Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Zaki Salleh
Professor
Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute
Faculty of Pharmacy
Universiti Teknologi MARA
zakisalleh@uitm.edu.my

NO	NAME	INSTITUTION	FACULTY/SCHOOL/ CENTRE/UNIT
1	Prof. Dr. Teh Lay Kek	UITM	Faculty of Pharmacy
2	Dr. Yu Choo Yee	UITM	Faculty of Pharmacy
3	Dr. Ang Geik Yong	UITM	Faculty of Sport and Recreation

2 years (15 August 2017 - 31 July 2019)

Interindividual differences in endurance, strength and speed in sport are governed by host genetic factors. Similarly, responses to nutrients which affect health differ due to the basic genetic codes we carry. Athletes with inborn talents can therefore be identified based on their genes and their performances in sports can be enhanced with adequate dietary nutrients that are tailored and made using the genetic information. The influence of genetics on the performance of an athlete has been estimated to be up to 66%. Variation in genes that are related to sport performance opens the possibility of personalizing training programs based on an athlete’s genetic profile in building the champions. Genetic variations associated with sport performance and nutrition had been successfully identified from the whole genome analysis of Orang Asli and Malays from our previous LRGS-funded research. This led us to develop a genotyping test kit to detect these specific genetic variants for talent identification and to enhance sport performance. The genotyping kit targets genetic variants governing predisposition to succeed in endurance and/or speed and power sports, susceptibility to injuries, response to exercise, eating behaviors, genetic risk for decreased level of vitamins and essential fatty acids and response to fat and refined carbohydrate. The genotyping kit is based on the principle of tetra-primer allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Reliability and stability tests will be conducted on the optimised kits. There are no similar genotyping kits available in the market. A patent for the kit will be applied. This genotyping kit will be tested in a group of athletes from the National Football Development Program so that we can build champions for the FIFA under-17 World Cup in 2019. We have engaged a local company to distribute the kits in Malaysia and overseas markets. A start-up company has been set up to distribute the product and the promotion for the product has been done during iPROMISE Open Day and URF 2019. We have engaged a local company to distribute the kits in Malaysia and overseas markets.

1. To design allele-specific primers for a total of 122 SNPs that have been identified to be related to diFferential sport performance and responses to nutrients.
2. To optimize and validate the allele-specific PCR assays.
3. To validate the genotyping result with Sanger sequencing.

1. Intellectual Property (IP) :
   

   Proposed	Achieve
   1	2

   
   
   • Copyright No. LY2018001961 (MYIPO)
   • Patent No. PI2020006099 (MYIPO)
2. Product/Prototype:
   • EVERNUTRIX : Allele specific Genotyping kit to screen and identify humans with different sports performance and nutrigenomics.

• 29th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (2018) – Silver Medal
• Invention, Innovation, Design Exposition (2017) – Gold Medal

1. The PCR genotyping tests would help the sport industries in producing champions.
2. The kits will also help to identify publics with risk of vitamin and diet deficiencies and adequate supplements can be used. It helps the pharmacists at retail pharmacies.
3. The genetic test can be used by fitness centers and beauty centers for weight maintenance.