Congratulations to Dr. Alan Prem Kumar on the release of his book Autophagy, Apoptosis, and Ferroptosis in oncology (co-edited with Dr. Kiavash).
Published by World Scientific, this book explores the interconnected roles of autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis in cancer, revealing how tumors exploit these processes for survival. By uncovering their mechanisms and therapeutic potential, it offers a concise, research-driven guide to targeting cell death pathways for innovative and more effective cancer treatments.
One copy will be donated to the Department Library for reference.
While artificial intelligence (AI) has shown promising potential, much of its use has remained theoretical or retrospective. Turning its potential into real-world healthcare outcomes, researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have successfully utilised an AI platform to make precise recommendations for dose adjustments in 10 patients at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) in Singapore.
Led by Professor Dean Ho, Director of the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM), NUS Medicine (Joint Professor at Department of Pharmacology), the team tracked the cancer biomarkers, CEA and CA125, of 10 patients in Singapore who were diagnosed with advanced solid tumours, to create personalised ‘digital twins’ for each patient.
By analysing the changes in biomarkers in response to different drug doses, precise recommendations were made to adjust each patient’s treatment plan. Over the period from the first dosing in August 2020 to the last dosing in September 2022, clinicians accepted 97.2 per cent of the recommended doses, with some patients receiving optimal doses that were approximately 20 per cent lower on average. The research trial marks a potential shift towards personalised oncology, where drug doses are dynamically adjusted for each patient during treatment, potentially reducing costs, rather than adhering to a standard, one-size-fits-all treatment regimen.
This approach to patient care is enabled by the CURATE.AI platform—developed by Prof Ho and team—an optimisation platform which harnesses a patient’s clinical data, such as drug type, drug dose and cancer biomarkers, to generate an individualised digital profile to determine a customised optimal dose during chemotherapy treatment.
Ready to lead the charge in pharmacology innovation?
The MSc PHC at NUS Yong Loo Lin School empowers you with mastery in drug development through cutting-edge pharmacology, toxicology, and regulatory sciences.
Flexible options: full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years).
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗦𝗰 𝗣𝗛𝗖?
• 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Specialise in Clinical Pharmacology, Translational Pharmacology, or Pharmacology Education to align with career aspirations
• 𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀-𝗢𝗻𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: Combine academic and practical experience for a competitive edge
• 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Collaborate on projects with mentors from industry, academia, and clinics
Ideal for graduates, professionals, and researchers, prepare for roles like Drug Development Specialist, Pharmacovigilance Professional and Pharmaceuticals Patient Educator.
A study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a leading journal in dementia research, has demonstrated the high accuracy of plasma p-tau217 as a blood-based biomarker for detecting abnormal brain beta-amyloid (Aβ) pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). More significantly, the study validates its effectiveness even in individuals with cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), which is highly prevalent in Asian populations. This finding can enhance early diagnosis, improve patient risk stratification, and facilitate better clinical management of AD in diverse populations.
The study was led by Dr Mitchell Lai, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), in collaboration with local and international experts from the National University Health System (NUHS), University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neurology at University College London, and Banner Sun Health Research Institute.
While blood biomarkers like p-tau217 have been extensively studied in Western populations—where CeVD is less common—this study uniquely focuses on a Singapore-based cohort, reflective of broader Asian demographics with a high CeVD burden. The results confirm that higher plasma p-tau217 levels correlate with faster cognitive decline, reinforcing its role not just as a diagnostic tool but also as a potential predictor of disease progression.
Potential clinical applications include:
Earlier and more precise detection: Plasma p-tau217 provides a highly sensitive and specific method for identifying Alzheimer’s pathology before severe cognitive decline occurs, potentially enabling earlier intervention and monitoring.
A simpler, minimally invasive diagnostic tool: Unlike costly and invasive positron emission tomography (PET) scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests, a blood-based biomarker could be easily integrated into routine clinical practice, making Alzheimer’s screening more accessible and scalable.
