Untitled Document

STAFF

		Research Fellow Deng Shuo Qualification: BSc (Honours, Singapore) PhD (Singapore) Lab member since 2015 - present Research Interest: The role of Gelsolin in tumour cell survival
Selected Publications: 1. S.S. Singh, S.Vats, A.Y. Chia, T.Z. Tan, S. Deng, M.S. Ong, F. Arfuso, C.T. Yap, B.C. Goh, G. Sethi, R. Huang, H.M. Shen, and R. Manjithaya, A.P. Kumar* (2017). Dual Role of Autophagy in Hallmarks of Cancer. Oncogene. 29 September 2017. 2. Z.X. Ng, M.S. Ong, T. Jegadeesan, S. Deng, C.T. Yap (2017). Breast Cancer: Exploring the Facts and Holistic Needs during and beyond Treatment. Healthcare 2017, 5, 26. 3. S. Deng, M.S. Ong, Z.X Ng, T. Jegadeesan, J.B.Y. So, A. P. Kumar, C.T. Yap* (2016). Gelsolin: A new insight of its role on gastric cancer dissemination. RNA Dis 2016; 3: e1439. 4. L. Tochhawng, S. Deng, G. Pugalenthi, A.P. Kumar, K.H. Lim, H. Yang, S.C. Hooi, Y.C. Goh, S.K. Maciver, S. Pervaiz, C.T. Yap (2016). Gelsolin-Cu/ZnSOD interaction alters intracellular reactive oxygen species levels to promote cancer cell invasion. Oncotarget, 2016 July 6. 5. B.H. Huang, S. Deng, S.Y. Loo, A. Datta, Y.L. Yap, B. Yan, C.H. Ooi, T.D. Dinh, J. Zhuo, L. Tochhawng, S. Gopinadhan, T. Jegadeesan, P. Tan, M. Salto-Tellez, W.P. Yong, R. Soong, K.G. Yeoh, Y.C. Goh, P.E. Lobie, H. Yang, A.P. Kumar, S.K. Maciver, J.B. So, C.T. Yap (2016). Gelsolin-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is crucial for hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scattering in gastric carcinoma. Oncotarget, 2016 April 5. 6. L. Tochhawng, D. Shuo, S. Pervaiz, C.T. Yap* (2013). Redox regulation of cancer cell migration and invasion. Mitochondrion, 2013 May; 13(3):246-53.

		Laboratory Manager Nurul Suhana Binte Ali Ahamed Qualification: BSc (Honours, Singapore) Lab member since 2018 - present Research Interest: Lab management Background: After receiving my Diploma in Biomedical Sciences in Polytechnic, I furthered my studies and graduated with a BSc (Hon) in Food and Human Nutrition. Despite graduating as a nutritionist, I have always had a huge interest in research for cancer and I am willing to re-learn the mechanism behind cancer all over again while managing the laboratory. As a lab manager, I try my best to emphasise a lot on working safely and harmonically in the laboratory.

		Research Assistant and Part-time Graduate Student (MSc) Clarissa Esmeralda Halim Qualification: BSc (Honours, Singapore) Currently studying: MSc (Singapore) Lab member since 2018 - present Research Interest: The role of gelsolin in molecular trafficking in cancer Background: I received my BSc (Hons) in Life Sciences from NUS in 2017

