strong foundation for impactful cardiovascular research and innovation.
He also welcomed the growing involvement of younger clinicians and investigators in research activities, describing it as an important development in ensuring Malaysia’s continued contribution to the advancement of cardiovascular medicine.
The NHAM Congress is one of Malaysia’s premier cardiovascular scientific meetings, bringing together cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, researchers, allied health professionals, and healthcare industry leaders from across the region. The latest recognitions further reinforce IJN’s position as Malaysia’s National Heart Specialist Centre and a leading regional referral hub for advanced cardiovascular care, innovation, education, and research.
