Next Intake : Tentatively 15 April 2025 – 26 October 2025
INTRODUCTION
The Postgraduate DMM was started in 1978 at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia. Yearly, the Postgraduate DMM is conducted for a duration of 6 months. For 2025, the course will be conducted on 15 April 2025 until 26 October 2025.
The course was designated to train medical doctors, scientists, researchers and other health personnels in basic and advance Medical Microbiology as well as skills in conducting research, diagnostic services and approaches in control programmes.
As the world proceeds to modernization and globalisation, we are increasingly challenged by emerging and re-emerging diseases. There is a very apparent change in the geographical distribution of disease. Globalisation is certainly impacting on the epidemiology of infectious disease, and on the capacity to effectively prevent, control, and treat these diseases. Today, infectious diseases still account for a large proportion of death and disability worldwide and in certain regions remain the most important cause of ill health.
The medical laboratory plays a critical role in recognizing, emerging, and re-emerging infectious diseases by establishing a specific etiology for disease syndromes seen by clinicians, and by reporting new or unusual pathogens that such laboratories may encounter. The laboratory may also serve as a key surveillance point for information gathering and dissemination, as is the case with antimicrobial resistance. For the laboratory to have maximum impact, it must be able to perform competently a series of essential steps.
For the session 2025/2026, the Dean of Postgraduate DMM is Dr Rohaidah binti Hashim, Head Unit of Bacteriology, IMR and the Deputy Dean of the Postgraduate DMM is Dr Rozainanee binti Mohd Zain, Head of Infectious Disease Research Centre, IMR.
OBJECTIVE
The course aims to provide knowledge and practical training on pathogens of major significance to public health and to enable participants to apply scientific approach and critical thinking to diagnose, prevent and control infectious diseases. The course will facilitate and strengthen institutional and national capabilities in medical diagnostic laboratory services, research, and human resource development. It is also hoped that this course will encourage networking between the various participants’ institutions and ours to foster exchange in expertise and collaboration in research projects.
COURSE VENUE
The course will be held at the SEAMEO-TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology & Entomology, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health, Setia Alam, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia.
COURSE MODULES
The DMM course contained 8 modules, included:
1. Bacteriology
An introduction to medical bacteriology including general properties and nomenclature of bacteria, bacterial diseases and pathogenesis. Systematic study of medically important bacteria with special emphasis on infections endemic in Asia, and antimicrobial agents. Laboratory diagnosis of bacterial infections and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Introduction to disinfection and sterilization, and Health Care Associated Infections. Public Health Bacteriology and disease control.
2. Virology
An introduction to medical virology including general properties and nomenclature of viruses, biology of virus replication, viral immunology and pathogenesis, systemic study of medically important viruses with special emphasis on viral infections endemic in Asia, emerging viral diseases antiviral agents and viral vaccines. This module also covers diagnostic virology including collection, transportation and processing of specimens from clinical as well as field settings, biosafety and standard laboratory techniques in virology.
3. Immunology
An introduction to molecular, cellular and clinical immunology. The lymphoid system, antigens, cell interaction, cellular basis of antibody and cell-mediated immune responses, the diversities in the immune system, immunoglobulins, complements, antigen-antibody reactions, cellular assays, autoimmunity, immune complex diseases, allergy, clinical transplantation and immunodeficiency states.
4. Mycology
Role of the mycology laboratory in the diagnosis and management of fungal diseases. Histopathological diagnosis of mycosis. A systematic study of yeast and fungi of medical importance and the diseases they cause. Antifungal agents. Pathogenicity and immunity to fungal infections. Serodiagnosis of fungal diseases.
6. Epidemiology
Definition, scope and uses of epidemiology. Measurement of disease occurrence and sources of data. Epidemiological factors and sequence of disease transmission. Epidemiologic methods. Principles of disease control.
7. Biostatistics
Introduction to biostatistics. Types and sources of data. Measurement of microbiological data. Descriptive statistics for microbiologist. Inferential statistics. Methods for determining association and correlation.