		Research Fellow Arpita Datta Qualification: PhD (Singapore) Lab member since 2020 - present Background: My core experience and competence lies in cancer Biology and especially breast cancer where I have 10 years of active experience in Singapore at NUS at the department of Physiology and prior to that at GIS. Apart from that I have also worked on immunosuppressive drugs and Tcells in my prior stints at Imperial College London. My endeavour is to continue to be actively involved in cancer research and related fields.
Selected Publications: 1. Gelsolin-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is crucial for hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scattering in gastric carcinoma. Baohua Huang, Shuo Deng, Ser Yue Loo, Arpita Datta, Yan Lin Yap, Benedict Yan, Chia Huey Ooi, Thuy Duong Dinh, Jingli Zhuo, Lalchhandami Tochhawng, Suma Gopinadhan, Tamilarasi Jegadeesan, Patrick Tan, Manuel Salto-Tellez, Wei Peng Yong, Richie Soong, Khay Guan Yeoh, Yaw Chong Goh, Peter E Lobie, Henry Yang, Alan Prem Kumar, Sutherland K Maciver, Jimmy B Y So, Celestial T Yap :Oncotarget 2016 May;7(18):25391-407 2. Melanoma associated antigen (MAGE)-A3 promotes cell proliferation and chemotherapeutic drug resistance in gastric cancer Chen Xie, Vinod Vijay Subhash, Arpita Datta, Natalia Liem, Shi Hui Tan, Mei Shi Yeo, Woei Loon Tan, Vivien Koh Fui Leng Yan Foong Ying Wong Wai Keong Wong Jimmy So Iain Beehuat Tan Nisha Padmanabhan Celestial T Yap Patrick Tan, Liang Kee Goh, Wei Peng Yong Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2016 Apr 11;39(2):175-86. Epub 2016 Feb 11. 3. microRNAs in breast cancer: regulatory roles governing the hallmarks of cancer. Jen N Goh, Ser Y Loo, Arpita Datta, Kodappully S Siveen, Wei N Yap, Wanpei Cai, Eun M Shin, Chao Wang, Ji E Kim, Maurice Chan, Arun M Dharmarajan, Ann S-G Lee, Peter E Lobie, Celestial T Yap, Alan P Kumar Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016 May 28;91(2):409-28. Epub 2015 Jan 28. 4. SPHK1 regulates proliferation and survival responses in triple-negative breast cancer Arpita Datta, Ser Yue Loo, Baohua Huang, Lingkai Wong, Sheryl S L Tan, Tuan Zea Tan, Soo-Chin Lee, Jean Paul Thier, Yaw Chyn Lim, Wei Peng Yong, Yulin Lam, Alan Prem Kumar, Celestial T Yap Oncotarget 2014 Aug;5(15):5920-33 5. Sphingosine kinase 1 promotes malignant progression in colon cancer and independently predicts survival of patients with colon cancer by competing risk approach in South asian population. Sheryl S L Tan, Lay W Khin, Lingkai Wong, Benedict Yan, Chee W Ong, Arpita Datta, Manuel Salto-Tellez, Yulin Lam, Celestial T Yap Clin Transl Gastroenterol 2014 Feb 27;5:e51. Epub 2014 Feb 27. 6. RCP is a human breast cancer-promoting gene with Ras-activating function. Jinqiu Zhang, Xuejing Liu, Arpita Datta, Kunde Govindarajan, Wai Leong Tam, Jianyong Han, Joshy George, Christopher Wong, Kalpana Ramnarayanan, Tze Yoong Phua, Wan Yee Leong, Yang Sun Chan, Nallasivam Palanisamy, Edison Tak-Bun Liu, Krishna Murthy Karuturi, Bing Lim, Lance David Miller J Clin Invest 2009 Aug 20;119(8):2171-83. Epub 2009 Jul 20. 7. Differential effects of immunosuppressive drugs on T-cell motility Datta A, David R, Glennie S, Scott D, Cernuda-Morollon E, Lechler RI, Ridley AJ, Marelli-Berg FM. American Journal of Transplantation:2006- Volume 6 issue 12;2871-2883. 8. IFN-alpha subtypes differentially affect human T cell motility. Foster GR, Masri SH, David R, Jones M, Datta A, Lombardi G, Runkell L, de Dios C, Sizing I, James MJ, Marelli-Berg FM. Journal of Immunology. 2004 Aug 1;173(3):1663-70. 9. Anergic T cells exert antigen-independent inhibition of cell-cell interactions via chemokin metabolism. James MJ, Belaramani L, Prodromidou K, Datta A, Nourshargh S, Lombardi G, Dyson J, Scott D, Simpson E, Cardozo L, Warrens A, Szydlo RM, Lechler RI, Marelli-Berg FM. Blood. 2004 Jun 15;103(12):4423.

