News

🎉 Congratulations to Dr David Fann and Dr Nurulhuda Mustafa! 🎉

We are delighted to celebrate Dr David Fann and Dr Nurulhuda Mustafa on being named the inaugural recipients of the new Fellowship in Healthcare Professions Education awarded by CenMed.

This prestigious recognition reflects their unwavering commitment to educational excellence, innovation in teaching, and dedication to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals. As passionate educators, they have made significant contributions to advancing healthcare professions education and enriching the learning experiences of their students and colleagues.

As the first recipients of this fellowship, they have set a high benchmark for educational leadership and scholarship. We are incredibly proud of their achievement and look forward to seeing their continued impact on healthcare education.

Please join us in congratulating Dr David Fann and Dr Nurulhuda Mustafa on this well-deserved honour! 👏👏

Researchers from the Department of Pharmacology, NUS Medicine, have contributed to an important discovery that could pave the way for new treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

Led by Research Assistant Professor Alan Prem Kumar from the Department of Pharmacology and NUS Centre for Cancer Research, the research team identified DP103, a previously unknown “master switch” that plays a key role in driving tumour growth, cancer spread and treatment resistance.

The team also demonstrated the potential of RX-5902 (Supinoxin), an experimental targeted drug that disrupts this mechanism. In preclinical models, the treatment significantly reduced cancer stem-cell viability and tumour growth, with some models showing approximately 90% reduction in tumour size.

The findings highlight the potential of DP103 as a biomarker for personalised treatment, helping identify patients who may benefit from targeted therapy. This research underscores the Department of Pharmacology’s contributions to advancing cancer research and the development of more precise therapeutic approaches.

For more details: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/news/new-master-switch-linked-to-aggressive-breast-cancer-with-drug-shown-to-slow-tumour-growth/

Associate Professor Judy SNG Chia Ghee delivered a plenary talk, “Designing AI-Enabled Learning: From Teaching Assistants to Conversational Avatars,” at the Human-AI Futures in Higher Education (HAIFHE) Conference 2026 on 19–20 August 2026.

Her talk contributed to the conference’s exploration of the future of AI in higher education, sharing practical perspectives on designing AI-enabled learning experiences—from personalised AI teaching assistants to conversational avatars—and highlighting new possibilities for educational innovation and human-AI interaction.

Department of Pharmacology is pleased to congratulate Dr Chandra Sekhar Bhol on being named one of three recipients of the 2026 Outstanding Mentor Award for Research Fellows.

The award celebrates Research Fellows who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and effectiveness in mentoring, recognising those who consistently invest their time and effort in nurturing, supporting, and empowering the development of their mentees.

This recognition reflects Dr Bhol’s dedication to fostering a supportive research environment and his commitment to guiding and encouraging the professional and personal development of his mentees.

Congratulations to Dr Chandra Sekhar Bhol on this well-deserved recognition!

The Department of Pharmacology warmly congratulates Professor Philip Moore, our former Head of Department, on his appointment as Emeritus Professor.

Professor Moore has made significant contributions to the Department through his leadership, research and dedication to academic excellence. As Head of the Department, he played an important role in guiding and advancing the Department, leaving a lasting impact on our community.

We are delighted to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and grateful for Professor Moore’s longstanding contributions to the Department, the University and the field of pharmacology.

NUS Department of Pharmacology warmly welcomes Professor TAO Wei to the department and congratulates him on his prestigious appointment as Philip Yeo Chair Professor in Medicine.

Professor TAO joins the department with an outstanding record of research and academic contributions in the biomedical sciences. His appointment as Philip Yeo Chair Professor in Medicine is a distinguished recognition of his achievements and expertise.

We are delighted to have Professor TAO join our department and look forward to his contributions to research, education and the continued advancement of pharmacology and biomedical science.

The Department is pleased to share that A/P Gavin DAWE, Head of Department, has been conferred The Long Service Medal at the Singapore National Day Awards 2026.

The National Day Awards serve as a national recognition of individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service and commitment to Singapore across public service, education, and community development. The Long Service Medal specifically commends individuals of irreproachable character who have rendered at least 25 years of continuous service.

This prestigious honor underscores A/P Dawe’s steadfast leadership, professional integrity, and dedicated service. His ongoing efforts have significantly shaped the department’s growth and furthered our commitment to excellence in NUS education and research.

On behalf of the department, we offer our heartiest congratulations to A/P Gavin DAWE on this well-deserved recognition.

The Department Safety & Health Committee and Culture Ambassador Team are pleased to share the success of Majulah Walk 2026, which brought together 55 participants for a refreshing morning of nature, camaraderie and wellbeing.

This year’s walk marked our highest turnout for a nature walk to date, reflecting the strong enthusiasm and support from our department community.

Participants enjoyed a scenic walk through Labrador Nature Park and the Bukit Chermin Boardwalk, taking in the lush greenery, coastal views and waterfront scenery along the way. Beyond enjoying the outdoors, the walk also provided a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to connect, unwind and spend time together away from the workplace.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making Majulah Walk 2026 such a memorable event!

Department of Pharmacology is pleased to highlight the role of Associate Professor Kwon Seok Soga in a new collaboration between the Korea Regulatory Science Center (K-RSC) and the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, aimed at advancing regulatory science cooperation and strengthening collaboration across Asia.

Led by A/Prof Soga from the Department of Pharmacology, the partnership brings together expertise and resources to foster greater collaboration in regulatory science, with the potential to support innovation and strengthen regulatory frameworks across the region.

We congratulate A/Prof Soga on his leadership in this important initiative and celebrate his contributions to advancing regulatory science and international collaboration.

Full Story: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/news/korea-regulatory-science-centerand-nus-medicine-sign-mou-to-advance-regulatory-science-cooperation-across-asia/

The Department of Pharmacology is pleased to celebrate two recent book publications involving Associate Professor Gautam Sethi, highlighting his contributions to education, knowledge sharing and research in the biomedical sciences.

Textbook of Developmental Biology: Laboratory Techniques and Experimental Approaches

Edited by Alok Chandra Bharti, Anna Senrung, Ashok Kumar and Gautam Sethi, this book was published by Springer Singapore in April 2026. It provides an in-depth exploration of developmental biology, with a focus on laboratory techniques and experimental approaches. The book covers developmental processes and experimental studies involving a range of model organisms, including frogs, chick embryos, Drosophila, zebrafish and Caenorhabditis elegans. It serves as a valuable resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students, educators and researchers in the Life Sciences.

Phytochemicals and Hallmarks of Cancer: From Molecules to Medicine

Edited by Gautam Sethi and Lekshmi R. Nath, this book explores the potential of phytochemicals and plant-derived products in cancer prevention and therapy. It examines the molecular mechanisms through which these natural compounds may influence key processes involved in cancer development and progression, while also highlighting the challenges of translating research findings into clinical applications.

We congratulate A/Prof Gautam Sethi on these publications and celebrate his continued contributions to education, research and knowledge advancement in the biomedical sciences.