Research Focus & Grant
A. Research Focus
B. Research Grants
- EBV DNA (TR–PCR) predictor of nasopharyngeal cancer. Early detection of Nasopharyngeal cancer with EBV-DUAL. (PI : A/Prof Luke Tan)
- Clinical and immunologic effects of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis: a double blind, placebo controlled study. (PI : A/Prog Wang De Yun)
- Pathogenesis of nasal polyposis: role of leukotrines in recruitment and activation of CD8+ T cells. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Tissue engineered prefabricated vascularised bone flaps. (PI : A/Prof Luke Tan)
- Allergens for Diagnosis, Treatment and Control of Dust Mite Allergy (CO PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- The Role of fungus in allergic rhinitis. (PI : Dr Chao Siew Shuen)
- Environmental control measures in persistent allergic rhinitis. (PI: Dr Chao Siew Shuen)
- Genotypic and Phenotypic Correlations of Hereditary Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss in Singapore: Connexin 26, Connexin 30, Pendrin & A1555G Mutations. (PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Efficacy of house dust mites avoidance measures in persistent allergic rhinitis. (CO PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Establishing Normative Data For Central Auditory Procissing Disorder in school children. (CO PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Role of Staphylococcus aureus superantigens (enterotoxin) in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Impact of Stress on symptoms and underlying immunologic mechanism of allergic rhinitis. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Computational modeling of geometrical configuration on human nose and its related physiologic functions in health and disease. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Studies of self assembly between polymers and cyclodexterins and development of novel polyrotaxane – based DNA delivery system. (Co PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Detecting early genetic changes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma using the screening model for first degree relatives of NPC patients. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- A systematic study of trismus in radiate nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and the development of a clinical classification system for the severity and intervention of trismus. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- The detection of early nasopharyngeal carcinoma using a screening programme for siblings of affected patients. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- A Phase I Trial of 5-Azacitidine and Suberoylanilide hydroxiamic acid in patients with metastatic or locally recurrent Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and an nasal NK –T cell Lymphoma. (Co PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- The role of microbes in non–allergic rhinitis and otitis media with effusion in children. (PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Screening of mitochondrial mutations in children with non–syndromic sensorineural hearing loss. With Children Medical Institute, National University Hospital. (Co PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Efficacy of house dust mites avoidance in persistent allergic rhinitis. (PI : Dr Chao Siew Shuen)
- A Genome Wide Association Study on Atopy and Allergic Diseases in Singpaore. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Evaluation of the allergenicity of candida albicans and cladosporium herbarum by nasal challenge. (PI : Dr Chao Siew Shuen)
- Targeting Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) associated malignancies using humanised HLA/LMP1 specific monoclonal antibodies. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Apoptosis protease activating factor 1 (Apaf–1) mislocalization as a novel marker for drug resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- The design and use of Epstein Barr Virus–specific HLA tetramers to define the immunological basis underlying an association between certain HLA alleles and the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- An evaluation of CD8+ T cell response to Epstein – Barr Virus in patients with Nasophayrngeal Carcinoma. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- A phase II radomised study of oral Selicilcib in patients with previously treated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Development Of And Determination Of The Efficacy And Safety Of A Novel Drug–Eluting Absorbable Stent For Trachea Stenosis. (PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Study of Nasonex (Mometasone Furoate Nasal Spray) for the Treatment of Nasal Polyps in Pediatric Subjects 6 to 18 years of Age. Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Multi–centre Multi-country multi centre study. (Co PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Assessment of Nasal Patency via Multiphysics Simulations – from Physics to Medicine Subtitle: Phase II. Establishment of data human nose on normal and pathologic conditions. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- A genome–wide search for epigenetic alternations of genes important in development of nasal polyps. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Management of Acute Rhinosinusitis in Primary Care Clinics in Asia-Pacific. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- A Genome–wide association study on atony and allergic diseases in Singaporean. (PI : A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Development Of And Determination Of The Efficacy And Safety Of A Novel Drug-Eluting Absorbable Stent For Trachea Stenosis. (Co PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- A Systematic Analysis of Trismus in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Clinically Practical Classification of Severity." (PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Study to Unravel the Functional Biology of a Novel Interaction between the Anti-Apoptotic Protein, Bcl-2, and Mitochondrial Cytochrone C Oxidase Subunit VA in vitro and in Primary Cells Derived from Lymphome Patients. (Co PI : A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Development of a Noval Bioabsorbable drug-eluting ventilation tube for chronic middle east infection. (PI : A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Quantum dot–based microfluidic device for determining the etiology of rhinitis. (Co PI : Dr Loh Woei Shyang)
- Prospectively Isolation of Cancer Stem Cell (CSCs) from Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) tumor Biopsies (PI : Dr Yu Fenggang)
- A Systematic study of Submucosal Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: The Detection of Markers on Aggressive Tumour Behaviour for Treatment Targetting. (PI:A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Key Drivers of Tumor Growth in Nasal Polyposis (PI: A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Characterization of Atopy-Related IgE-Signalling Pathways by a Functional Genomics Approach (PI: A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Establishment of Primary Nasal Epithelial Stem / Progenitor Cells in an Air-liquid Interface Culture Model & Identification of Their Roles in infectious and allergic diseases of the upper airway (PI: A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- Office-Based Ventilation Tube Applicator for Patients with Otitis Media with Effusion (A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- An Automated Telephone-Adminstered Hearing Test for Mass Screening of Hearing Loss in Singapore (A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- TLR-3 ligand as an immune adjuvant in cetuximab based therapy in Head and Neck Cancer (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Comparing the use of I2R’s SleepMoniter II with conventional belts and ECG in the assessment of respiratory effort, heart rate and arrhythmia during polysomnography (PSG)." (PI: Dr Mark Thong)
- Integrated analysis of somatic mutations and genomic aberrations in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) (PI:A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- A Novel Biodegradable Ventilation Tube with Sustained Drug-Eluting Property for Treatment of Middle Ear Effusion (PI: A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Intensity of Cellular Infiltrates on Skin and Tumor Biopsies Correlates with Tumor Response and Skin Toxicity in Cetuximab based Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Patients (PI: A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Quantitative assessment of the virulence of rhinoviruses, influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses and host defense mechanisms of human nasal epithelium in vitro (PI: A/Prof Wang De Yun)
- A novel amplification device in speech impaired individuals (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- BEP 2012-132 148 0014 Office-based ventilation tube applicator for patients with otitis media with effusion (PI: A/Prof Lynne Lim)
- Objective Assessment of Facial Deformity for Surgical Applications (PI: Dr Loh Woei Shyang)
- Mediated Entry and Stable Infection by Epstein-Barr Virus in NPC and normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells. (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Real time in-vivo minature camera system in the long term surveillance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Gene and MiRNA expression analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PI: Dr Joshua Tay Kai Xun)
- Nasal Pharyngeal Cancer: Team Approach to Cure (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Reactivating autologous natural killer cells to target nasopharyngeal cancer (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- National Strategy for Hearing Health in Singapore (PI: Prof William Martin)
