News

The Department of Pharmacology warmly congratulates Prof Christopher Chen on two outstanding achievements: his appointment to the World Dementia Council (WDC) and his receipt of the prestigious World Stroke Organization (WSO) President’s Award.

Prof Chen’s appointment to the World Dementia Council recognises his contributions to dementia research and his commitment to advancing global efforts in addressing the challenges of dementia. In this role, he will contribute to international discussions and initiatives aimed at improving dementia care, research and policy.

In addition, Prof Chen was honoured with the World Stroke Organization’s President’s Award at the 18th World Stroke Congress 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. This distinguished accolade recognises his contributions to stroke research and care, as well as his dedication to improving outcomes for patients affected by stroke.

These prestigious international recognitions reflect Prof Chen’s dedication to advancing neurological research and improving patient care. The Department takes great pride in his achievements and extends its heartfelt congratulations on these well-deserved honours.

For more details: https://www.worlddementiacouncil.org/newmembers

For more details: https://ddec1-0-en-ctp.trendmicro.com/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.linkedin.com%2fposts%2fworld%2dstroke%2dorganization%5fwsc2026%2dstrokecare%2dstrokecongress%2dactivity%2d7518876470497443840%2dC%5fhy%3futm%5fsource%3dshare%26utm%5fmedium%3dmember%5fandroid%26rcm%3dACoAAAKzzf4BQyFigvbziNTFG2OzBDiNsMBQpYo&umid=cfa25cfd-45c2-4d33-b71a-59df349e3450&rct=1793240626&auth=8d3ccd473d52f326e51c0f75cb32c9541898e5d5-a022ec6d3f05cc9ab85d2905852afaf56ca4b3b2

The Department of Pharmacology is pleased to celebrate two recent education publications in JMIR Medical Education, a leading journal in health professions education with a Journal Impact Factor of 13.9. The publications, contributed by A/Prof Judy Sng, Juanita Kong and A/Prof Inthrani Raja Indran, highlight the Department’s commitment to advancing medical education through innovative teaching approaches and the thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence (AI).

Empowering Educators to Build AI Chatbots, No Coding Required

Charlene Goh, Eugene Wang, Juanita Kong and A/Prof Judy Sng

AI presents exciting opportunities to enhance medical education through interactive learning experiences, including virtual patients, clinical coaches and feedback partners. However, effective implementation requires more than technological knowledge.

This tutorial introduces a practical, five-stage, no-code workflow to guide educators in designing, testing and integrating AI chatbots into their teaching. Drawing on NUS Medicine’s Virtual Integrated Patient and Depression Avatars projects, the paper provides insights into chatbot design, learner interactions and ethical implementation. It emphasises the importance of prioritising pedagogy over technology, ensuring that AI enhances opportunities for practice, feedback and reflection.

Read the publication: https://mededu.jmir.org/2026/1/e103399

Making Reasoning Audible: Closing the Engagement Blind Spot

A/Prof Inthrani Raja Indran and Prof Dujeepa D Samarasekera (CenMED)

While active learning encourages student participation, engagement does not always translate into meaningful reasoning and discussion. Students may complete activities and contribute answers without explaining their thought processes, considering alternative perspectives or refining their judgements.

This tutorial introduces the concept of the “engagement blind spot” and presents 12 practical strategies to encourage students to articulate, question and refine their reasoning collaboratively. The paper also explores how educators can foster meaningful dialogue in digital and AI-enabled learning environments, emphasising that effective learning goes beyond participation to developing critical thinking and collaborative reasoning skills.

Read the publication: https://mededu.jmir.org/2026/1/e104702

Together, these publications reflect the Department of Pharmacology’s continued dedication to educational innovation and excellence, preparing future healthcare professionals to think critically, communicate effectively and navigate an increasingly AI-driven healthcare landscape.

The Department warmly congratulates A/Prof Judy Sng, A/Prof Inthrani Raja Indran, Juanita Kong and their collaborators on these publications!

The Department of Pharmacology congratulates 18 faculty members on being recognized among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for citation impact in 2026.

This global analysis, initiated by Professor John Ioannidis at Stanford University and published by Elsevier, highlights the significant contributions and impact of our faculty in advancing research and knowledge.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to:

• Faculty members
  Professor Christopher CHEN Li-Hsian, Professor TAO Wei, Professor Fred WONG Wai-Shiu,  Associate Professor Minh LE, Associate Professor Gautam SETHI, Dr Alan Prem KUMAR

• Joint faculty members
  Professor Guillermo C. BAZAN, Professor GOH Boon Cher, Professor Dean Ho, Dr Saima HILAL, Dr Muthu Kumaraswamy SHANMUGAM

• Adjunct faculty members
  Associate Professor Edward J. MANSER, Associate Professor Shabbir MOOCHHALA, Dr. Xuan Vinh TRUONG

• Retired faculty members
  Associate Professor Benny TAN Kwon Huat, Emeritus Professor R. Manjunatha KINI, Emeritus Professor Edmund LEE Jon Deoon, Emeritus Professor Philip Keith MOORE

This recognition is a testament to their dedication, excellence, and lasting impact on the scientific community.

🎉 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.