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Professor Patrick Tan
Chief Scientific Officer, GIS

Congratulations to Prof Patrick Tan, Chief Scientific Officer at Genome Institute of Singapore, being conferred the prestigious 2025 Genome Valley Excellence Award, for his outstanding contributions to precision medicine, cancer genomics, and population health research.

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Congratulations to our A*Champions – Dr Li Jingmei, Pauline Aw and Ong Chin Thing who were recognized at a recent ceremony for their exemplary contributions to A*STAR’s advocacy and amplification efforts in 2024.

The A*Champions is an employee advocacy initiative by A*STAR Corporate Communications to encourage staff to amplify the A*STAR brand and share about their positive experiences in A*STAR.

Prof Ng Huck Hui has been awarded NUS Outstanding Science Alumni Award 2024 on 22 November 2024. The award recognises outstanding alumni who have excelled in national leadership, service, research excellence, or the advancement and promotion of science. He is renowned internationally for his expertise in gene regulatory networks and functional genomics and has authored some of the seminal works in this field.

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GIS honoured some of the outstanding staff who had made significant contributions to research or shown outstanding performance and achievements for the year 2023 – 2024 at the recent Townhall. Read more here.

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Dr. Jonathan Göke has been awarded the Young Scientist Award 2024 for his pioneering work in developing computational methods for long read RNA sequencing data that have enabled the profiling of RNA transcription and modifications at unprecedented resolution and accuracy on 27 September 2024. This award recognizes researchers aged 40 years and below, who are actively engaged in R&D in Singapore, and who have shown great potential to be world-class researchers in their fields of expertise.

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The GIS team (Tin Vlašić, Wan Yue, Mile Sikic) who developed RiNaLMo, clinched the Most Ambitious Submission out of the 144 submissions received at the Machine Learning for Life and Material Science workshop at the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) held from 24 to 27 July 2024, one of the top AI conferences in the world. Presented by Tin Vlasic at the ICML, RiNALMo was developed at GIS’ Laboratory for AI in Genomics, led by Prof Mile Šikić in collaboration with Dr Wan Yue and Dr Roland G. Huber (BII). It is currently the largest RNA language model that shows previously unseen generalisations on downstream tasks such as secondary structure prediction, which opens new opportunities in developing RNA-based drugs. RiNALMo has 650 million parameters pre-trained on 36 million non-coding RNA sequences from several available databases.

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The EMULSION laboratory team at GIS has been awarded the BMRC IAF-PP Industry Value Capture Award on 9 April 2024, as one of the 3 projects that has generated the largest gearing ratio of revenue from industry.

Professor Patrick Tan
Chief Scientific Officer, GIS

Professor Tan has been inducted into the Association of American Physicians (AAP) on 8 April 2024. He was recognised for his research into deciphering the molecular mechanisms and genetics of gastric cancer, which paved the way for improved diagnostic and precision medicine strategies for the disease, that remains a leading cause of death worldwide.

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Professor Ng Huck Hui
Senior Group Leader, Laboratory of Precision Disease Therapeutics, GIS

Prof Ng has received the following awards for his various contributions:

• Service to Education – by Ministry of Education

• The Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19)
This award is handed to individuals who led and implemented efforts that contributed to the management of the impact of COVID-19 in Singapore.

The Genome Institute of òòò½Íøheld its annual Town Hall on 26 July 2023. An award ceremony was incorporated in the event, recognising groups and individuals that had made significant contributions to research, or shown outstanding performance and achievements the previous year, 2022

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Professor TEH Bin Tean
Senior Group Leader, Laboratory of Biodiversity Genomics

The conferment of this award is an endorsement of Professor Teh as an outstanding scientist who has made many novel discoveries in cancer pathology that have impacted its understanding and promoted advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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Suphavilai CHAYAPORN
Scientist, Laboratory of Metagenomic Technologies & Microbial Systems

Dr LI Jingmei
Principal Scientist II, Laboratory of Women's Health and Genetic

Participants expressed their perspectives on the biotech landscape in òòò½Íøand Asia on a broad range of topics, focusing on current/emerging trends, innovative developments, and issues in the Asian biotech landscape.