- Restoring the apoptosis pathway enhances radiation-mediated cytotoxicity in nasopharyngeal cancer (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Adaptive and Compliant Transoral Robotic Surgery with Flexible Manipulators and Intelligent Guidance (PI: Lim Chwee Ming)
- Ex Vivo culture and molecular characterization of circulating NPS tumor cells potentially for individualized drug testing (PI: Dr Yu Fenggang)
- The development of an orthotopic model of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma using patient circulating tumor cells; implications for novel therapeutics (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh & Dr Yu Fenggang)
- A reproducible model for Influenza virus infection and coinfections of human nasal epithelial cells: towards transcriptomic signatures of susceptibility and severity (PI: Prof Wang Dr Yun)
- Targeting Super-Enhancer Driven Transcripts in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma through CDK7 inhibition (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Near-infrared auto-fluorescence Raman spectroscopy system in the surveillance of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer(PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Rebooting the innate immunity in nasopharyngeal cancer (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Trans-oral robotic assisted needle direct tracheostomy puncture in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PI: Dr Lim Chwee Ming)
- Healthy Hearing, Healthy Ageing (PI: Prof William Hal Martin)
- Validation of molecular targets and vulnerabilities in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Identification of innate T-cell activation signatures in influenza infection in contact free system of epithelial-immune cell co-culture (PI: Dr Tan Kai Sen)
- Investigating airway cell tropism, responses and entry receptor of COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) in elucidating its transmission and pathogenesis in the airway (PI: Prof Wang De Yun)
- An evaluation of upper respiratory swabs for Covid-19 testing (NUSEAC) (PI: Prof Wang De Yun)
- Human parainfluenza virus: Developing a tool kit to prevent and treat a neglected respiratory viral infection (PI: Wang De Yun)
- In vitro efficacy and tolerability evaluation of a mucoadhesive agent on human nasal epithelium against upper respiratory tract infection viruses (PI: Wang De Yun)
- Inflammatory drivers of central nervous system tuberculosis (PI: Dr Joshua Tay Kai Xun)
- Immuno-oncology pathways innasopharyngeal carcinoma for targeted treatment (PI: Dr Joshua Tay Kai Xun)
- An integrated genomic, epidemiological and intervention program for NPC early diagnosis, stratified therapeutics and prevention (PI: A/Prof Thomas Loh)
- Microrna prognostic signatures for nasopharyngeal cancer (PI: Dr Joshua Tay Kai Xun)
- Plug and Play Clinical Predictors from Archival Biopsies (PI: Dr Joshua Tay)
- Biological Significance of high-risk EBV strains in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (PI: Dr Joshua Tay / Chee Yit)
- Auditory reality: impact of age and hearing function (PI: A/Prof Jenny Loo)
- Pilot study to validate the clinical relevance of redox-mediated upregulation of MCL-1 in driving venetoclax resistance in hematologic malignancies (PI: Prof Thomas Loh)
- Harmonising Health: Investigating the impact of community-based group aural rehabilitation on hearing loss and cognitive preservation in elderly individuals. (PI: A/Prof Jenny Loo)
- ERAP2 overexpression in anti-PD-1 resistance and immune evasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. (PI: Dr Joshua Tay)
C. Research Staff
Our dept currently have the following research staffs:
- Senior Research Fellow: Dr Liu Jing (PhD), Dr Foley Joseph William (PhD)
- Research Fellow: Ong Hsiao Hui (PhD), Ren Yi (PhD)
- Senior Laboratory Executive: Serene Siow Chor Hiang
- Specialist Associate: Judy Goh Han Lee
- Research Assistant: Teo Wei Keat, Chin Zhi Kang
- Laboratory Technologist: Tan Ying Yi
D. Visiting Research Fellow
- Dr Li Wen Xiou
- Dr Feng Huijie / Shanghai Putuo District People's Hospital of China / 30 Jun 2008 – 19 Dec 2008
- Dr Jin Yan / Dalin Municipal Central Hospital
- Dr Yang Qintai / The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University Guang Zhou, China / 10 Dec 2012 – 09 June 2013
- Dr Tang Qinglai / The Second Xiangya Hospital / 14 Apr 2014 – 13 Apr 2015
- Dr Chen Zhuang-Gui / The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun-Yat-Sen University Guang Zhou, China / 14 Apr 2014 – 14 Oct 2014
- Dr Deng Yuqin / Renmin hospital of Wuhan University / 06 Aug 2015 – 05 Aug 2016
- Dr Hong Haiyi / Fifth Hospital Affiliated with Sun Ya-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China / 21 Oct 2016 – 20 Oct 2017
- Dr Tua Annika Luukkainen / Helsinki University / 17 May 2016 - 12 Apr 2017