An innovator bridging ancient wisdom and modern science to transform healthcare

By Sadia Roohi

With the rise of AI innovation, NTU PhD student Kon Wen Xuan sees potential in using AI to explore Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices, aiming to provide data-driven insights that could evaluate their credibility, effectiveness, and relevance in today’s healthcare landscape.

NTU PhD student Kon Wen Xuan is grateful for the Sim Yung Chong TCM Scholarship that paved the way for him to pursue innovative research combining TCM and AI.

A graduate of NTU’s School of Biological Sciences Class of 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Medicine, Wen Xuan has always been passionate about exploring innovative approaches to this ancient medical practice.

Wen Xuan was awarded the Sim Yung Chong TCM Scholarship during his undergraduate days. It meant he could focus his energy on his growing interests.

“I used part of the scholarship allowance to enrol in an AI course, which opened up new possibilities for my research. That course laid the groundwork for my current PhD work, where I’m exploring how AI can be applied to improve TCM practices,” said Wen Xuan.

Wen Xuan (standing, 5th from right) with fellow scholarship recipients at a dinner with donor Mr Sim Hoay Cheok (seated, 2nd from left).

Now pursuing a PhD in NTU’s Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Wen Xuan’s main goal is to modernise TCM with AI technology to help improve its diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy.

“There are troves of TCM clinical data, such as medical texts and clinical records, that are humanly impossible to process in their entirety,” he said. “With AI and data science methods, we can analyse large volumes of data to uncover valuable insights. This includes finding correlations between TCM and Western medicine, which could help us determine the underlying pharmacological effects in TCM.”

Wen Xuan is also exploring how TCM clinical data can be used to train machine learning models. “These models could provide suggestions, particularly for less experienced TCM clinicians,” he said. He explained that these suggestions can serve as a reference for them, potentially improving the diagnostics and treatment. 

Six months into his research, Wen Xuan has been navigating some challenges including working and communicating effectively with stakeholders, such as TCM experts, data scientists, and social scientists. “I have to craft my message to cater to each expert, ensuring they understand from their point of view without being confused by the technicalities of other fields,” he said.

The interdisciplinary nature of the work also presented personal challenges. "I am the Jack of all trades but the master of none," he said.

"Traditional researchers are more knowledgeable and skilful in their own fields, while I bring ideas and perspectives from different fields,” added Wen Xuan.

Building a Strong Academic Foundation

His work holds promise for advancing personalised, data-driven treatments that could lead to better patient outcomes.

As Wen Xuan advances in his research, he remains deeply grateful for his undergraduate Sim Yung Chong TCM Scholarship, donated by Mr Sim Hoay Cheok, which helped him reach this point.

“The scholarship allowed me to focus on my aim, and now I want to give back by contributing to the evolution of TCM,” he said.

Through Wen Xuan’s work, the scholarship’s legacy continues to grow, transforming lives and advancing innovation in global healthcare. The scholarship has also provided Wen Xuan with opportunities to connect with the community behind it.

“I was invited to dinner events hosted by the donor, Mr Sim, and his family, where I met other scholarship recipients who have graduated and are practising Chinese Medicine. They all shared their personal experiences and insights about the field, which motivated me to pursue my current path to conduct research on TCM and AI to improve current practices.”

Wen Xuan (back row, 2nd from left) with fellow classmates during their internship at Thong Chai Institute of Medical Research.

While the scholarship provided essential financial support, Wen Xuan emphasises the emotional and psychological impact it had on his journey. “It wasn’t just about the money. The scholarship acted as a pillar of support during tough times, motivating me to keep working hard,” he shared.

Beyond the scholarship, Wen Xuan is fortunate to have a strong support network. He credits his family, particularly his uncle, for their support.

“My parents supported me, my elder brother advised me, my friends encouraged me, and my professors guided me,” said Wen Xuan. “My uncle wholeheartedly believed in the potential that I could not see in myself. He constantly showed me the way when I was lost and unsure of what I should do.”

Wen Xuan aspires to contribute to the modernisation of TCM, aiming to help the field remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.

His journey reflects the potential of young innovators, with the right support, to take on challenges that could significantly impact society.