What would you do if you received a grant to improve your research on an international scale? Asst Prof. Dr. Abhimanyu Veerakumarasivam at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences University Putra Malaysia is the recepient of this years Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment, and is using this grant to develop his research in cancer genetics, specifically in the area of bladder cancer. We discuss the importance of genetics in cancer treatment, how genetics influence the development of cancer and how his experiences overseas have helped contribute to this fascinating study.