The 12th Kinal Prize Awards a Team from Puthisastra University

The 2024 Kinal Prize award ceremony took place on December 18 at the Cambodia-Korea Cooperation Center in Phnom Penh, presided over by Dr. Pors Mouslim, Under-Secretary of State representing Prof. Chean Ra, Minister of Health, and Dr. Hay Ly Eang, President of the Kinal Foundation and PPM-Confirel Group. The event was attended by about 400 people, including students and leaders from higher education institutions in health sciences. 

For its 12th edition, the 2024 Kinal Prize theme was: "Exploring the benefits of Noni (Morinda citrifolia) or fermented Noni in managing pain or health issues."

The first prize was won by a team from Puthisastra University for their research on "Phytochemical compounds, antioxidant activity, and HPLC analysis of Morinda citrifolia (noni) fruit extract in Cambodia."

A team from the University of Health Sciences took second place for an "Ethnobotanical study of Noni's popularity and potential benefits among the Cambodian population in Preah Dak village, Banteay Srei district, Siem Reap, Cambodia."

The third prize was awarded to a team from the Royal Army Institute of Health Sciences for their study on "The use of Noni juice or fermented Noni in managing arthritic pain among residents of Kandal province in Cambodia."

Speaking to the media, Dr. Hay Ly Eang emphasized the importance of this year's theme, noting that Noni is a historical medicinal plant in Khmer culture, used since the Angkor Empire era. He also expressed satisfaction with the growing student participation over the years and reaffirmed the Kinal Foundation's commitment to promoting research on Cambodian medicinal plants.

Dr. Pors Mouslim, representing the Ministry of Health, praised the scientific quality of the presented research, recognized by the National Ethics Committee for Human Health Research. He encouraged students to deepen their work to develop the pharmaceutical sector in Cambodia.

Initially, 129 students in 26 teams from 6 higher education institutions - University of Health Sciences, International University, Norton University, Armed Forces Institute of Health Sciences, Puthisastra University and Kampot Regional Health Institute - had registered. Nine teams were selected for the final.

Created in 2013 by the Kinal Foundation, tool of the PPM-Confirel Group's CSR policy, the Kinal Prize aims to encourage Cambodian health science students to conduct research projects that meet international scientific standards. The goal is to help them develop their potential, find employment matching their skills and contribute to the development of scientific research in Cambodia.