Teaching
I am an instructive mentor for DUKE-NUS Medical School students and I am an Industry Partner of NTU and Polytechnic to regularly take in and train their students. So far I have instructed and mentored more than 100 local (NTU, NUS and Polytechnic) and foreign (China, Malaysia and Indonesia) undergraduate and graduate students as well as junior staffs. All students have performed well in the lab, learned new knowledge and techniques, achieved many novel interesting findings, completed their thesis and graduated. All trained junior staffs can work well and independently in the lab. After training in my lab, some students have transferred to MD or PhD programmes to further pursue their medical and research career. Data from students has been organized into papers and published in higher impact journals. Some internship training experience was highlighted and acknowledged by schools. Students have also present their findings in international scientific forum with positive feedbacks.
This year, two students from NTU, one student from Raffles Institution and one foreign student from the Northeast Forestry University, China, start their internship training on translational neuroscience projects. They will learn new knowledge, get training of researches and complete their projects in my lab.
Details of part of mentored students and junior staffs are shown as following:
Henry Lim, undergraduate student, Monash University, Indonesia, Project title: Investigation of inhibition of dopamine metabolites on proteasome activity. Internship from Jul 2004 - Oct 2004
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Yap Bao Ping, AYT Gung and ST Ang, undergraduate students, NUS, project title: Dopamine-related and caspase-independent apoptosis in dopaminergic neurons induced by overexpression of human wild type or mutant α-synuclein. Internship from Jun 2004 - Oct 2004
Jonathan Chan and Dennis MOK Chuan Hin, high school students, Hwa Chong Institution, Project title: Studies of wild type and mutant alpha-synuclein expression in MN9D stable transfected cells. Internship from Jun 2005 - Oct 2005
Lan Yu Hong, undergraduate student, NUS, project title: Iron species-mediated dopamine oxidation, proteasome inhibition, and dopaminergic cell demise: implications for iron-related dopaminergic neuron degeneration. Internship from Jun 2006 - Dec 2006.
Jason Eng, undergraduate student, International Medical University. Malaysia, Project title: Studies of impacts of overexpression of wild type and mutant alpha-synuclein on MN9D dopaminergic cells. Internship from Apr 2006 - Jul 2006
Joycelin TAN, undergraduate student, NUS, Project title: studies on doxycycline protective effects on MN9D cells stably transfected with wild type and mutant alpha-synuclein. Internship from Jun 2006 - Dec 2006,
Choi Ai Mei, PhD student, NUS, Project title: studies on overexpression of wild type and mutant alpha-synuclein induced apoptosis in MN9D cells. Internship from Oct 2006 - Dec 2006.
Sze Yen Kerk and Xiong Gao Gao, undergraduate students, NUS, project title: Dopamine auto‐oxidation aggravates non‐apoptotic cell death induced by over-expression of human A53T mutant alpha-synuclein in dopaminergic PC12 cells. Internship from Jan 2007 - Apr 2007.
Wang Hui Qin, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: studies on neurotoxins induced cell death in LRRK2 stable transfected SHSY-5Y cells. Internship from Mar 2009 - June 2009.
Rachel Shao Wei Leong, NUS, Project title: Project title: studies on neurotoxins induced cell death in PINK1 stable transfected SHSY-5Y cells. Internship from Mar 2009 - June 2009.
Kelly Lim, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Mar 2009 - Sep 2009
Udhaya Kumari, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Jun 2009 - Dec 2009
Chia Wei Ping, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: The Role of Dopamine Quinone From Endogenous Dopamine Oxidation in Iron Species Induced Dopaminergic Neuron Degeneration In A339T Mutant PINK1 SH-SY5Y Stable Cells. Internship from Jan 2010 - Jun 2010
Chen Weina, undergraduate stuent, NTU, Project title: The Role of Dopamine Quinone from Endogenous Dopamine Oxidation in iron species-induced Dopaminergic Neuron Degeneration in E231G PINK1 Mutant SH-SY5Y Stable Cell Line. Internship from Jan 2010 - July 2010.
Heidi Chua, undergraduate student, NUS, Project title: Mutant FBXO7 promotes FBXO7 protein aggregation and increase the production of reactive oxygen species implicated in FBXO7 mutation-induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson’s disease. Internship from May 2011 - Nov 2011.
Christine Hui Shan Chan, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Aug 2011 - Feb 2012
Zhou Zhennan, Joel Tan and Peter Kang, high school students, Hwa Chong Institution, Project title: Prohibition of enzyme and metal ions induced dopamine oxidation in solutions by polyphenols from green tea and black tea, poster presentation, Internship from Jun 2012 - Oct 2012.