Professor Patrick TAN
Chief Scientific Officer of Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR

Prof Tan’s approach of embracing team science allowed his staff work in a highly collaborative fashion to address large-scale and complex challenges.

Dr Alexander LEZHAVA
Senior Group Leader, Centre for Genome Diagnostics
Associate Director, Office of Strategic Alliances

Dr Lezhava receiving the President's Certificate of Commendation (COVID-19) on behalf of SDL in recognition of our public spirit and outstanding contributions to Singapore’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor LIU Jian Jun
Distinguished Institute Fellow,
Genome Institute of Singapore

Members :
Patrick TAN, Shyam PRABAKHAR, Iain TAN, CHEN Kok Hao, Nirmala Arul Rayan, Giovani Claresta WIJAYA, Grace YEO, HAN Runbing, Irwan Ignasius JOANITO, LI Bo, Michelle KONG, Nigel CHOU, Sankaran JAGADISH, Shvetha SANKARAN, TOH Jiamin, Vipul SINGHAL, Yurike LAURENSIA

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Professor Patrick TAN
Executive Director of Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR

Nirmala Arul RAYAN, LI Jingmei, and Gokce OGUZ were selected to be among the 100 Women Leaders in STEM. This award was organised by Asian Scientist Magazine, in collaboration with the Elsevier Foundation, James Dyson Foundation, American Association for the Advancement of Science and the EcosySTEM—a community for STEM professionals. They will be given the opportunity to be part of a fully sponsored, in-person leadership salon.

LIM Zi Lin
Research Officer, Laboratory of Women's Health and Genetics

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LIU Jinyue won the òòò½Íø100 Women in Tech Awards 2021 (SG100WIT) for her significant contributions to tech in Singapore.

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Professor TEH Bin Tean, Joint Appointee with GIS, Deputy Medical Director (Research), National Cancer Centre Singapore, and Director, SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine has been awarded the Japanese Cancer Association International Award for his research in Carcinogenic mechanisms of cholangiocarcinoma by fluke and urothelial cancer by aristolochic acid, and contributions to society.

The annual Firefly Awards celebrate the best of ideas, and recognise teams and individuals within the MTI Family who have exemplified strengths in the respective Award categories. This year, A*STAR GIS received a team award in recognition of our hard work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Roger FOO Sik Yin, Joint Appointee with GIS and Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Translational Research Programme/Deputy Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has been appointed the inaugural Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Professor in Medicine. This award will support research in the use of technologies and genomics to understand individuals’ pre disposition to diabetes and heart disease.

18 December 2020 – Prof LIU Jianjun and Dr CHEW Wei Leong were presented with the President’s Science Award (PSA) and Young Scientist Award (YSA) respectively for their contributions to the biological and biomedical sciences.

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The GIS Super Team Award recognises the group of individuals who show outstanding performance and achievement as a collaborative and integrated team. Multi-disciplinary teams are particularly encouraged.

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LI Jingmei
Senior Research Scientist, Human Genetics

Dr Li (left) was presented with the Top 10 Outstanding Young Persons Award from the Junior Chamber International, òòò½Íøfor her outstanding contribution in Scientific/Technological Development.

Amanda NG Hui Qi
Senior Research Officer, Computational Biology and Data Sciences

NG Huck Hui
Executive Director

WAN Yue
Senior Research Scientist, Genomic Technologies

Ramanuj DASGUPTA
Group Leader, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology

Dr DasGupta was presented with the 2019 Chen Award of Excellence from the Human Genome Organization for his outstanding work.

President’s Science Award (Team)
Treatment and management of Parkinson’s Disease

• Professor TAN Eng King, Deputy Medical Director (Academic Affairs), National Neuroscience Institute
  
• Associate Professor LIM Kah Leong, Head of Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS
  
• Professor NG Huck Hui, Executive Director of Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
  
• Associate Professor Louis TAN, Senior Consultant, Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute Group Leader, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology
  

For outstanding contribution in the field of Parkinson’s Disease, galvanising clinical research and transforming patient care through the identification of clinical biomarkers, development of novel models and therapeutics.

