SCELSE

SCELSE was honored to be invited by the British High Commissioner to Singapore, Nikesh Mehta (left), to celebrate a successful workshop on One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the High Commissioner's residence. In the spirit of international collaboration, SCELSE’s Alain Filloux (middle) and Patricia Conway (right) connected with partners from the Royal Veterinary College London to discuss impactful strategies for tackling AMR – a pressing global health challenge. This partnership not only strengthens ties between the UK and Singapore but also brings us closer to innovative solutions for a healthier, sustainable future. Cheers to the power of collaboration and the shared journey to address critical issues together! #OneHealth #AMR #SCELSE #BritishHighCommission #GlobalHealth #Innovation #Collaboration

Today, we honor 11 long-service team members who have reached their 5 and 10-year milestone with SCELSE! SCELSE Centre Director, Alain Filloux, shared, “I’m happy to see people stay so long because it means they are happy working here.” These milestones reflect not only our team’s commitment to their work but also SCELSE’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inspiring environment. Our heartiest congratulations to (group pix, L-R): Khairuddin Bin Khalid, Desmond Chua, Nabilah Taqiah Hasnuddin, Ng Wei Jie, Abeed Fatima Binti Mohidin Batcha, Radek Macháň, Noor Rehan Binte Abdul Rahman, Haris Charalampos Antypas, Yee Hui Lim, Cheng Dan, Binu Kundukad Abeed, a ten-year award winner said, "I'm truly grateful to have spent 10 years working in SCELSE. The journey has been full of growth, challenges, and incredible opportunities. Here's to many more great moments ahead!" The recipients received a cash voucher and a certificate of appreciation at the SCELSE morning tea event. #SCELSE #ServiceMilestones #TeamCelebration #ResearchExcellence

Heading to SWITCH 2024 at Marina Bay Sands in the next two days? Don’t miss the chance to visit SCELSE’s valued collaborator, the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, at the Great Britain Pavilion (L18) on level 1! Seize the opportunity to meet NBIC’s representatives – Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies PhD MBA CMgr MCMI, Jeremy Webb, Miguel Camara and more. NBIC brings together a team of experts dedicated to tackling the complex challenges and untapped potential of biofilms and microbiomes through cutting-edge R&D and transformative innovation. Explore collaborative possibilities with leading UK experts in the field. #SWITCH2024 #Biofilms #Innovation #SCELSE #NBIC

Welcome National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) to Singapore! SCELSE is proud to collaborate with NBIC’s Co-directors —Profs Miguel Camara, Rasmita Raval, Cait MacPhee, and Jeremy Webb - in today's SCELSE-NBIC Mapping Exercise on Collaborative Projects. After the opening by SCELSE's Centre Director Alain Filloux and NBIC's CEO Professor Jo Slater-Jefferies PhD MBA CMgr MCMI, the day proceeded with presentations from NBIC's Co-directors, and SCELSE's PI/researchers including Patricia Conway, Binu Kundukad, James Ho, Haris Charalampos Antypas, Michel Birnbaum, Pui Yi (Maria) Yung, Lan Li Wong and more. This insightful sharings set the stage for a day packed with groundbreaking ideas on biofilm lifestyle, environmental microbiomes, advanced imaging, and host-microbiome models.Through breakout sessions and brainstorming, the teams identified opportunities to redefine biofilm research across disciplines, with a keen focus on experimental standardisation and strategies for real-world translation. From marine biofilms to environmental surveillance, this SCELSE-NBIC alliance promises to fuel the next wave of impactful, multidisciplinary projects. Here’s to many exciting journeys ahead! 🌏 #SCELSE #NBIC #Innovation #Collaboration #BiofilmResearch #Microbiomes

Following the recent oil spill off Singapore’s coast, the urgency to tackle marine protection head-on has never been clearer. In a recent CNA Daily Cut podcast, SCELSE Principal Investigator, Federico Lauro explores how Singapore can work toward reducing these risks through a combination of cutting-edge monitoring, rapid-response technologies, and robust international partnerships. Federico, who is also the Associate Prof from Nanyang Technological University Singapore's Asian School of the Environment talks about measures that could prevent incidents and protect the surrounding ecosystems, which are vital to regional biodiversity. To learn more about these critical efforts, tune into the full conversation with SCELSE PI Federico Lauro here-> https://lnkd.in/gc7c_5gu #SCELSE #EnvironmentalScience #MarineSafety #OilSpillPrevention #NTU #Sustainability #Singapore

Curious about the genetic secrets behind disease susceptibility? In this exclusive interview, we chat with Dr Charles Khor, senior research fellow at SCELSE, who is unlocking the mysteries of immunogenetic genes through cutting-edge bioinformatics. Under the guidance of Assistant Prof Hie Lim Kim, Dr Khor's work taps into whole genome sequencing data, focusing on underrepresented populations in Asia as part of the GenomeAsia 100K project. With a PhD from the University of Tokyo and experience at leading institutions, Dr Khor dives into the crucial role of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes in shaping our immune response. Read the full blog for more.

