Department of Biochemistry marks its 90th anniversary
Published: 23 Aug 2017
By Associate Professor Gan Yunn Hwen, Department of Biochemistry
The Department of Biochemistry turned 90 on August 4, 2017, having been established at the King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1927. From its humble beginnings as a mainly classical biochemistry department with a primary teaching mission, it has crossed sequential milestones to grow into a leader of biomedical sciences research and education.
Celebrations began with a morning symposium attended by NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan and Dean of Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Associate Professor Yeoh Khay Guan. National Research Foundation returning scientist and current visiting professor, Professor Chua Nam Hai, was the keynote speaker, along with Dr Hazel Khoo from SERC and Dr Zhou Lihan, Co-founder and CTO of MiRXES. All three are Biochemistry alumni, representing three different eras, each having exceled in their respective domains. All three talks were inspiring, on the importance of long non-coding RNA in plant physiology with great importance in agriculture and food security, on the future and direction of the landscape of biomedical research in Singapore, and the trials and successes of how basic science research translates into commercial success in the story of MiRXES Pte Ltd. This is a company founded in 2014 by Associate Professor Too Heng-Phon and three PhD students from the Department, and supported by NUS and Exploit Technologies.
The day also featured an afternoon carnival featuring various competitions and game, as well as a career workshop for graduate students and research personnel facilitated by CEO of Science Center Prof Lim Tit Meng, Dr Zhou Lihan, Ms Grannas Sanna Pauliina and Dr Yeo Wee Loon from the Centre for Future-ready graduates. The August 4 celebrations were capped by a dinner held at NUS Guild House for 200 staff, students and former members of the department.
