Dr Tan Chee Wah

Research Interest

Benjamin Franklin once said, "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." The importance of preparedness for a public health emergency is evident in the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic. Southeast Asia is a known hotspot of zoonotic viruses, and the extensive land uses and climate changes significantly alter the wildlife ecosystems and, thus, increase the risk of zoonotic virus spillover into human populations. Our research focuses on the active surveillance of highly pathogenic zoonotic viruses in the human-animal interface using high-throughput and high-resolution serological assays. We aim to understand the regional infectious disease threats and pre-emptively prepare for the next outbreaks through therapeutic and vaccine development. Our goal is to stop outbreaks from becoming pandemics.

Recent Publications

1. Tan CW, Chia WN, Young BE, Zhu F, Lim BL, Sia WR, Thein TL, Chen MI, Leo YS, Lye DC, Wang LF. Pan-sarbecovirus neutralizing antibodies in BNT162b2-immunised SARS-CoV-1 survivors. New England Journal of Medicine 2021, 385(15): 1401-1406. .
2. Tan CW, Chia WN, Qin X, Liu P, Chen MI, Tiu C, Hu Z, Chen VC, Young BE, Sia WR, Tan YJ, Foo R, Yi Y, Lye DC, Anderson DE, Wang LF. A SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralization test based on antibody-mediated blockage of ACE2-spike protein-protein interaction. Nature Biotechnology 2020, 38(9): 1073-1078.
3. Tan CW, Chia WN, Zhu F, Young BE, Chantasrisawad N, Hwa SH, Yeoh AYY, Lim BL, Yap WC, Pada SK, Tan SY, Jantarabenjakul W, Toh LK, Chen S, Zhang J, Mah YY, Chen V, Chen MIC, Wacharapluesadee S, Sigal A, Putcharoen O, Wang LF#. Evidence for emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants under immune selection. Nature Microbiology 2022, 7(11):1756-1761.
4. Tan CW, Lim BL, Young BE, Yeoh AYY, Althaus T, Yap WC, Yung CF, Chia WN, Zhu F, Lye D, Wang LF#. Comparative neutralization profile of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 and BA.5. Lancet Microbe 2022, 3(12): e898.
5. Tan CW, Zhu F, Chia WN, Young BE, Yeoh AYY, Althaus T, Yung CF, Yap WC, Lim BL, Chen MIC, Zhang J, Mah YY, Voiglio E, Sigal A, Huo J, Xu S, Tan YJ, Lam KP, Lye D, Wang LF. Distinctive serotypes of SARS-related coronaviruses defined by convalescent sera from unvaccinated individuals. hLife 2023, In press https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlife.2023.07.002.
6. Chia WN, Tan CW, Tan AWK, Young B, Starr TN, Lopez E, Fibriansah G, Barr J, Cheng S, Yeoh AY, Yap WC, Lim BL, Ng TS, Sia WR, Zhu F, Chen S, Zhang J, Kwek MSS, Greaney AJ, Chen M, Au GG, Paradkar PN, Peiris M, Chung AW, Bloom JD, Lye D, Lok S, Wang LF. Potent pan huACE2-dependent sarbecovirus neutralizing monoclonal antibodies isolated from a BNT162b2-vaccinated SARS survivor. Science Advances 2023, 9(30): eade3470.
7. Tan CW, Gamage AM, Yap WC, Tang LJW, Sun Y, Yang XL, Pyke A, Chua KB, Wang LW#. Pteropine orthoreoviruses use cell surface heparan sulfate as an attachment receptor. Emerging Microbe & Infection 2023, 12(1): 2208683.
8. Luo Y, Tan CW, Xie SZ#, Chen Y, Yao YL, Zhao K, Zhu Y, Wang Q, Liu MQ, Yang XL, Wang LF, Shi ZL. Identification of ZDHHC17 as a potential drug target for swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus infection. mBio 2021, 12(5): e0234221.
9. Wacharapluesadee S, Tan CW, Maneeorn P, Duengkae P, Zhu F, Joyjinda Y, Kaewpom T, Chia WN, Ampoot W, Lim BL, Worachotsueptrakun K, Chen VCW, Sirichan N, Ruchisrisarod C, Rodpan A, Noradechanon K, Phaichana T, Jantarat N, Thongnumchaima B, Tu C, Crameri G, Stokes MM, Hemachudha T, Wang LF. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses circulating in bats and pangolins in Southeast Asia. Nature communication 2021, 12(1):972.
10. Evans TS, Tan CW, Aung O, Phyu S, Lin H, Coffey LL, Toe AT, Aung P, Aung TH, Aung NT, Weiss CM, Thant KZ, Htun ZT, Murray S, Wang LF, Johnson CK, Thu HM. Exposure to diverse sarbecoviruses indicates frequent zoonotic spillover in human communities interacting with wildlife. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2023, 131: 57-64.