Young Researcher Award

"New discoveries in stem cell research and tissue-engineering will help pave the way for improvements in our understanding and treatment of eye diseases."

• Cornea and ocular surface stem cell research and transplantation
• Cornea and ocular surface disease research and treatment
• Tissue-engineering of ocular tissue-equivalents

• Pioneered novel methods of ocular stem cell expansion and transplantation, including the use of a multi-step serum-free culture system for developing safe and effective bioengineered eye tissue-equivalents
• His team was the first to transplant autologous serum-free bioengineered ocular tissues successfully for the treatment of a variety of eye diseases
• Developed ocular tissue-equivalents using novel biosynthetic materials as scaffolds for cell propagation in the area of ocular tissue-engineering
• His research on ocular stem cells has helped to improve our understanding of ocular biology and homeostasis
• His research on angle-closure glaucoma has helped to improve our understanding and treatment of this major blinding eye disease

• Perseverant, meticulous and objective-oriented
• Dedicated to research that contributes to improving the treatment of eye diseases

• Published 53 papers, of which 43 papers are in major international scientific journals, including Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology and Transplantation
• Written 7 book chapters on ocular stem cells, ocular surface disease and corneal transplantation

• His research in the fields of ocular stem cell biology, the clinical application of stem cells and bioengineering eye tissues for clinical transplantation has placed Singapore on the world map through cutting-edge medical advances in ophthalmology
• Has established an outstanding track record in both clinical research and laboratory-based translational research

• Winner of the Singapore National Academy of Science Young Scientist Award, Singapore's highest honour in Science and Technology (2005)
• Research Excellence Award (Young Researcher Category), National University of Singapore (2005)
• Young Investigator Award – 1st and 2nd Singapore Eye Research Institute /Association for Research in Vision And Ophthalmology Meetings (2003 and 2005)
• Young Investigator Award (Outstanding) - 22nd Singapore-Malaysia Joint Meeting in Ophthalmology/5th Singapore National Eye Research Meeting (2004)
• The Eye Institute-Pharmacia Research Prize For Outstanding Original Paper (2002)
• The Association For Research In Vision And Ophthalmology Santen Pharmaceutical Travel Fellowship Award (2002)