Recognised for his invaluable contributions to science and innovation, Professor Wong Tien Yin from Duke-NUS’ Office of Academic Medicine has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences.
Announced on 20 May, Prof Wong is among more than 90 new Fellows and Foreign Members elected by the Royal Society, the world’s oldest and most esteemed scientific academy in continuous existence. These outstanding researchers come from a wide range of fields—from artificial intelligence and electron microscopy to global health and neuroscience—and bring diverse perspectives.
Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said: “Their achievements represent the very best of scientific endeavour, from basic discovery to research with real-world impact across health, technology and policy. From tackling global health challenges to reimagining what AI can do for humanity, their work is a testament to the power of curiosity-driven research and innovation.
The Fellows and Foreign Members join the ranks of renowned scientists such as Stephen Hawking, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Lise Meitner, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and Dorothy Hodgkin.
On his election, Prof Wong said, “It is a profound honour to be elected to the Royal Society. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of many people—mentors, colleagues, collaborators, and especially the talented students and researchers I have had the privilege to work with. My work in eye diseases, population health, and AI-driven healthcare has always been rooted in the belief that science and innovation must ultimately serve patients and communities.”
This election is testament to Prof Wong’s impactful leadership and innovative work in applying technology to advance medical research and patient care. A physician-scientist-innovator, Prof Wong has long been dedicated to the research and application of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in the screening, diagnosis and prediction of major ophthalmic and systemic diseases. His AI research has been adopted in Singapore’s national diabetes screening programmes and internationally. He has published extensively, with more than 1,600 papers, including in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet and JAMA.
Now Vice-Provost of Tsinghua University, China, and Senior Vice-Chancellor of Tsinghua Medicine, Prof Wong has held senior leadership roles in Singapore and Australia, including at the Duke-NUS Medical School, the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, the Singapore National Eye Centre and the University of Melbourne. He is also Senior Advisor to SingHealth.
Congratulating Prof Wong on his election, Duke-NUS Dean Professor Thomas Coffman said: “The Royal Society is one of the world’s most respected scientific academies and being elected as a Fellow is a significant recognition. It reflects the impact Tien Yin has made by combining innovation and medicine to advance health and improve patient care. We’re proud to see his work recognised on this global stage — congratulations on this well-deserved honour!”