Professor Dr. Nirmala, a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist since 2014, holds qualifications including MD (UKM), MOG (UKM), FRCOG (London, UK), and Ph.D. (Monash, Australia). Presently, she heads both the Gynae-oncology Unit and Minimally Invasive Surgeries Unit in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The Gynae-oncology Unit, established in 1997, operates within the Faculty of Medicine building, previously utilizing General Hospital Kuala Lumpur as a clinical training center for UKM.
In her leadership role, Dr. Nirmala inspires her team to enhance gynaeoncology services, including the establishment of an ultrasound clinic using the IOTA-Adnex model for pre-operative adnexal masses and implementing laparoscopic sentinel node services for gynaecologic tumours. She is dedicated to facilitating and coordinating local and regional
workshops for gynaecology trainees. Dr. Nirmala collaborates with local and international leaders to establish protocols and guidelines, serving as a member of advisory panels and contributing to the development of clinical practice guidelines. As a senior lecturer, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, coordinates local postgraduate programs, and is currently a fellow member of the International Representative of RCOG committee in Malaysia. This centre has gained national recognition as a training center specializing in Gynaeoncology. In addition to offering clinical training, the team also oversees Master’s and Doctorate students with a keen interest in this demanding field.
Dr. Nirmala, a recipient of prestigious awards, has gained international acclaim for her research in ovarian cancer, focusing on identifying immune biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease prevention. Actively involved in translational research, Dr. Nirmala and her team collaborate with both national and international institutions, consistently securing research funding for their projects. Currently, she is actively contributing to the development of a biosensor kit for the early detection of ovarian cancer.
Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in community outreach, organizing cancer awareness programs and working on alternative screening methods for cervical cancer. Internationally, she volunteers for medical missions and contributes to health publications, interviews, and podcasts to promote cancer awareness among Malaysian women.
