NUHS TRICE 1 July 2011 - Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

July 2011 | Biochem Buzz
From New Acting HoD Message
Dear Colleagues,
As you are probably aware, I started my term as the Acting HoD on 1 July 2011.
Having spent more than 20 years of my professional life in NUS, most of it in this
Department, it is truly a special honour. I feel most humbled and privileged to be
chosen to fill in the shoes of my illustrious predecessors such as Professors Fu Xin‐
Yuan, Barry Halliwell, Sit Kim Ping and others before them, whom have so ably
steered the Department and made it what it is today since its formation nearly 85
years ago.
The Department's mission is to “Enhance the international stature of National
University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore through excellence in research,
teaching and scholarship in Biochemistry, cell and molecular biology”. The main
commitment is to excel in research, teaching and training of undergraduate and
postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Biomedical Science.
Biochemistry is a vibrant field of study that exists as an interface of Biology and
Chemistry in the effort to understand the molecular basis of life. Today,
Biochemistry serves as the dynamic interface for various fields in Life Sciences and
Biological Sciences in the 21st Century.
Currently, the Department has 29 primary faculties, 7 honorary joint faculties, 32
adjunct faculties and about 143 postgraduate students. At the undergraduate level,
staff in the Department play an important role in the teaching of Medicine, Dental
and Life Sciences modules as well as Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Programme (UROPs).
The Department of Biochemistry is committed to support and infuse in our
students a life‐long affection for learning, the enthusiasm of discovery and a deep
sense of curiosity about functions of life. In research, we work towards being a
leading Biochemistry Department in the world, where we continuously contribute
significantly to the advancement of scientific and medical knowledge.
Together hand in hand, let us make the Department of Biochemistry a centre of
excellence for all our staff & students.
Associate Professor TAN Tin Wee
Acting Head of Department
Contents
Volume 12
Congratulations! 1
Post Graduates Students 2‐3
New Staffs 4‐5
Grant Awarded 6
Publications 7
Recent Events 8‐9
NUHS Games 2011 10‐11
NUHS TRICE 12
Bon Voyage 13
Upcoming Events 13

Biochem Buzz
Page 1
Congratulations Staff
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Dr Yeong Foong May Excellence Faculty Teaching Award AY2009‐
2010. A memento will be presented to Dr
Yeong during NUHS Dinner and Dance on 8
October 2011.
Dr Chen Ee Sin Invited to join NUS Graduate School for
Integrative Sciences and Engineering as a
young faculty member.
A/P Tan Tin Wee Advisory Board member for inaugural Bio‐IT
World Asia conference in Singapore from
Cambridge Healthtech Institute (CHI). He is
also appointed Advisor to the Executive
Director, Science and Engineering Research
Council (SERC), A*Star on a national initiative
forming on high performance super
computing.
He is also invited to join Editorial Board of
NetMAHIB Journal‐ the Network Modeling
and Analysis in Health Informatics and
Bioinformatics (NetMAHIB) journal to be
published by Springer starting in 2012. He
will be handling paper reviews, submit
research papers, edit special issues, and set
innovative directions for the success of the
journal.
Ms Ooi Suan Oo Long service award of 40 years
Ms Fatihah Bte Ithnin Long service award of 20 years
Mdm Ang Bee Keng Long service award of 25 years

Biochem Buzz
Page 2
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Congratulations Students
Congratulations to Guoqiang Wan (Supervisor: A/P Too Heng‐Phon) and Chen Zhen Cheng,
Clarice (Supervisor: A/P Raghunath Michael) on their winning 2nd prize Johnson & Johnson
Asia Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award in Bio‐tech. The award ceremony was held on 1
June 2011 at the Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Cheng Kai Building (Shanghai, China).
Student Conferment
Congratulations to the following students on the conferment of their postgraduate degree.
Well done!
Name Supervisor Program Month of
Conferment
Teng Yu Hsuan, Felicia A/P Tang Bor Luen PhD March 2011
Wang Huansong Prof Barry Halliwell MSc April 2011

Biochem Buzz
Page 3
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
New Postgraduate Students (August 2011)
Name Program Supervisors
Akshamal Mihiranga Gamage PhD A/P Gan Yunn Hwen
Chia Zhihui Joanne PhD Dr Frederic Bard
Chin Meiyi PhD A/P Too Heng‐Phon
Choong Lee Yee MSc Dr Lim Yoon Pin
Gokhan Cildir PhD Dr Vinay Tergaonkar
Hong Shin Yee PhD Dr Thilo Hagen
Khah Kok Leong Alvin PhD Dr Yew Wen Shan
Le Beilin PhD Dr Wu Qiang
Lim Yan Ping PhD Dr Yew Wen Shan
Lum Fok Moon PhD
A/P Tan Tin Wee
Dr Lisa Ng
Maria Teresa Wijaya PhD A/P Tang Bor Luen
Nesa Shrestha PhD A/P Han Weiping
Slim Mzoughi PhD Dr Ernesto Guccione
Wu Liling PhD Dr Ernesto Guccione
Yang Jin PhD Dr Takao Inoue
Zhou Yi MSc Prof Fu Xin‐Yuan
Zhu Wan Long PhD
Dr Wang Mei
Prof Patrick Casey