Women’s and children’s health is the cornerstone of a thriving society, and in Singapore, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of future generations. From welcoming thousands of newborns each year to treating a wide range of paediatric conditions, KKH is dedicated to providing specialized care that touches countless families. SCELSE had the pleasure of hosting specialists in dermatology (Dr Mark Jean-Aan Koh & Dr Lynette Wee), gastroenterology (Dr Christopher Ho), infectious diseases (Dr Yung Chee Fu), as well as immunology (Dr Yeo Joo Guan) from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) to explore potential collaboration opportunities. Insightful discussions were held on prevalent women’s and children’s health conditions that the clinicians at KKH address daily, the ongoing cohort studies in Singapore (GUSTO & S-PRESTO), and the critical role of the gut microbiome in human health. All participants emphasised the importance of understanding biofilms and microbiomes in the human body and explored potential mitigation measures to enhance women’s and children’s health. The visit also included a tour of SCELSE’s cutting-edge research facilities, such as our imaging facility (Dr Yong Hwee Foo), and showcased SCELSE’s expertise in studying biofilm-related infections using animal models (Dr Haris Charalampos Antypas). The delegates also had the opportunity to visit the SCELSE-L'Oréal Joint Lab (helmed by Dr Tarun Chopra, Dr Angeline Tay and SCELSE researchers), where exciting skin-microbiome research is ongoing. The exchange of ideas underscored the possibility of future partnerships, combining KKH’s clinical insights on paediatric and women’s health with SCELSE’s research capabilities. For collaboration enquiries, ping Pui Yi (Maria) Yung (https://lnkd.in/gy8Vtanj) or find out more about SCELSE's collaborative research - > https://lnkd.in/gEpJ8iJv (L-R in main pix): Attendees included (SCELSE) Dr Viduthalai R. Regina, Prof Cynthia Whitchurch FAA, Dr Pui Yi (Maria) Yung, Dr Haris Charalampos Antypas, Prof Patricia Conway, Prof Alain Filloux, Mr Michel Birnbaum, Dr Tarun Chopra, Prof Staffan Kjelleberg and (KKH) Dr Yung Chee Fu, Dr Christopher Ho, Dr Lynette Wee, Dr Yeo Joo Guan, Dr Mark Jean-Aan Koh.

“I can't believe I condensed 4 years of work in 10 minutes! Phew!” That’s how Dr Ezequiel Santillan felt after his 'Lightning Showcase' at the AquaTropics Forum, where he spoke to a full-house on 'Sustainable Aquafeeds from Food Wastewaters: Microbial Innovations for Industry Applications'. Check out the 1-min video as he explains why the “waste to plate” concept is crucial for sustainable aquaculture. He highlights how transforming food-processing wastewater into aquafeeds can reduce reliance on traditional feeds. Remarkably, trials showed no significant growth differences in Asian seabass and Pacific whiteleg shrimp! For more, see Nature-> https://lnkd.in/eze_D4f4 or Straits Times "Fish feed from soya bean processing run-off spurs hopes of cheaper fish" -> https://lnkd.in/gDjm7rev Kudos to National University of Singapore, AquaPolis, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and @USSIEO for this event at NUS on 3 Oct 2024.

In our latest blog, we explore the pioneering work led by SCELSE Principal Investigator (PI) and NTU Asst Prof Hie Lim Kim, alongside PhD student Regine Tiong. Following their insightful 10-minute podcast with FM89.3, this blog dives deeper into their DNA study of hawksbill turtles. By unlocking genetic secrets, their research provides invaluable insights for conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures from illegal trade and population decline. Read on for the blog "Saving Endangered Hawksbill Turtles: Insights from the SCELSE Team". #Conservation #HawksbillTurtles #DNAResearch #SCELSE #Genomics #EndangeredSpecies #Sustainability

Our very own Justine Dacanay, NGS Research Fellow, has been featured as #PinoyScientistOfTheWeek on Pinoy Scientists! Pinoy Scientists is a platform celebrating Filipino scientists worldwide, showcasing their contributions to science and inspiring future generations to explore STEM fields. With a background in Medical Biochemistry and a Master’s in Cancer Cell & Molecular Biology, Justine’s journey has taken her from CRISPR technology to managing SCELSE’s state-of-the-art Sequencing Facility. Her passion for DNA sequencing and novel microbial research drives her work here at SCELSE, where she explores everything from air microbiomes to environmental DNA. 🧬🔬 Check out Pinoy Scientists’ posts to learn more about Justine's incredible story and her advice for budding scientists: “Stay curious, always ask questions, and most importantly, have fun.” Post 1: https://lnkd.in/gXY_iezF Post 2: https://lnkd.in/gcstRB4r Post 3: https://lnkd.in/gFj_rSKG 👏 Congratulations, Justine! We're proud to have you on our team at SCELSE. 🧑🔬🌏 #SCELSE #NGS #FilipinoScientist #NextGenSequencing #ScienceMatters #MicrobiomeResearch