Patrick Hoe Ghim Ho, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience & Drosophila disease models. Training period from Feb 2012 - Aug 2012
Fathima Shaffra Refai, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from May 2012 - Nov 2012
Wong En Rui and Darren Phua, undergraduate students, NTU, Project title: Investigation of roles of FBXO7 protein in genetic factors induced Parkinson's disease. Internship from Jan 2013 - June 2013.
Saw Wuan Ting, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Dec 2012 - May 2013
Xie Shao Ping, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Mar 2013 - Sep 2013
Wang Chun Jie and Valencia Lim Jia Xuan, undergraduate students, NTU, Project title: Studies of small molecular mTOR inhibitors on protection of dopamine cells against stress induced cell death. Internship from Jan 2014 - Jun 2014.
Sushimitha Sathiyamoorthy, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Jun 2014 - Dec 2014
NG Bin Hui Belinda and Christabel Chou, undergraduate students, NTU, Project title: impacts of PGC-1alpha-P160 pathway on dopamine neuron survival under stress challenge in in vitro human SHSY-5Y cells. Internship from Jan 2015 - Jun 2015.
Selvaratnam T, ew recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from May 2015 - Nov 2015
Goh Wei Sheng, Tan Jun Yuan, Samantha Lee Pei Joo, Singapore polytechnic, Project title: Studies on mtUPR signaling pathway activities in human LRRK2 and PINK1 SHSY-5Y stable transfected cell lines. Internship from Feb 2016 - Apr 2016.
John Tsao Weien, high school student, Project title: Studies on mtUPR signaling pathway activities in human LRRK2 SHSY-5Y transiently transfected cell lines. Internship from Mar 2016 - May 2016.
Wong Wen Yann Clara, undergraduate student, Bioinformatics at Multimedia University. Project title: Investigation of LRRK2 mutation induced human dopamine neuron degeneration in a transient transfection cell model. Internship from Mar 2017 - May 2017.
Bryan Lim Jian Wei, undergraduate student, National University of Singapore, Project title: Studies of neurotoxins on human G2019S LRRK2 SHSY-5Y stable transfected cell lines, Internship from May 2017 - Jul 2017.
Tan Jia Hui Daphne, undergraduate student, National University of Singapore, Project title: Studies of neurotoxins on human G2385R LRRK2 SHSY-5Y stable transfected cell lines, Internship from May 2017 - Jul 2017.
Xiao Yi Jie, Master student, majoring on Industry Chemistry, Joint Progrann of NUS and TUM, Project title: Screening of active mtUPR pathway chemical activators from chemical library. Internship from Mar 2017 - Dec 2017
Arnold Tan. undergraduate student, University of Dundee, United Kingdom. Project title: In vitro studies on searching for potential chemical inhibitors against α-synuclein aggregation, implicated in PD therapy. Internship from Mar 2018 - Jun 2018.
Lee Jia Ying, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Apr 2019 - Oct 2019
Tan Ko Hui, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Studies of neuroprotective capacity of mtUPR activators in transient transfected in vitro Parkinson's disease models. Internship from Apr 2019 - Jun 2019.
Priscillia Choy Sze Mun, undergraduate student, International Medical University. Malaysia, Project title: validation of mtUPR activator in transgenic C elegan models. Internship from Apr 2019 - Jul 2019.
Michael Xing qihao, Sim Jia Hao and Eric Kiew, undergraduate student, Nanyang Polytechnic, Project title: Validation of neuroprotective mtUPR activators against genetic and environmental factors induced dopamine neuron degeneration. Internship from Jun 2019 - Dec 2019.
Nadine Chua Lim, Master student, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philipphines Diliman, Quezon City, the therapeutic significance of tea polyphenoal EGCG against iron and Rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease models in Caenorhabditis Elegans, Internship from Jun 2019- Oct 2019
Philane BFL, new recruitment staff, Training project: New staff training on Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience. Training period from Nov 2021 - Apr 2021
Ethan Ong Yee Tern, high school student, Raffles Institution. Project title: Effects of polyphenols from tea on life span extension of C elegans. Internship from Dec 2022 - Mar 2023.
Huang Hui Ren, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: studies on mitochondria functions in patient iPSC derived human neurons with pathological CGG repeat expansions. Internship from Jan 2023 - June 2023
Tan Ting Ying Evelyn, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: meta-analysis of biomarkers of Parkinson's disease from PPMI data. Internship from Jan 2023- Jun 2023.
