Professor Emeritus Datin Paduka Dr. Khatijah Yusoff is one of Malaysia’s most distinguished scientists, renowned for her pioneering research on the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), transformative national service, and lifelong commitment to mentoring and scientific leadership. Her work has had dual and far-reaching impact—strengthening food security through the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and molecular tools for the poultry industry, while later advancing NDV as a promising oncolytic platform for cancer therapy—exemplifying the translation of science into solutions of profound societal value. Her exceptional contributions have been recognised through numerous national and international honours, including the Merdeka Award, UNESCO Carlos J. Finlay Prize, Tokoh Akademik Negara, and Tokoh Maulidur Rasul, as well as election as Fellow of leading academies such as ASM, TWAS, IAS, and the International Science Council, and service as Vice-President of TWAS and IAS. She has also been recognised as one of the 20 most influential women in science in the Islamic world. Beyond research excellence, she has held senior leadership roles in academia and government, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Universiti Putra Malaysia and Deputy Secretary-General (Science) at MOSTI, shaping institutional and national science agendas, while contributing internationally to organisations such as ILRI , SEAMEO-BIOTROP, and ICGEB. Equally recognised for her humanity, mentorship, and advocacy for women in science, Khatijah’s enduring legacy lies not only in her scientific achievements and policy leadership, but in the lives she has inspired and the enduring impact of science in service of humanity.