Biochem Buzz
New Staff Welcome to the family
Page 4
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Adjunct Staff / Executive & Professional
Dr Nick Barker
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Institute of Medical Biology
Assumed Duty: 1 April 2011
Dr Xu HongYan
Supervisor : Prof Fu Xin‐Yuan
Assumed Duty: 1 April 2011
Dr Chong Poh Kuan Shirly
Supervisor : Dr Lim Yoon Pin
Assumed Duty: 1 March 2011
Ms Pham Thuy Dung
Management Assistant Officer
Assumed Duty: 15 March 2011
Research Fellows
Dr Yu Lei
Supervisor : Prof Fu Xin‐Yuan
Assumed Duty: 4 April 2011
Non‐Academic
Ms Cao Ye
Lab Executive
Supervisor : A/P Chua Kim Lee
Assumed Duty: 2 April 2011
Dr Hsu Jui‐Cheng
Supervisor : Prof Fu Xin‐Yuan
Assumed Duty: 1 June 2011
Dr Lim Shen Kiat
Supervisor : Dr Lim Yoon Pin
Assumed Duty: 21 April 2011
Mdm Faridah Binte Markam
Operations Attendant
Assumed Duty: 13 June 2011

Biochem Buzz
Mr Loo Eng Kiat Alvin
Supervisor: Prof Barry Halliwell
Assumed Duty: 1 June 2011
Mr Kyaw Htet Hlaing
Supervisor: A/P Clement
Marie‐Veronique
Assumed Duty: 8 June 2011
Page 5
Research Assistants
Mr Yew Shze Keon Terry
Supervisor: Prof Barry Halliwell
Assumed Duty: 7 June 2011
Mr Tan Kah Yap Victor
Supervisor : Dr Lim Yoon Pin
Assumed Duty: 14 March 2011
Ms Tan Hwei Ling
Supervisor: Dr Chen Ee Sin
Assumed Duty: 14 March 2011
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Mr Suresh Kumar Poovathingal
Supervisor: Prof Barry Halliwell
Assumed Duty: 16 February 2011
Ms Toy Weiyi
Supervisor : Dr Lim Yoon Pin
Assumed Duty: 1 March 2011

Month
awarded
Biochem Buzz
Page 6
Staff
Amount
awarded
Mar 2011 Prof Barry Halliwell $558,000.00
May 2011
Dr Deng Lih Wen $674,800.00
A/P Gan Yunn Hwen $100,000.00
June 2011 A/P Gan Yunn Hwen $50,000
Grants Awarded
Project title
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Understanding sarcopenia using a C. elegans
model
A novel isoform of human Mixed Lineage
Leukemia 5 (MLL5) in the development of
HPV16/18‐associated cervical cancer: a
potential new diagnostics marker and
therapeutic target
Augmentation of glutathione levels through
oral N‐acetylcysteine supplementation in
Type 2 diabetic patients to increase
resistance to bacterial infection
Testing the use of oral N‐acetylcysteine to
enhance antibiotic treatment efficacy for
exposure to Burkholdera pseudomallei in
animal models
Source of
Fund
ARF Tier 2
NMRC
NKF
MINDEF‐
NUS

Biochem Buzz
Page 7
Publications
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
1. Ozeki*, C, Y Sawai, T Shibata, T Kohno, K Okamoto, J Yokota, F Tashiro, S Tanuma, R Sakai,
T Kawase, I Kitabayashi, T YOICHI* and R Ohki*, "Cancer susceptibility polymorphism of
p53 at codon 72 affects phosphorylation and degradation of p53 protein". Journal Of
Biological Chemistry, 286, no. 20 (2011): 18251‐18260. (United States). (PMID: 21454683;
Updated on 23/05/11).
2. Holland*, WL, BT Bikman, LP Wang, G Yuguang, KM Sargent, S Bulchand, TA Knotts, G
Shui, DJ Clegg, M R Wenk, MJ Pagliassotti, PE Scherer* and SA Summers*, "Lipid‐induced
insulin resistance mediated by the proinflammatory receptor TLR4 requires saturated
fatty acid‐induced ceramide biosynthesis in mice.". Journal Of Clinical Investigation,121,
no. 5 (2011): 1858‐70. (United States). (PMID: 21490391; Updated on 23/05/11).
3. GOH*, W B W, YH Lee*, RM Zubaidah, JJ Jin, D DONG, Q Lin, M C M Chung and L WONG,
"Network‐Based Pipeline for Analyzing MS Data: An Application toward Liver Cancer.".
Journal of Proteome Research, 10, no. 5 (2011): 2261‐72. (United States). (Tier 1; PMID:
21410269; Updated on 10/05/11).
4. Chen*, JMH, Z F PENG, Manikandan Jayapal, J M R ALIRIO, GS Tan, M C M Chung, QT Li,
TM C Tan, L W Deng, M Whiteman, PM Beart, K M PHILIP and N S Cheung, " Gene
profiling reveals hydrogen sulphide recruits death signaling via the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate
receptor identifying commonalities with excitotoxicity". Journal Of Cellular Physiology,
226, no. 5 (2011): 1308‐22. (United States). (PMID: 20945398; Updated on 24/02/11).
5. Di Girolamo*, F, K Bala, M C M Chung and PG Righetti, "Proteomineering" serum
biomarkers. A Study in Scarlet.". Electrophoresis, 32, no. 9 (2011): 976‐980. (Germany).
(PMID: 21449074; Updated on 10/05/11).
6. Halliwell, B, "Free radicals and antioxidants ‐ quo vadis? (Opinion)". Trends In
Pharmacological Sciences, 32, no. 3 (2011): 125‐130. (Netherlands). (PMID: 21216018;
Updated on 10/05/11).
7. Wymann*, MP and M R Wenk*, "Neutral not a loss: phosphoinositides beyond the head
group. (News and Views)". Nature Methods, 8, no. 3 (2011): 219‐20. (United States).
(PMID: 21358625; Updated on 29/04/11).