Patient risk stratification for optimised, personalised care: Adding plasma p-tau217 to routine clinical assessments allows doctors to efficiently categorise individuals into low, intermediate, and high-risk groups for Aβ pathology, enabling tailored follow-up strategies and potential early therapeutic interventions for patients.
Professor Christopher Chen, Director of the Memory, Ageing and Cognition Centre at NUHS and co-author of the study, said “This study provides strong evidence that plasma p-tau217 could be a game-changer for early detection of AD brain changes in Asian populations with high CeVD burden. A blood-based biomarker like p-tau217 brings us closer to a more accessible approach to diagnosing and managing AD in Singapore and beyond”.
Dr Joyce Chong, a Research Fellow with the Department of Pharmacology, NUS Medicine, and first author of the study, added “Although blood biomarkers are not expected to replace the current gold standard in clinical measures such as amyloid PET, their greatest value may lie in providing a cost-effective, minimally-invasive screening and risk-stratification tool to help reduce the proportion of individuals requiring confirmatory PET scans.”
Looking forward, the team hopes to expand the study both in the length of follow-up, as well as the diversity of investigated biomarkers. Dr Lai said, “There is increasing awareness that dementia is a chronic condition arising from complex, interacting processes, especially in our population where CeVD is likely to be an important contributor to the cognitive impairments associated with AD. Our long-term goal is to be able to produce a panel of multi-modal, clinically useful biomarkers which can both suggest novel therapeutic targets as well as help in the diagnosis and prognosis of this debilitating condition.”
The field of pharmacology is on the brink of incredible breakthroughs—gene and cell therapies, RNA-based treatments, and next-generation biologics are reshaping healthcare, opening doors to treat diseases once deemed untreatable. Be a part of this groundbreaking revolution and drive the future of medicine!
🎓 Join our MSc in Medical Pharmacology at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine:
Gain cutting-edge expertise in drug discovery, development, clinical translation, and pharmacology education.
🗓 Join us for our last Virtual Info Session on 24 April 2025 from 7pm to 8pm (UTC+8):
Insightful Sharing Session: Dive into our comprehensive curriculum and hands-on project opportunities.
Meet the Experts: Connect with our esteemed faculty and industry partners.
Live Q&A Session: Get answers to all your questions on admissions, coursework, and career prospects!
🌍 Special Offers:
International Students: Enjoy a 7% Early Bird Discount for the first 30 successful applicants.
Singaporeans and PR: Take advantage of a 40% rebate.
NUS Alumni: Benefit from a 20% rebate.
Elevate your career and make a transformative impact in healthcare!
The field of pharmacology is on the brink of incredible breakthroughs—gene and cell therapies, RNA-based treatments, and next-generation biologics are reshaping healthcare, opening doors to treat diseases once deemed untreatable. Be a part of this groundbreaking revolution and drive the future of medicine!
🎓 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗦𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗨𝗦 𝗬𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲: Gain cutting-edge expertise in drug discovery, development, clinical translation, and pharmacology education.
Be a pioneer in the medical field and take this opportunity to shape the future of healthcare! 🌟 #NUSPharmaco #MedicalPharmacology #EarlyBirdOffer #NUSMedicine
Department of Pharmacology congratulates A/P Christopher CHEN Li-Hsian on his well-deserved promotion to Full Professor!
This incredible achievement is a testament to his dedication, outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and mentorship, and unwavering commitment to academic excellence.
The Department wishing Professor Chen continued success in his academic journey.
NUS has been placed among the global top 10 for 22 subjects and top 20 for 36 subjects, according to the latest Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS WUR) by Subject 2025 released on 12 March 2025. This marks the highest-ever number of NUS subjects to be ranked among the global top 10.
Notably, NUS boasts six subjects ranking top five in the world. History of Art retained its global number two ranking, while Civil & Structural Engineering as well as Social Policy & Administration both climbed to third place worldwide, reaffirming NUS’ excellence in these fields. Chemical Engineering, Computer Science& Information Systems and Electrical & Electronic Engineering secured fourth place globally.
Nursing made its debut in the global top 10, jumping 12 places to eighth. Pharmacy & Pharmacology also saw a significant improvement, advancing six places to share the eighth spot.
