Bangi, Malaysia – April 1st 2026 — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through the Institute of Visual Informatics (IVI), hosted a youth leadership engagement session featuring Mr. Louie Liu, founder of the Better Health, Better Lives (BHBL) 2.0 initiative.
The session brought together students, interns, and academic researchers for a meaningful exchange on advancing indigenous healthcare through the integration of research, immersive technology, and human-centred impact.
The engagement was supported by key academic and industry representatives, including Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Nazir Ahmad, BHBL 2.0 Project Leader, Dr. Mohamed Afiq Hidayat bin Zailani, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Co-Project Leader of BHBL 2.0, and Dr. Marizuana Mat Daud, Head of Industrial Linkages and Income Generation, IVI, followed by Dato’ Dr. Lai, a medical industry leader, and Mr. Raghav, Executive Director of ImmersaX (a startup partner of IVI leading the development of SRAI 720°) collectively contributing to a multidisciplinary dialogue.
A Collaborative Model Bridging Research, Technology, and Youth Leadership
In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Nazir Ahmad emphasised that Better Health, Better Lives 2.0 represents a collaborative model where academia, industry, and youth leadership converge to address real-world healthcare challenges.
He highlighted the importance of translating research into meaningful societal impact, particularly in addressing healthcare accessibility among underserved and indigenous communities.
From Personal Discipline to Structured Impact
In his session, Louie Liu shared not only the evolution of BHBL into BHBL 2.0, but also the discipline required to balance academic commitments with real-world execution.
He spoke candidly about managing studies alongside field engagement and project development, emphasising consistency, clarity of purpose, and resilience. His journey resonated strongly with Malaysian students, demonstrating that impact-driven initiatives can be built alongside studies, inspiring them to take initiative and act on their ideas.
Addressing Healthcare Gaps Through Research Insight
From a research perspective, Dr. Mohamed Afiq Hidayat bin Zailani highlighted the gap between health awareness and access, particularly in underserved communities.
He referenced conditions such as G6PD deficiency, where lack of early screening can lead to preventable complications, and emphasised that contextual understanding drives engagement, and engagement leads to improved health outcomes.
Technology as an Enabler of Human-Centric Impact
From a technology standpoint, Mr. Raghav, Executive Director of ImmersaX, shared that immersive technologies such as SRAI 720° are designed to enable deeper human understanding and meaningful engagement, rather than serving as an end in themselves.
He stressed that technology serves as an enabler of scalable impact, bridging gaps between communities and wider audiences.
Mentorship and Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
A key theme throughout the session was the importance of mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. Louie highlighted how engagement with academic leaders, researchers, and industry practitioners helped refine the direction and depth of BHBL 2.0.
The presence of UKM academics alongside practitioners such as Dato’ Dr. Lai reinforced the value of integrating diverse expertise to address complex societal challenges.
Translating Vision into Measurable Action
To date, BHBL 2.0 has:
- Engaged multiple academic and community stakeholders across Malaysia
- Initiated early-stage research collaboration with UKM IVI and medical teamsDeveloped immersive storytelling frameworks to represent indigenous healthcare realities.This reflects Louie’s ability to translate vision into structured, actionable outcomes, with potential for broader regional impact.
Formal Recognition by UKM
In recognition of his contributions, UKM presented Louie Liu with a Certificate of Excellence for his “Visionary Contribution in Immersive Human-Centric Innovation”.
The certificate was presented by Dr. Marizuana Mat Daud, Head of Industrial Linkages and Income Generation, IVI, on behalf of Prof. Ir. Dr. Riza Sulaiman, Director of IVI, who was unable to attend due to official commitments.
In his prepared remarks, Prof. Ir. Dr. Riza Sulaiman highlighted Louie’s clarity of vision, initiative, and interdisciplinary thinking, particularly in connecting technology with societal impact.
Additionally, IVI issued a formal Letter of Appreciation and Recognition, acknowledging his intellectual contribution and strategic perspective.
Inspiring Malaysian Students
The session concluded with an interactive dialogue, where students and interns actively engaged on topics including healthcare accessibility, indigenous challenges, and innovation.
Participants described the session as eye-opening and highly motivating, particularly in demonstrating how Malaysian students can actively contribute to real-world challenges—even during their academic journey.
Fostering Future-Ready Malaysian Changemakers
This engagement reflects UKM’s continued commitment to bridging academia with real-world application, while nurturing a new generation of students equipped with initiative, adaptability, and purpose-driven thinking.
It reinforces the importance of developing youth who are not only academically capable, but also proactive, collaborative, and impact-driven.
About Better Health, Better Lives (BHBL 2.0)
Better Health, Better Lives 2.0 is a youth-led initiative focused on advancing indigenous healthcare through research collaboration, community engagement, and immersive technologies that enhance understanding, empathy, and global participation.
