Taking Vitamin A to improve your eyesight is not always recommended. Normally, our body uses vitamin A to make retinal cells that are important for central vision. The fatty by-products are then cleared by a protein called ABCA4. For patients with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic mutation in the ABCA4 gene stops the protein from doing its job. The result is a buildup of yellowish fatty clumps that can lead to loss of central vision and night blindness. Beverly Mok believes that RNA editing to correct a defective ABCA4 could potentially treat Stargardt – which currently has no known treatment. Prior to joining IMCB, Beverly amassed experience in nucleic acid editing technologies during her time at Harvard University with Prof David Liu. Beverly brings this expertise to her strong collaboration with clinician-scientist Xinyi Su to expand the toolbox for therapeutic RNA editing of Stargardt. Like many emerging young scientists at IMCB, Beverly is supported by a Young Investigator Research Grant awarded by the The National Medical Research Council (NMRC). Come find out how IMCB brings researchers and clinicians together to develop better treatments and improve human health! #IMCBastar #IMCBtalents #IMCBscience #RNAediting #geneediting #stargardtdisease
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Exciting new research from IMCB reveals the pivotal role of Lgr5 stem/progenitor cells in the development of the mouse esophagus. The study, led by Senior Investigator Nick Barker and team, identified Lgr5+ cells contributing to both epithelial and muscle development, shedding light on how these cells aid organ formation. This work enhances our understanding of esophageal biology and lays the groundwork for future studies into esophageal diseases. #IMCBastar #IMCBscience #biomedicalresearch #stemcells #esophagealresearch
Glad to share the latest article from my research group published #NatureCommunications describing the identification and characterization of #Lgr5+ #stem #cells contributing to early development of #epithelia and #muscle in the #esophagus. https://lnkd.in/gswRNauk. #IMCBastar #NaturePortfolio #NatureCommunications #IMCBscience #cancerresearch #embryonicstemcells #differentiation #Lgr5 #Wnt
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A huge congratulations to our exceptional IMCB mentors for their incredible contributions at the STAR Mentor Award 2024! 🌟🎉👏 As the A*STAR Mentorship Conference 2024 came to a close, we had the honor of celebrating our outstanding IMCB mentors—Adrian Teo, Caroline Wee, Qingfeng Chen, Kylie Yong, Leslie Beh, Qunxiang Ong and Joint Investigator Yu Weimiao —who were recognized for their exceptional dedication to nurturing the next generation of scientific leaders. Your unwavering support has not only advanced the research landscape but also empowered young scientists in their personal and professional growth. As Bob Proctor once said, “A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” Our awardees have truly embodied this spirit, fostering future leaders and shaping the future of research in Singapore. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and the positive impact you’ve made on Singapore’s scientific community. Thank you for continuing to inspire and elevate science through your mentorship. Read more at https://lnkd.in/g6-Aj3hZ #IMCBastar #IMCBscience #MentorshipExcellence #STARMentorAward2024 #AStarMentorshipConference #ScientificLeadership #EmpoweringScientists
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Big shoutout to everyone who joined us for an amazing night of creativity and connection last week at the Block Party! 🎉 From hands-on artwork to live music, good food and drinks, the energy was off the charts. 🎶🎨 It was an incredible opportunity to network, collaborate, and unwind with the A*STAR community. Here's to more fun events, more creativity, and more connections within the A*STAR family! #IMCBastar #InfuseAfter5 #BuildingConnections #Creativity #AstarCommunity
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Collaboration is the heartbeat of innovation 🔬🤝 At last week’s IMCB PI Retreat, we were excited to welcome our joint investigators and see how their collaborative efforts are driving forward cutting-edge research. Participants shared ongoing and new projects, sparking partnerships across different research areas. We were particularly excited about the new collaborations forming between our core and joint investigators, paving the way for future breakthroughs. A key highlight was the Fort Canning Pitch Competition, where our investigators showcased their innovative ideas and took it up a notch with creative skits and engaging storytelling. Congratulations to all three winning teams for their outstanding efforts, walking away with well-deserved recognition and prize money! 🌟 We’re excited to see how these projects flourish and lead to new partnerships. 🏆 Derrick Ong, Jonathan Loh, Hai Yan, Shi Yan Ng, and Radoslaw Sobota 🏆 John Jia En Chua, Weiping Han, Yu Fu, Caroline Wee, and Sarah Xinwei Luo 🏆 Yee-Joo Tan, Sherry Aw, Yan Chuan, and Boon Seng Soh The retreat wasn’t just about scientific exchange—it was also an opportunity to bring some creativity into the mix. During the Art and Science Intersection team-building activity, our investigators crafted food art representing cells from the CNS/BBB to unipolar PNS cells, bringing an artistic twist to the science! We also took a moment to appreciate the importance of mentorship. Our PhD committees honored PIs with personalized thank you gifts, acknowledging their invaluable role in shaping the next generation of scientists. These heartfelt gestures reflected the deep gratitude students have for their mentors. The retreat wrapped up on a high note with a talk by Prof. Kah-Leong Lim, IMCB’s distinguished alumnus, who reflected on the importance of community and collaboration. His words, “This place always brings me back” struck a chord, reminding us all of the strong connections that make IMCB such a special place. To more exciting collaborations and discoveries ahead! #IMCBastar #IMCBscience #IMCBRetreat2024 #Collaboration #Innovation #JointInvestigators #Mentorship #FortCanningPitchCompetition #ArtAndScience #BiomedicalResearch #TeamBuilding