8. Molecular Biology
Introduction and principles of molecular biology. Applications of molecular biology in diagnosis and research. Hybridoma technology and applications in diagnosis and research.
COURSE METHODOLOGY
The course includes:
- Lectures, demonstrations, hands-on laboratory sessions, field trips, and study visits.
- Dissertation preparation and assignment.
- Post-module assessments and a final examination consisting of both theory and practical evaluations.
COURSE FEE
The DMM full course fee is RM15,000.00 (exclusive of food and accommodation). The fee must be paid in advance prior to the commencement of the course.
Participants may apply either to join the whole course or selected modules of the DMM course and their respective fees:
ACCOMMODATION
The Institute will provide hostel rooms with basic facilities and bathrooms at the NIH Residency in Setia Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. (Currently, there is no accommodation charge, as the Ministry of Health is still negotiating the rates. Terms and conditions applied).
METHOD OF APPLICATION
1. Full Course Application
a) Local candidates
- SEAMEO -TROPMED Scholarship : Available for the officers of the Malaysia Ministry of Health. Applications must be made through the Training Division, Ministry of Health (Bahagian Pengurusan Latihan, BPL, KKM).
- Website MOH Training Division : https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/2573
- Private candidates : Complete and submit the DAP&E application form via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and mail the hard copy to the Secretariat at SEAMEO TROPMED Network Malaysia, IMR, NIH, Setia Alam, Selangor.
- via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , and
- submit the form (hardcopy) to our address
The Secretariat
SEAMEO-TROPMED Network Malaysia
Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health No. 1 Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam City
40170 Shah Alam, Selangor
- Other sponsorship
The Head Department / Health Organization of the candidates is advised to write to potential scholarship agencies such as WHO, Global Fund, Welcome Trust, APMEN, and etc for getting scholarship for their officers to participate in the DAP&E 2025.
Candidates who have received sponsorship from any agencies are required to write the sponsorship agencies names in the DAP&E application form (please find the attached form below).
The completed application form must to be submitted to the Director, SEAMEO TROPMED Network Malaysia, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Malaysia via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and submit the form (hardcopy) to our address as below,
The Secretariat
SEAMEO-TROPMED Network Malaysia
Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health
No. 1 Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam City
40170 Shah Alam, Selangor
b) International candidates
- SEAMEO TROPMED Scholarship : Available for candidates from ASEAN member countries. Applications must be submitted through the candidate's Ministry of Health to the SEAMEO-TROPMED Secretariat in Bangkok.
- For details, you may write to SEAMEO TROPMED Office Bangkok Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Private candidates : Complete the application form and email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Other sponsorship
The Head Department / Health Organization of the candidates is advised to write to potential scholarship agencies such as WHO, Global Fund, Welcome Trust, APMEN, and etc for getting scholarship for their officers to participate in the Postgraduate DAP&E 2025.
Candidates who have received sponsorship from any agencies are required to write the sponsorship agencies names in the Postgraduate DAP&E application form (please find the attached form below).
The completed application form must to be submitted to the Director, SEAMEO TROPMED Network Malaysia, Institute for Medical Research (IMR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Malaysia via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2. Modular Course Application
- Submit the application via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DATELINE FOR APPLICATION
Full course
- International participant: Not later than 12 weeks before commencement of the course.
- Local participant (personal/private): Not later than 8 weeks before commencement of the course. *
- Local participant (for SEAMEO TROPMED applicants): Please refer to the Training Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia (Bahagian Pengurusan Latihan, BPL, KKM : https://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/2573 )
Modular course
- 2 weeks before the module started.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES
For further enquiries, prospective applicants can approach the SEAMEO-TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology & Entomology (Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health) at the following:
The Secretariat
SEAMEO-TROPMED Network Malaysia
Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health
No. 1 Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam City
40170 Shah Alam, Selangor. MALAYSIA
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel. No: +603 – 3362 8068
Or
The Dean
Diploma Medical Microbiology
Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of Health
No. 1 Jalan Setia Murni U13/52, Section U13, Setia Alam City
40170 Shah Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA
Please refer to the links below
i) Link of brochure DMM
ii) Link for DMM Application form
