The inaugural Asian Conference on Implementation Science (ACIS 2025) was held from 11 to 14 November 2025 at Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Under the theme “Advancing Implementation Science in Asia: Bridging Research and Health for Five Billion People”, the conference served as a pivotal moment in building a regional community of practice dedicated to translating research into real-world public health impact. The event was organised by the planning committee for the proposed Asian Society for Implementation Science (ASIS), led by four distinguished leaders: Professor Dong (Roman) Xu (China), Professor Mathuros Tipayamongkholgul (Thailand), Professor Malabika Sarker (USA), and Professor Rohit Ramaswamy (USA). Their vision for fostering regional collaboration in implementation science was evident throughout the high-level discussions and cross-sectoral engagements at the conference.
ACIS2025 brought together a diverse community of over 800 participants from 36 countries, including 78 invited speakers and 230 abstract presenters. Hosted by Southern Medical University and supported by the newly established Asian Society for Implementation Science (ASIS), ACIS 2025 offered a dynamic platform for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to exchange ideas and chart a collaborative future for implementation science in the region.
The programme featured keynote addresses, concurrent sessions, poster presentations, and panel discussions that covered a wide array of topics from health systems strengthening to community-based implementation strategies. A key focus of the event was regional capacity building, with strong representation from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Western Pacific. Universiti Malaya played a visible role at the conference. Professor Dr Victor CW Hoe from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, chaired the concurrent session on Implementation Research in Asia. This session highlighted the growing momentum in implementation science research across the region and underscored Malaysia’s contributions to shaping context-relevant strategies for public health impact.
Adding to Malaysia’s presence, Professor Dr Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki, also from Universiti Malaya, delivered a presentation on Implementation Research in Malaysia, showcasing ongoing work led by the university in applying evidence-based approaches to address national health challenges. She also contributed to a plenary session discussing initiatives of the WHO–TDR Regional Training Centre for the Western Pacific Region and the Malaysia Implementation Science Training Program, both of which aim to strengthen regional implementation research capacity.
The significance of ACIS 2025 lies not only in its impressive scale and geographic reach but also in its timely response to the increasing demand for real-world evidence and the practical application of research in diverse health systems. As implementation science continues to evolve in Asia, events such as ACIS serve as a catalyst for building networks, standardising methodologies, and ensuring that evidence-informed interventions can be scaled sustainably. For Universiti Malaya, participation in ACIS 2025 reinforces its leadership role in regional implementation science. It provides valuable momentum for future collaborations that can translate research into tangible public and occupational health outcomes.
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