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Deadline Extended! The abstract submission for the 2024 Singapore Symposium on Brain-Body Interactions (SSBBI) & Neuroscience Singapore 2024 is now extended to 11th October 2024! 🧠✨ IMCB and the Society for Neuroscience, Singapore Chapter (SfN.SG) invite you to a comprehensive event exploring cutting-edge research in neuroscience, metabolism, and brain-body interactions. 📅 Date: 4-6 November 2024 📍 Venue: Matrix @ Biopolis, Singapore 📢 Highlights: SSBBI Symposium (4-5 Nov) Neuroscience SG 2024 Symposium (5-6 Nov) Joint Poster/Networking Session (5 Nov) 🔬 Key Themes: Brain-Body Signaling Metabolic Dysregulation in Chronic Diseases Cognition, Learning, and Memory Neurodegeneration and more! 👩🔬 With distinguished speakers such as Prof. Tom Südhof (Stanford Univ., Nobel Laureate), Prof. Jens Brüning (Max Planck Institute), Prof. Ganna Panasyuk (INSERM), Prof. Micah Allen (Aarhus Univ.) and more, this symposium promises to bring cutting-edge insights from around the world. 🗓️ Key Dates: Extended Abstract Submission Deadline: 11th October 2024 Registration Deadline: 1st November 2024 🔗 Register now and secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/gAXkNevm For more information, contact Dr. Michelle Sim (SSBBI) (michelle_sim@imcb.a-star.edu.sg) or Dr. Caroline Wee (SfN.SG) (weel@imcb.a-star.edu.sg). #IMCBastar #IMCBscience #SfN #SSBBI2024 #NeuroscienceSG2024 #BrainBodyInteractions #MetabolismResearch #Neurodegeneration #Neuroscience #Metabolism
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🚀 IMCB is thrilled to be the first A*STAR institute to partner with the Research Support Centre, A*STAR in launching two new innovative services: VendLah and PickLah! 🚀 These initiatives are now live in their pilot phase, and we’re eager to see how they will improve convenience and efficiency for our research community. ✅ VendLah: A user-friendly vending machine, offering research consumables at your fingertips. ✅ PickLah: A smart locker system designed to securely store and easily retrieve your ordered items. Stay tuned as we explore the positive impact these on-site delivery solutions will bring to our research activities 🙌 #IMCBastar #RSC #Innovation #SmartSolutions #VendLah #PickLah
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🌟Join Us at the Block Party: Infuse After 5! 🌟 We’re inviting you to our newest social initiative, a block party designed to bring the A*STAR community together to unwind, connect, and build relationships. Enjoy creative workshops, live music, and delicious treats! 🎨 Workshops: Join artwork sessions with our IMCB Principal Scientist, Sherry Aw. 🎶 Live Music: Enjoy performances from Harmonic Fusion Lab. 🍹 Food & Drinks: Sip on curated drinks and sample gourmet bites. 🗓️ When: October 3rd, 5 PM – 8 PM 📍 Where: L1 Neuros & Immunos Timber Deck, Biopolis A perfect chance to relax, network, and recharge! #IMCBastar #InfuseAfter5 #BlockParty #AstarCommunity #Networking #Creativity
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At 18, I signed on for the MBBS/PhD programme overseas on the A*STAR National Science Scholarship. Clinician-scientists were rare in Singapore then. There were no defined training pathways available, but the world was our oyster! I spent my youth in the University of Cambridge at Medical School, the Addenbrooke's Hospital and in the labs of the Medical Research Council (MRC) UK's Cancer Cell Unit (as well as some pubs in London). It was a life-defining period of my life. The training I received, and the lifelong friends and colleagues I met shaped who I am today. Much in Singapore has changed and today we have more insight into what it takes to develop and train specialist clinician-scientists. When I returned to Singapore, I dove headlong into honing my craft as a clinician. I trained at KKH, NUH and SGH and later specialised in Medical Oncology at NCCS, where science, medicine, communication, and the whole multidisciplinary team converged. The practice of oncology, as demonstrated by senior medical oncologists who were my mentors, is truly an art. I owe my seniors and colleagues a lifetime of gratitude for their guidance. Today, my team’s research is driven by our patients’ needs. We focus on the rarer cancers, which tend to occur in younger people and make up 25% of all cancers globally. Because much is unknown, outcomes are invariably poor. My team together with our clinical, scientific and industry partners, seek to do more for individuals affected by this devastating disease. We have developed an app to help oncologists predict survival outcomes with different treatment modalities in Sarcomas. We found a novel drug combination highly effective in Soft Tissue Sarcomas in patient-derived models which we will bring to clinical trial. We also identified risk factors that predispose one with a diagnosis of a rare cancer to be at higher risk of adverse psychological outcomes like depression and suicides, enabling better support for these vulnerable patients. Our work translates into action to improve patient management. We want to match patients to effective therapies and the support they need, to change the entire trajectory of their disease. - Asst Prof Valerie Yang, MB BChir, PhD, Consultant, National Cancer Centre Singapore SingHealth #AMRIcommemorates #worldcancerresearchday #cancer #researchers #Singapore #AMRI #celebratingresearch #innovatetoaccelerate #researchinaction #impactfulresearch
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Working to live
1yWay to go Beverly Mok! 💯