Liang Ying Yue, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Screening and validation of neuroprotective selective mTOR1 complex inhibitor for anti-PD therapy, Internship from May 2023- Oct 2023
Wu Jia Yi, undergraduate student, Northeast Forestry University, PR China. Project title: Screening and validation of neuroprotective selective mTOR1 complex inhibitor for anti-PD therapy, Internship from Jan 2023- May 2023
Yi Ling Xiao, post-doctor fellow, National Neuroscience Institute, Project title: CGG repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC gene induced neurodegeneration. training from May 2023- Sep 2024
Saw See Jing Genevieve, post-doctor fellow, National Neuroscience Institute, Project title: validation of pathological relevance of iron genes from TWAS analysis for Parkinson's disease. Training from Feb 2024 - Aug 2024
Victoria Ong Yong Qian, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Screening and validation of neuroprotective selective mTOR1 complex inhibitor for anti-PD therapy, Internship from Jun 2023- Aug 2023,
Zheng YiLong, undergraduate student, NUS, Project title: meta-analysis of biomarkers of Parkinson's disease from PPMI data. Internship from Jun 2023- Jan 2024.
Nathaniel Gaberial Lay, 3rd year student studying Biomedical Engineering at Nanyang Polytechnic, Investigation of neuroprotective selective mTOR1 complex inhibitor for anti-PD therapy, Internship from 25 Aug 2023- 25 Feb 2024
Chen Mingru, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Screening and validation of neuroprotective selective mTOR1 complex inhibitor for anti-PD therapy, Internship from Jan 2024- May 2024,
Ma Si Yuan, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Screening and validation of neuroprotective selective AMPK activators for anti-PD therapy, Internship from Jan 2024- May 2024.
Nicolas Rodriguez, PhD student internship, John Hopkins University, Project title: Study on LRRK2 variants on Tyrosine hydryoxylase expression in dopamine neurons. Internship from 1/7/2024-2/8/2024
NG SHU FANG, undergraduate student internship, NTU, Project title: Studies on modulation of mitochondria mtUPR signaling by polyphenols, Internship from 1/6/2024- 8/8/2024
ZACC KOH DEWEI, undergraduate student internship, NTU, Project title: Studies on modulation of mitochondria mtUPR signaling by polyphenols, Internship from1/6/2024-8/8/2024
YAP EN YING, undergraduate student internship, NTU, Project title: Studies on protective effects of heat shock proteins against polyG repeat expansion induced neurodegeneration. Internship from 22/7/2024 - 8 Dec 2024
JOSEPHINE HO RUI YING undergraduate student internship, NTU, Project title: Studies on protective effects of ubiquitin E3 ligase against polyG repeat expansion induced neurodegeneration, Internship from 22/7/2024 - 8 Dec 2024
Yu Baoyi, NARA undergraduate student mentorship, Duke-NUS Medical School, project title: Linkage of IBD and PD, pathogenesis and therapeutic implications. Training period from Apr 2024 - current
Gu Si Chun, Visiting PhD student, Shanghai Traditional Medical University, Project title: bioinformatic analysis of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in PD and other neurodegenerative diseases, Training period from Feb 2025 - current
Rosalie Elivira, post-doctor fellow, National Neuroscience Institute, Project title: Midbrain organoid models for Parkinson's disease, Training period from Feb 2025 to current
Guan Tu Cheng, post-doctor fellow, National Neuroscience Institute, Project title: Molecular neuroscience research for new therapeutic targets in Parkinson's disease. Training period from Feb 2025 to current
Ramisa Fariha Kabir, research officer, National Neuroscience Institute, Project title: Molecular neuroscience research for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in Parkinson's disease. Training period from Apr 2025 to current
Tan Zi Yang, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Investigation of pathological CGG repeat expansions induced neurodegeneration with neuroprotective agents. Internship from May 2025- July 2025
Wu Chang Cheng, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Investigation of pathological CGG repeat expansions induced neurodegeneration with neuroprotective agents. Internship from May 2025- July 2025
Nai Qi Xuan Joelle, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Studies on 3th Generation selective mTORC Kinase Inhibitors against Dopamine Neuron Degeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD), Internship from July 2025 - current
NG Jia Lyn, undergraduate student, NTU, Project title: Investigation of pathological CGG repeat expansions induced neurodegeneration with neuroprotective agents. Internship from July 2025- current
Zhang Jingwen, Visiting Scientist, Ning Xia Medical University, China, Project title: Molecular neuroscience research for new therapeutic targets in Parkinson's disease. Visiting time period from July 2025 - current
Dong Xiao Xue, Visiting Scientist, Department of Neurology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Project title: Midbrain organoid models for Parkinson's disease, Visiting time period from Jun 2025 - current
Hou Duan lu, Visiting PhD student, Department of Neurology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Project title: Molecular neuroscience research for new therapeutic targets in Parkinson's disease. Visiting time period from July 2025 - current