News In Brief: April 2024

NTU among top Asian universities in subject rankings again

NTU has once again emerged as one of the top universities in Asia based on global rankings by subjects. The 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings by Subject had 408 Asian universities among over 1,500 institutions worldwide. NTU ranked higher than Chinese, Japanese and Hong Kong universities in terms of the number of top 10 programmes, a trend observed since at least 2021.

LKCMedicine study uncovers link between bacteria and inflammation

Researchers from LKCMedicine and the University of Toulouse, France, have uncovered how bacteria and toxins prompt the human immune response, leading to inflammation. Lead author Assistant Professor Franklin Zhong said, “Cells use a lot of energy to move sodium and potassium ions across their membranes, maintaining a specific ion balance between the interior of the cells and the external environment. This balance is crucial for normal cell functions. Problems with this balance can lead to diseases like neurological disorders and heart failure.”

National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Award Winners and Grant Recipients

Eight clinician scientists, innovators and researchers from LKCMedicine received national grants for the July 2023 grant cycle. This is a well-deserved recognition of their translational and groundbreaking clinical research. They are Associate Professor Tan Ern Yu, Associate Professor Mythily Subramaniam, Assistant Professor Yew Yik Weng, Assistant Professor Liu Yan Lun Allen, Assistant Professor Lim Jue Tao, Nanyang Assistant Professor Wong Siu Ling Christine, Nanyang Assistant Professor Franklin Zhong, and Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellow Dr Lo Chih Hung.

International Women in STEM and Medicine Symposium 2024

Co-organised by Women in Science @ LKCMedicine together with NUS Medicine, the International Women in STEM and Medicine Symposium 2024 was held on 25 March 2024 at the Ong Tiong Tat & Irene Tan Liang Kheng auditorium. The programme line-up included an opening address by Guest-of-Honour Senior Minister of State for National Development Mr Tan Kiat How, and featured remarks by Dean Professor Joseph Sung and a panel discussion with Chief Operating Officer Dr Serene Ng.

East Asian Medical Students’ Conference

Together with students from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 36 LKCMedicine students hosted 210 international student delegates for a five-day conference themed, “Public Health and Preventive Medicine”. The highlights of the conference included Minister of Education Mr Chan Chun Sing as Guest-of-Honour, keynote lectures, poster competitions, community service programme and cultural exchange.

Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine (GDSM)

Applications for the Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine (GDSM), a one-year part-time blended programme offered by LKCMedicine in partnership with Singapore Sport & Exercise Medicine Centre @ Changi General Hospital (SSMC@CGH), is ongoing now and closes on 30 April 2024. Click here to find out more.

Strengthening the LKCMedicine Faculty

LKCMedicine welcomed three new faculty members. On 29 January 2024, Dr Jo-Anne Manski-Nankervis was appointed Associate Professor of Primary Care while Dr Dimpy Gupta was appointed Lecturer, Medical Education. Dr Kristijan Ramadan, whose work primarily focuses on chromatin-associated protein degradation in genome stability, was appointed Professor of Cancer & Stem Cell Biology with effect from 1 April 2024. Assistant Professor Navin Kumar Verma was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, effective 1 March 2024.

Delegation Visits

LKCMedicine hosted visitors and delegates from Sultan Qaboos University’s (SQU), Tsinghua University Institute of Hospital Management, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Stellenbosch University, and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) in the first quarter of 2024. Meetings were centred on discussing research themes and fostering collaborative synergies between the institutions.