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Oliver WORSLEY & Albert DASHI (second and third from left)

WAN Yue
Senior Research Scientist

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LI Jingmei
Senior Research Scientist

Nirmala RAYAN, Oliver WORSLEY, Kristy PURNAMAWATI, Albert DASHI and Abil SAJ

Innovation is Creativity with Execution!

This was the inspiration behind Circalis' winning project as they clinched 'Best Innovative Idea' award at the YES17 (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme 2017) competition finals in London last December.

Circalis, a team of early career researchers from A*STAR and the National University of Singapore, came up with a novel idea of utilising circular RNA technology to manage hair loss in 2 specific groups: chemotherapy patients and athletes. Through this experience, the team gained the know-how to build a start-up and learnt what it takes to successfully commercialise their scientific ideas.

Circalis also won the òòò½Íøedition of the Biotechnology YES competition with awards for having the 'Best Business Plan', 'Most Original Idea' and being the 'Overall Winners'. Learn more about the YES awards here:

LI Jingmei
Senior Research Scientist

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NG Shyh Chang
Senior Research Scientist

WAN Yue
Senior Research Scientist

LI Jingmei
Senior Research Scientist

WAN Yue
Senior Research Scientist

LIU Jianjun
Senior Group Leader

Chiea Chuen KHOR
Group Leader

Patrick TAN
Associate Director,
Cancer Therapeutics & Stratified Oncology 2
(President’s Science Award)

WAN Yue
Associate Director,
Cancer Therapeutics & Stratified Oncology 2
(Young Scientist Award, Biological and Biomedical Sciences)
GIS Fellow, Stem Cell & Regenerative Biology 6

Dr WAN Yue
Research Fellow, Human Health

Dr Wan was one of the first scientists to develop a high throughput approach to study RNA shapes in microorganisms. An aspect of the study is to look at how pathogenic microorganisms sense and respond to their environment for survival and pathogenesis, such as Listeria monocytogenes bacteria that utilises an RNA switch that encodes virulent proteins that harm the body.

Dr Iain TAN
GIS Clinician Scientist Fellow,
Human Health

Dr Iain Tan wears two rather big hats: He is both a research scientist and a medical doctor. But he sees his work as a perfect marriage between technology and medicine, and being highly complementary.

Dr LI Jingmei
Research Fellow
Human Genetics

Dr Li was one of 15 winners of the 2014 L’Oreal –UNESCO for Women in Science International Fellowship awards. She was recognized for the research she does in breast cancer . Her work aims to identify genetic factors that may give rise to aggressive tumors

Dr KHOR Chiea Chuen
Senior Research Scientist, Human Genetics

In recognition of his research excellence in the areas of genetics and heredity. Dr Khor was presented with this award by Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry.

Dr Patrick TAN
Senior Group Leader, Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology

Dr Tan was presented with the Chen New Investigator Award from the Human Genome Organization . The award reviewing committee identified his outstanding work in cancer genomics and the profiling of Asian cancers with a particular focus on gastric cancer.

Dr KONG Say Li
Post-Doctoral Fellow, Genome Technology and Biology

Dr LIM Bing
Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology.

Dr Larry STANTON
Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology.

Dr NG Huck Hui
Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology.

Dr Paul ROBSON
Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology.

Dr LIU Jian Jun
Senior Group Leader, Human Genetics

Dr Jonathan LOH
Research Fellow and former GIS Graduate Student, Stem Cell & Development Biology

Dr NG Huck Hui

Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology

Dr NG Huck Hui

Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology

Dr LE Thi Nguyet Minh

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology

Dr Melissa Jane FULLWOOD

Post-Doctoral Fellow, Genome Technology & Biology

Dr NG Huck Hui

Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology

Prof Edison LIU

Executive Director, GIS

Dr Yijun RUAN

Senior Group Leader, Genome Technology & Biology

Dr Ken SUNG

Senior Group Leader, Computational & Systems Biology

Dr Chia Lin WEI

Senior Group Leader, Genome Technology & Biology

Dr Patrick NG

Senior Research Scientist, Genome Technology & Biology

Dr Bernard LEONG

Research Scientist, Information & Mathematical Sciences

Dr Lisa NG

Research Scientist, Information & Mathematical Sciences

Dr NG Huck Hui

Senior Group Leader, Stem Cell & Developmental Biology