Academic Staff
TAY Sam Wah, Samuel
(PhD; MSc; BSc)
Tel: +65 6516 3210
Email: anttaysw@nus.edu.sg
Office: MD10 #04-01D
Research Interests
- Stem Cell Biology (with special reference to mesenchymal and neural stem cells)
- Molecular characterization and transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells
- Diabetes mellitus and neurodegeneration in the nervous system
- Molecular analysis of gestational diabetes-induced changes in the developing nervous system
- Cardiac malformations in embryos of diabetic pregnancy
Selected Publications
- Loh WT, ST Dheen, B Jiang, SD Kumar and SSW Tay (2011). .Molecular and morphological characterization of neural tube defects in embryos of diabetic Swiss albino mice. Histology and Histopathology 26(8):965-78.
- Zhu L, J Lu, SSW Tay, H Jiang and BP He (2010).. Induced NG2 expressing microglia in the facial motor nucleus after facial nerve axotomy. Neuroscience 166(3):842-51
- Chao, YX, BP He and SSW Tay (2009). Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation attenuates blood brain barrier damage and neuroinflammation and protects dopaminergic neurons against MPTP toxicity in the substantia nigra in a model of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neuroimmunology 216: 39-50.
- Jiang B, SD Kumar, WT Loh, M Jayapal, EA Ling, SSW Tay and ST Dheen (2008).Global gene analyses of cranial neural tubes in embryos of diabetic mice. Journal of Neuroscience Research: Epub ahead of print.
- Chao YX, BP He and SSW Tay (2007). Protein aggregate-containing neuron-like cells are differentiated from bone marrow stem cells from mice with neurofilament light subunit deficiency. Neuroscience Letters 417: 240-245.
- Kumar SD, ST Dheen and SSW Tay (2007). Maternal diabetes induces congenital heart defects in mice by altering the expression of genes involved in cardiovascular development. Cardiovascular Diabetology 6: 34.
- Fu J, Tay SSW, Ling EA and Dheen ST (2007). Aldose reductase is implicated in high glucose-induced oxidative stress in mouse embryonic stem cells. Journal of Neurochemistry 103: 1654-1665.
- Fu J, Tay SSW, Ling EA and Dheen ST (2006). High glucose alters expression of genes involved in proliferation and cell fate specification of embryonic neural stem cells. Diabetologia 49: 1027-1038.
- Liao DM, Ng YK, Tay SSW, et al. (2004). Altered gene expression with abnormal patterning of the telencephalon in embryos of diabetic Albino Swiss mice. Diabetologia 47: 523-531.
- Lian QZ, Dheen ST, Liao DM, Tay SSW (2004). Enhanced inflammatory response in neural tubes of embryos derived from diabetic mice exposed to a teratogen. Journal of Neuroscience Research 75: 554-564.
- Yan J, Tay SSW, Ling EA and Dheen ST, Retinoic acid inhibits the expression of TNF- α and iNOS in the activated rat microglia. GLIA, 50 (2005): 21-31. (United States)
- Ji JF, He BP, Dheen ST, Tay SSW. Expression of chemokine receptors CXCR4, CCR2, CCR5 and CX(3)CR1 in neural progenitor cells isolated from the subventricular zone of the adult rat brain. NEUROSCI LETT 355 (3): 236-240 JAN 30 2004
- Hua J, Kumar VP, Tay SSW, et al. Microscopic changes at the neuromuscular junction in free muscle transfer. CLIN ORTHOP RELAT R (411): 325-333 JUN 2003
- Dai RP, He BP, Tay SSW. Persistent upregulation of IL-6 in the rat heart with aortacaval fistula. FASEB J 17 (4): A361-A361 Part 1 Suppl. S MAR 14 2003
- Dai RP, Dheen ST, Tay SSW. Induction of cytokine expression in rat post-ischemic sinoatrial node (SAN). CELL TISSUE RES 310 (1): 59-66 OCT 2002
- Wang X, Tay SSW, Ng YK. An electron microscopic study of neuronal degeneration and glial cell reaction in the retina of glaucomatous rats. HISTOL HISTOPATHOL 17 (4): 1043-1052 OCT 2002
- Liao DM, Ng YK, Tay SSW, et al. Defective forebrain patterning in embryos of diabetic mice. DEV BIOL 247 (2): 143 JUL 15 2002
Honours & Awards
- Pre-University Merit Scholarship (1969-1970)
- Parsi-Lodge Undergraduate Scholarship (1972-1976)
- Research Scholarship, NUS (1980-1984)
- National Institutes of Health Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of Iowa (1984-1986)
- Honorary Research Fellowship, University College London (1992-1993)
- Distinguished Member, Roll of Honour, Microscopy Society (Singapore) (1999)
- Faculty of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award (2005-2006)
Other Appointments
- President, Singapore Neuroscience Association
- Past President, Microscopy Society (Singapore)
- Council Member, International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)
- Editor, Cardiovascular Toxicology (USA)
- Editor, BioScience Trends (Japan)
- Editor, Journal of Clinical Rehabilitative Tissue Engineering Research (China)
- Editor-In-Chief, Annals of Microscopy (Singapore)
- Specialty Editor, Singapore Medical Journal (Singapore)
- Foreign Counsellor to Singapore Students Entering University of Iowa (USA)
Career History
- P/T Tutor, University of Singapore (1975-1980)
- Research Scholar, National University of Singapore (1980-1984)
- Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Iowa (1984-1986)
- Lecturer, Anatomy, NUS (1986-1990)
- Senior Lecturer, Anatomy, NUS (1991-1997)
- Associate Professor, Anatomy, NUS (1998-Present)
Administrative Leadership
- Resident Fellow, Temasek Hall, NUS (1988-2003)
- Chairman, Faculty of Medicine Safety Committee (1999-2003)
- Member, National University of Singapore Senate (1995-2001; 2007-2009)
- Interim Director, OSHE (2002-2004)
- Member, Research Task Force (School of Medicine) (2005-2009)
List of PhDs Trained
- Dr S Thameem Dheen (1994)
- Dr Liu Hai Ping (1997)
- Dr He Beiping (1998)
- Dr Gulati Punam (1998)
- Dr Wang Xu (2002)
- Dr Thirumangalathu Shoba (2002)
- Dr Dai Ruping (2004)
- Dr Ji Junfeng (2004)
- Dr Li Lv (2007)
- Dr Li Zhao Hui (2007)
- Dr S Dinesh Kumar (2008)
- Dr Chao Yinxia (2009)
- Dr Loh Wan Ting (2009)
Current Graduate Students
- Ms Nandhini Kanagaraj
- Ms Sivasubramaniam Meenalochani
- Ms Ooi Yin Yin
Recent Grants Awarded
- BMRC Research Grant: Role of diabetes mellitus and retinoic acid in the development of congenital heart defects in the mouse embryo. (Principal Investigator)(Feb’05-Jan’08)($119,000).
- ARF Grant: Global gene expression analysis of cardiac neural crest cells exposed to maternal teratogenicity during development. (Principal Investigator) (Mar’05-Feb’08)($88,000).
- ARF Grant: immune modulatory effects of transplanted bone marrow stromal cells on microglia in the treatment of mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. (Principal Investigator)(Mar’06-Mar”09)($60,000).
- ARF (Bridging Grant): Role of zinc in the prevention of cardiomyopathy in the embryos of diabetic pregnancy. (Principal Investigator)(Apr’08-Mar’09)($75,000).
- ARF/MOE Grant:Effects of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in Parkinson’s disease. (Principal Investigator). ($625,000).