Dr Chen Weihua Elijah, Class of 2020

Winner of Chua Toh Hua Memorial Gold Medal, AY2019/2020

NUS Medicine PhD student, Dr Chen Weihua Elijah (Class of 2020) has been awarded the Chua Toh Hua Memorial Gold Medal. Dr Chen graduated with his PhD under the supervision of Professor Nicholas R J Gascoigne. The title of his thesis is “Identification of Cdc7 as A New Regulator of T Cell Activation”.

Dr Chen has three first author papers and co-authored a further three papers in reputable journals. His thesis, “Identification of Cdc7 as A New Regulator of T Cell Activation”, uncovered a potential novel mediator of T cell activation. His work showcased the use of an elegant screening strategy for the identification of potential novel T cell signalling mediators. Through the screen, he identified a dual inhibitor of the kinases Cdc7/Cdk9, PHA-767491, as a potential inhibitor of T cell activation. With the growing interest in T cell therapies and immunomodulation, the identification of novel mediators and mechanisms of T cell receptor (TCR) signalling and activation holds much clinical significance.

Dr Chen had also participated in several international conferences and summits, such as the 2018 Global Young Scientists Summit which is an annual multi-disciplinary summit.

Dr Low Su Jun, Blaise, Class of 2021

Winner of Chua Toh Hua Memorial Gold Medal, AY2020/2021

NUS Medicine PhD student, Dr Low Su Jun Blaise (Class of 2021) has also been awarded the Chua Toh Hua Memorial Gold Medal.

Dr Low graduated with a PhD in April 2021 from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, under the supervision of Dr Teo Kee Keong, Adrian from the Department of Biochemistry and Professor Tai E Shyong from the Department of Medicine. Her thesis title is “Investigating the Effects of A Novel HNF1A Mutation in Maturity Onset Diabetes of The Young 3 (MODY3)”.

MODY3 is an autosomal dominant form of monogenic diabetes caused by heterozygous mutations in the HNF1A gene. Dr Low generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from two MODY3 patients with a novel HNF1A^+/H126D mutation, and differentiated the hiPSCs into pancreatic β cells in vitro. The mutation decreased the expression of GLUT2 glucose transporter, resulting in impaired glucose uptake, reduced ATP production and defective insulin secretion in the MODY3 β cells. Genome-wide RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analyses revealed the mutation also decreased the transcription of numerous genes that are involved in β cell function. This disease modelling study could aid the development of alternative treatment strategies for diabetes patients. These findings were published in “Nature Communications”.

Dr Lavenniah Annadoray, Class of 2021

Winner of Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize (Best PhD thesis in the Natural Sciences Category), AY2020/2021

The Wang Gungwu Medal and Prize (Best PhD thesis in the Natural Sciences Category) has been awarded to Dr Lavenniah Annadoray. The prize comprises a medal and cash prize of $5,000. Candidates are awarded the prize based on the global impact of the thesis, among other criteria for the award. Dr Lavenniah graduated with a PhD in February 2021 from the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, under the main supervision of Professor Roger Foo, Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme. Her PhD thesis title is “Synthetic Circular miRNA Sponges as A Novel miRNA Interference Technology”. 

RNA therapeutics is rapidly changing the drug development scene for myriads of human diseases worldwide. Her PhD work has dived deep into this, demonstrating that a unique circular RNA form can be engineered into synthetic circular miRNA sponges (circmiRs) to sequester target disease miRNAs of interest. In a proof-of-concept study, prophylactic administration of circmiRs targeting pathogenic miR-212/132 in a mouse model of cardiac hypertrophy regressed pathological hypertrophic development and rescued cardiac function in vivo. By controlling gene expression, circmiRs promise to deal with diseases right at the root of their problem.

Dr Lavenniah’s first author publication in the journal “Molecular Therapy” received interest from venture firms in both USA and UK. She has given presentations at various RNA therapeutics conferences, attaining recognition through several Young Investigator and Best Graduate Student prizes. Dr Lavenniah has been awarded the NUS Medicine Kickstart Initiative fund that will support the commercialization of the technology platform, through a spin-off company that will launch in Cambridge, UK and Singapore.