Charting new directions

Computational biologist A/Prof Choi Hyung Won’s research focuses on developing bioinformatics approaches for mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metabolomics and facilitating their applications to systems biology. In his new role as the Programme Director of the CVMD TRP, A/Prof Choi aims to integrate comprehensive metabolomics and lipidomics profiling technologies with CVMD TRP’s strengths and promote a metabolism-oriented systems biology research agenda for subclinical cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Said A/Prof Choi, “Cardiometabolic diseases have long posed a significant burden on Singapore’s population health and healthcare system. To address this challenge, the CVMD TRP will strengthen its foundation in metabolism-driven research and develop personalised therapeutic approaches for subclinical metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.”

In addition to his new appointment, A/Prof Choi currently serves as the programme leader for the Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING) at the Life Sciences Institute (LSI).

Heartfelt legacy

Founding Programme Director of CVMD TRP Professor Roger Foo, inaugural chair of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Professorship of Medicine at NUS Medicine played a pivotal role in placing the programme in a unique position through its focus on Asian-specific cardiovascular phenotypes, and in initiatives especially to educate and raise attention to heart disease prevention.

Prof Foo will continue to lead one of the TRP’s flagship projects—Project RESET—a large-scale study, which aims to identify the correlation of factors like lifestyle and genetics with heart diseases and establish polygenic risk score assays that are reflective of the Singapore population. The aim is to make preventive heart health more accessible and relevant by leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence to develop innovative preventive measures that Singaporeans and the wider Asian populations can adopt.

“Recognising the metabolic underpinnings of cardiovascular diseases, I am pleased to hand the baton to Hyung Won, who is well-equipped to advance the TRP’s research efforts and push the boundaries of knowledge to alleviate the burden of cardiovascular disease in Singapore and our region today,” said Prof Foo.