STUDENTS

		Graduate Student (PhD) Mei Shan Ong Qualification: BSc (Honours, Singapore) MSc (Singapore) Currently studying: PhD (Singapore) Research Interest: The role of Gelsolin in regulating Wnt signalling
Selected Publications: 1. M.S, Ong, S. Deng, C.E. Halim, W. Cai, T.Z. Tan, R.Y. Huang, G. Sethi, S.C. Hooi, A.P. Kumar, C.T. Yap. The Cytoskeletal Proteins in Cancer and Intracellular Stress: A Therapeutic Perspective. Cancers (Accepted: 16 January 2020) 2. M.S. Ong, W. Cai, T.Z. Tan, R.Y. Huang, S.C. Hooi, C.T. Yap. A.P. Kumar. Long non-coding RNA landscape in colorectal cancer. RNA & disease. 2019 Mar 9;6. 3. S.S. Singh, S.Vats, A.Y. Chia, T.Z. Tan, S. Deng, M.S. Ong, F. Arfuso, C.T. Yap, B.C. Goh, G. Sethi, R. Huang, H.M. Shen, and R. Manjithaya, A.P. Kumar* (2017). Dual Role of Autophagy in Hallmarks of Cancer. Oncogene. 29 September 2017. 4. M.S. Ong, W. Cai, Y. Yuan, H.C. Leong, T.Z. Tan, A. Mohammad, M.L. You, F. Arduso, B.C. Goh, S. Warrier, G. Sethi, N.S. Tolwinski, P.E. Lobie, C.T. Yap, S.C. Hooi, R.Y. Huang, A.P. Kumar* (2017). “Lnc”-ing Wnt in female reproduction cancers: therapeutic potential of long non-coding RNAs in Wnt Signaling. Br. J. Pharmacol, 2017, in press. 5. Z.X. Ng, M.S. Ong, T. Jegadeesan, S. Deng, C.T. Yap (2017). Breast Cancer: Exploring the Facts and Holistic Needs during and beyond Treatment. Healthcare 2017, 5, 26. 6. S. Deng, M.S. Ong, Z.X Ng, T. Jegadeesan, J.B.Y. So, A. P. Kumar, C.T. Yap* (2016). Gelsolin: A new insight of its role on gastric cancer dissemination. RNA Dis 2016; 3: e1439.

		Graduate Student (PhD) Vennila Gopal Qualification: MBBS (AIMST, Malaysia) MMedSc (UM, Malaysia) Currently studying: PhD (Singapore) Research Interest: As my basics were from Clinical medicine, cancer and its basis has always interest me. Hence, I was keen to join Prof Celest’s family in cancer research. Background: Currently a trainee lecturer in UMS, Malaysia after having completed my M.Sc. (Physiology). I received my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from AIMST University in 2011 and have recently graduated from the University of Malaya, which is the oldest and most prestigious university of Malaysia, with a M.Sc. (mixed mode) degree in Physiology. My M.Sc. consists of both coursework and dissertation on title, “Mechanisms underlying effects of Estradiol on tissue morphology and expression of Aquaporins and Sodium-Hydrogen exchangers in vas deferens of orchidectomized rats”.
Publications: 1) Zarkasi K.A., Ramli N.Z., Gopal V., Shimmi S.C., Miranda A.L., Saudi W.S.W. & Sunggip C. (2019). Prevalence of Obesity, Hypertension, and Hyperglycemia Among the Rural Community of Inanam Sub-district in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia: A Health Screening Program Findings (IBPHC Abstract). Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 15 (Supp. 6): 93 (Scopus Q4). 2) “Mechanisms underlying effects of estradiol on tissue morphology and expression of aquaporins and sodium-hydrogen exchangers in vas deferens of orchidectomized rats”- (Master’s dissertation)

		Graduate Student (MSc) Lye Mun Leng Qualification: BSc (Singapore) Currently studying: MSc (Singapore) Research Interest: Investigating the Novel Roles of Gelsolin in Early Autophagy and Cell Survival.

		Medical Student Ng Zhi Xuan Currently studying: NUS Medicine Background: I first encountered the lab family in Year 2 when I was interested in learning about wet lab and how it translates into clinical practice. Overtime, as I entered clinical years, as a team, we began exploring how to improve clinical care in patients with cancer, and wrote a paper on holistic needs of patients with breast cancer. It is still a work in progress and we hope to continue spreading the message of holistic clinical care.
Selected Publications: 1)1. Breast Cancer: Exploring the Facts and Holistic Needs during and beyond Treatment. Ng, Z.X.; Ong, M.S.; Jegadeesan, T.; Deng, S.; Yap, C.T. Healthcare 2017, 5, 26. doi: 10.3390 /healthcare5020026 2. Gelsolin: A new insight of its role on gastric cancer dissemination Shuo Deng, Mei Shan Ong, Zhi Xuan Ng, Tamilarasi Jegadeesan, Jimmy B.Y. So, Alan Prem Kumar, Celestial T Yap RNA & Disease 2016; 3: e1439. doi: 10.14800/rd.143

		Undergraduate Student (UROP) Kenneth Yap Chun Hong Currently studying: BSc (Singapore) Research Interest: The role of oncogenes in signalling pathways in Cancer Background: During my study at Ngee Ann Polytechnic as a Biomedical Science student, I was given an opportunity to work on oncoproteins and brain cancer for my Final Year Project. This project uncovered my interest and passion in studying how the aberrant expression of oncogenes can affect their associated signaling pathways and ultimately cause cancer. With each laboratory experience, I hope to be able to continuously learn and understand more about cancer.