Professor Mohd Cairul Iqbal Mohd Amin stands as a towering figure in the field of Pharmaceutics, serving with distinction at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) since 1997. His illustrious academic journey is marked by visionary leadership and national impact, having been appointed as the Deputy Director General at the Department of Higher Education under Malaysia's Ministry of Higher Education from 2019 to 2021. Within UKM, he has held several strategic leadership roles, including Deputy Dean for Postgraduate, Research & Innovation (1998–2013) and Deputy Dean for Undergraduate, Alumni & International Affairs (2013–2015). He was also instrumental as Deputy Leader of UKM's Grand Challenges initiative, steering transformative research under the Malaysia and Wellness theme. A scholar of international repute, Professor Cairul Iqbal earned his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics (2001) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (1996) from the prestigious University of Manchester, UK. His global engagements include appointments as Visiting Professor at Prince of Songkla University (Thailand) and Universitas Andalas (Indonesia), as well as Visiting Scholar at the University of Delhi (India). Renowned for his cutting-edge research in innovative drug delivery systems, his work spans hydrogels, micellar systems, and bacterial cellulose-based carriers for transdermal and oral delivery.

He is currently pioneering research on aerosolized immunoliposomes loaded with antiviral drugs to combat SARS-CoV-2—a testament to his commitment to addressing urgent global health challenges. With over 100 publications in high-impact journals, Professor Cairul Iqbal has mentored over 20 PhD and 15 MSc graduates, leaving an indelible mark on the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists. His research excellence is matched by his ability to attract funding, having secured nearly RM 12 million from esteemed bodies such as Sciencefund, FRGS, ERGS, CRDF, MCCOF, MOHE-UKRI, and the ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund. Beyond academia, he is a trusted voice in national educational quality assurance, serving on accreditation panels for the Pharmacy Board of Malaysia and Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). He is also the founder and inaugural president of the Malaysian Local Chapter of the Controlled Release Society (MyCRS)—a pioneering initiative championing controlled release technology across pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and food industries.