Dr David Bickford (Faculty of Science) discovered the world’s first recorded lungless frog Barbourula kalimantanensis from the jungles of Borneo. This extremely rare species of frog obtains oxygen through its skin.

The first prospective cohort study of Parkinson's Disease risk factors in a non-white population living in Asia - a joint collaboration between Assoc Prof Koh Woon Puay (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine) and Dr Louis Tan (National Neuroscience Institute) - found that black tea consumption reduces the risk of having the disease. The findings won the second prize for Best Research Presentation Award at the 1^st Asian and Oceanian Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Congress.

A team led by Prof Ding Jeak Ling (Faculty of Science/LSI Structural Biology and Proteomics Research Programme) made a major discovery on how the "C-reactive" protein can help in fighting bacterial infections. The team also discovered additional functions of haemoglobin, paving the way for future clinical research.

Assoc Prof Ng Tze-Pin (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine) conducted a study demonstrating that certain activities such as reading, shopping and doing community work are able to lower the risk of dementia. The first such study done in Asia, it won the International Psychogeriatric Association Award for Research in Psychogeriatrics.

Dr Peter Ho and his team (Faculty of Science) discovered a way to make a solution of ultra-thin sheets of graphenes, which when coated on glass or plastic would make them effective electrical conductors.

Prof Liew Ah Choy (Faculty of Engineering) created the first lightweight conducting material EquiVolt, that would equalise voltage differences. Used as a material for tents or raincoats, it conducts electric currents during a lightning strike, thus keeping the person safe.

Collaborating with a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr Liu Xiaogang (Faculty of Science) developed a novel nanowire membrane material which can selectively absorb oils up to 20 times the material’s weight in preference to water.

Assoc Prof Markus Wenk (Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine/Faculty of Science/LSI Neurobiology Programme) developed a novel tool for searching lipid based biomarkers, which is crucial in the development of drugs for various diseases. A patent has been filed.

A team led by Dr Tan Choon Hong (Faculty of Science/LSI Medicinal Chemistry Programme) identified a new drug GYY4137 as a slow-releasing H₂S compound with cardioprotective and anti-hypertensive activity which may be of therapeutic value in cardiovascular diseases. A patent has been applied.

Assoc Prof Chen Ping (Faculty of Science/NUS Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative) and her team of researchers made a cutting-edge discovery of a new solid-state inorganic compound for hydrogen storage and release.

Dr Bae Seongtae (Faculty of Engineering) together with his team developed coated magnetic nanoparticles with promising self-heating and superior biocompatible characteristics for use within the human body, leading to a possible breakthrough in cancer treatment.

Prof Ang Beng Wah (Faculty of Engineering) and his team of research collaborators pioneered work in decomposition analysis and developed a technique called the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index method. This technique, adopted internationally, is used to factorise changes in aggregate energy consumption at the national or sectoral level, and to track economy-wide energy efficiency performance.