Biochem Buzz
Page 8
Recent Events
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
BBQ @ East Coast Park on 16 April 2011
The event was organised by the
Postgraduate Student Committee,
sponsored partially by the
Department. It was a great
gathering with fun activities like
cycling and BBQ by the sea.

Biochem Buzz
Dr Kenneth Ban Hon Kim from Institute of
Molecular and Cell Biology visited the
Department on 25 May 2011.
Page 9
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Faculty Candidate Visit (Dr Kenneth Ban)
Farewell Party for A/P Teo Tian Seng
Our dearest and
passionate
teacher, A/P Teo
Tian Seng, retires
after his 25 years
with NUS. We
wish him an
enjoyable
retirement.

Biochem Buzz
Badminton 28‐31 March
Page 10
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Team Chipmunks would like to say “Thank you” to our Badminton team Men’s Double ( Tan
Kah Yap and Do Dang Vinh), Women’s Double (Chong Yew Mei and Lee Yun Hwa) and Mixed
Double (Anantharaj Rengaraj and Lim Shen Jean), and congratulations to Yew Mei and Yun
Hwa for winning the Bronze Medal.
Bowling 8 April
NUHS Games 2011
Thank you to Aslam, Choo Yin Yin, Aniza, Musfirah and Dr Sashi for participating in the
Bowling tournament.
3‐on‐3 Basketball 23 April
The boys of Biochemistry; Shawn Xiang Gao, Johann Shane Tian, Tan Kah Yap and Captain
Cheng Fei and coached by A/P Tang Bor Luen & Dr Chen Ee Sin.

Biochem Buzz
Table Tennis 28‐30 May
Page 11
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
Department of Biochemistry and Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) joined forces
for the Table Tennis games and won Gold medal for Female open (Koh Chai Ping from
Biochemistry). The rest of the team members were Aung Phyo Wai from ALCNS for Men’s
open while Mixed Double was played by Cheng Fei (Biochemistry) and Loh Hu (ALCNS).
X‐Country 4 June
Our runners Wong Veen Senn and Tan Kah Yap from Biochemistry and Dr Satish from
Anatomy took part in the X‐country 4.8km run.

Biochem Buzz
Our staff (Boon Kheng, Lee Hua, Mui Khin, Qian Feng, Siaw
Ching & Terence) receiving the Values-in Action Team Category
Award (Top 3) during TRICE day
Page 12
NUHS TRICE 1 July 2011
Dress Up Model competition where 4 “fashion designers”
(Lee Hua, Qian Feng, Terence & Fatihah) dressed up our
model (Prof Fu Xin-Yuan) as a bee with a basket of items
given by NUHS according to TRICE values.
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
The cheerleading performance by
Biochemistry staff and admin staff from
Alice Lee Centre for Nursing.

Biochem Buzz
Page 13
Bon Voyage
Volume 12, July’11 Issue
We bid adieu to
� Mdm Tengah who has been with the Department for more than 13 years. We wish
her all the best for her retirement.
� Ms Hor Sok Jing, Laboratory Executive from A/P Theresa Tan who was with the
Department for two years. All the best for her future endeavours.
� Ms Musfirah, Management Assistant Officer after four years with the Department.
We wish her all the best in her future career.
Upcoming Events
Exciting staff bonding activities are being planned by Staff Welfare Committee for the new
financial year. Look out for more details.
More NUHS Games 2011 coming your way. We hope you would participate or join us to
cheer the team.
Editorial Team:
Advisor: A/P Tan Tin Wee (Acting Head)
Editor: Ms Aniza A Wahid (Manager)
Writer: Dee Pham (Management Assistant) &
Mohammad Aslam (Specialist Associate)
Please inform Dee (bchphamt@nus.edu.sg) for any update that is not announced and we will include in the next issue.