Appointment of Professor Khong Pek-Lan as Director of NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre (CIRC)
Published: 26 Jul 2021
Professor Khong Pek-Lan has been appointed Director of the NUS Clinical Imaging Research Centre (CIRC), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.
Prof Khong joins us from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), where she has been a Clinical Professor of Radiology and Head of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology since 2008. She was a consultant Radiologist at the Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital.
Prof Khong graduated with an MBBS from NUS in 1989 and soon after underwent specialist training in radiology. She holds specialist qualifications, including Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, UK (1995), Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Radiologists (1997), and Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (1997). In 2007, she completed a postgraduate qualification in Doctor of Medicine (MD) at the HKU, for which she was awarded the Sir Patrick Manson Gold Medal for outstanding merit for her thesis.
Prof Khong developed an interest in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) early in her career and is now one of the leading scientists in her field. Her research focuses on paediatric neuroradiology, in particular applications of diffusion‐weighted and diffusion‐tensor MRI, and in oncological imaging whereby hybrid Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is employed. She has authored over 240 publications, many of which have been well cited.
She championed the development of academic radiology at HKU through the establishment of clinical and research molecular imaging facilities in the Department, which included the cyclotron and radiopharmacy laboratory, and the pre‐clinical translational research laboratory. On the clinical front, she maintained a regular paediatric radiology clinical reporting service and oversaw PET/CT and PET/MRI reporting services at the hospitals. Prof Khong is one of the few radiologists who are able to bridge the gap between basic research, clinical research, and clinical care.
Her expertise led to her being elected to leadership roles of various radiology societies, including the Board of Trustees of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Executive Board member of the International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology (IS3R), and committee member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). She has also presented at over 100 conferences, symposia, and courses, and given many plenary and keynote lectures, both regionally and globally.
Being an avid supporter of Equity, Diversity and Inclusiveness initiatives, she actively participates in mentorship programs and supports the endeavours in international organisations such as ‘Women of ISMRM Ad‐Hoc committee’.
With her return to Singapore, Prof Khong plans to advance research in quantitative imaging biomarkers which will be helpful in the identification and treatment of diseases, in turn providing a shorter timeframe and lower overall cost for diagnosis. She hopes to address gaps faced in clinical translation by strengthening the field of clinical imaging research in Singapore and enhancing the local imaging expertise.
The School would also like to express its deepest appreciation to Professor Barry Halliwell for his leadership and dedication as the interim Director of CIRC.
