Dr Diana Foo
Dr Diana Foo
Dr Diana Foo is a senior clinician-researcher and Director of the Human Physiology Laboratory at Sarawak General Hospital Clinical Research Centre. Trained as a medical doctor, she embarked on a less conventional path as a clinician-researcher in 2013, driven by a deep passion for cardiovascular prevention and meaningful patient impact.
Her research focuses on echocardiography (diastology, strain imaging), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), cardiometabolic disease, atrial fibrillation, and digital health. Much of her work is dedicated to integrating advanced diagnostics and modern technologies at the interface between primary care and tertiary hospitals to support early detection and management for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Dr Foo has led various investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies as Principal Investigator. She receives research grants from the Ministry of Health Malaysia, industry collaborators, and international partners, and currently serves on international steering committees for several global studies. Since 2017, as Director of the Human Physiology Lab, she has led its transformation from a facility primarily supporting early-phase clinical trials into a medtech research hub for cardiovascular innovation.
Her work has been recognised with multiple Young Investigator Awards from national and regional cardiology societies. In 2023, she became the first Malaysian selected as a World Heart Federation Emerging Leader in digital health and cardiovascular disease prevention, and was also named one of Malaysia’s Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) for academic leadership and accomplishments.
Beyond research, Dr Foo contributes actively to national echocardiography education and serves as teaching and exam faculty for the National Heart Association of Malaysia’s Basic Echocardiography Certification and hands-on training programmes. As a young leader, her work reflects a strong commitment to the translational impact of research, cross-sector and interdisciplinary partnerships, and mentoring young research talents within the public healthcare system.