Outstanding Researcher Award

Associate Professor WONG Tien Yin

PhD (Johns Hopkins), FRCSEd (Edinburgh), MMed (NUS)
Department of Opthalmology
Associate Director, Singapore Eye Research Institute

Research Interests
  • Retinal photography as a cardiovascular predictive tool
  • Epidemiology of age-related eye diseases

Research Achievement
used computer-imaging of the eye to determine the correlation between damaged retinal blood vessels and the risks of cardiovascular failure

Research Strengths
  • combines traditional research methodology (epidemiology) with new medical technologies (computer-based imaging)
  • pursues an interdisciplinary approach by studying the eye in relation to other organs

Publication Credits
86 papers published in international journals such as Lancet and Journal of the American Medical Association

International Standing
  • Youngest Editorial Board Member, British Journal of Ophthalmology, since 2001
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison, since 2002

Awards and Accolades
  • Sandra Daugherty Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension Epidemiology, American Heart Association, 2004
  • Jean Coombs Award, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, 2001
  • Young Investigator Award, 1st Singapore Eye Research Institute Meeting, 2001
  • Scholz Award, Johns Hopkins University, 1999
  • Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award, Junior Chamber International, 1999
  • President's Scholar, Public Service Commission Singapore, 1986

Research Aspiration
would like photo taking of a person's retina to be part and parcel of a routine annual medical check-up.