For Health Professionals

Clinical Research

Clinical Research Scientists

 

Dr Serena Low Kiat Mun

Consultant, Clinical Research Unit, KTPH​
Email

[email protected]

Research Interests
  • Cognitive impairment, Frailty and Sarcopenia
  • Type 2 Diabetes and its complications
 
Team Member
  • Mr Jonathon Khoo, Senior Executive
Biography

Dr Serena Low has ​specialized ​training in the field of Public Health. She has a strong research interest in geriatric syndromes in type 2 diabetes and is currently pursuing a PhD in this research area.

Selected Publications
  • Low S, Pek S, Moh A, Ang K, Khoo J, Shao YM, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Triglyceride-glucose index is prospectively associated with chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes – mediation by pigment epithelium-derived factor. Diab Vasc Dis Res 2022; 19: 14791641221113784
  • Low S, Goh KS, Ng TP, Moh A, Ang SF, Wang J, Ang K, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Association between use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and cognitive function in a longitudinal study of patients with type 2 diabetes. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 87: 635-642
  • Low S, Goh KS, Ng TP, Moh A, Ang SF, Khoo J, Ang K, Yap P, Cheong CY, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Decline in skeletal muscle mass is associated with cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Complications 2022; 36: 108258
  • Low S, Wang J, Moh A, Ang SF, Ang K, Shao YM, Ching J, Wee HN, Lee LS, Kovalik JP, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Amino acid profile of skeletal muscle loss in type 2 diabetes: results from a 7-year longitudinal study in Asians. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2022; 186: 109803
  • Low S, Pek S, Moh A, Khin CYA, Lim CL, Ang SF, Wang J, Ang K, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Low muscle mass is associated with progression of chronic kidney disease and albuminuria – An 8-year longitudinal study in Asians with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2021; 174: 108777
  • Low S, Pek S, Liu YL, Moh Am Ang K, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Higher extracellular water to total body water ratio was associated with chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes Complications 2021; 35: 107930
  • Low S, Moh A, Ang SF, Lim CL, Liu YL, Wang J, Ang K, Tang WE, Kwan PY, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. The role of pulse pressure in navigating the paradigm of chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Nephrol 2021; 34: 1429-1444
  • Low S, Ng TP, Lim CL, Ang SF, Moh A, Wang J, Yap P, Cheong CY, Goh KS, Ang K, Tang WE, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Higher ratio of extracellular water to total body water was associated with reduced cognitive function in type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes 2021; 13: 222-231
  • Low S, Ng TP, Lim CL, Wang J, Moh A, Ang SF, Goh KS, Ang K, Tang WE, Kwan PY, Lim Z, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Association between vascular measures and cognitive function in type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes Complications 2020; 34: 107724
  • Low S, Ng TP, Lim CL, Moh A, Ang SF, Wang J, Goh KS, Ang K, Tang WE, Kwan PY, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Association between lower extremity skeletal muscle mass and impaired cognitive function in type 2 diabetes. Sci Rep 2020; 10: 2956
  • Low S, Goh KS, Ng TP, Ang SF, Moh A, Wang J, Ang K, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity and its association with cognitive performance in type 2 diabetes in Singapore. Clin Nut 2019; 39: 2274-2281
  • Low S, Khoo KCJ, Wang J, Irwan B, Sum CF, Subramaniam T, Lim SC, Wong TKM. Development of a metabolic syndrome severity score and its association with incident diabetes in an Asian population – results from a longitudinal cohort in Singapore. Endocrine 2019; 65: 73-80
  • Low S, Zhang X, Wang J, Yeoh LY, Liu YL, Ang SF, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Impact of haemoglobin A1c trajectories on chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes. Nephrology (Carlton) 2019; 24: 1026-1032
  • Low S, Khoo KCJ, Irwan B, Sum CF, Subramaniam T, Lim SC, Wong TKM. The role of triglyceride glucose index in development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2018; 143:43-49
  • Low S, Zhang X, Wang J, Yeoh LY, Liu YL, Ang KKL, Tang WE, Kwan PY, Tavintharan Subramaniam, Sum CF, Lim SC. Long-term prospective observation suggests that glomerular hyperfiltration is associated with rapid decline in renal filtration function: a multiethnic study. Diab Vasc Dis Res 2018; 15: 417-423
  • Low S, Zhang X, Ang K, Yeo SJD, Lim GJ, Yeoh LY, Liu YL, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Lim SC. Discovery and validation of serum creatinine variability as novel biomarker for predicting onset of albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2018; 138: 8-15

Notable Research Awards & Grants From Past 5 Years
​Name of Awards
​Year Obtained
Singapore Clinical Investigator Award Category in Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (Silver)
​2022
​Singapore Clinical Investigator Award Category in Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (Bronze)
​2021
​Best Poster for Clinical Research Category in Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (Gold)
​2021
Best Oral Presentation Award for Senior Clinical Research Category in SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress (Winner)
​2021
Best Oral Presentation Award in ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies Investigator (Winner)
​2019
Singapore Clinical Investigator Award Category in Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (Gold)
​2019
ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies Investigator Award (Winner)
​2018
​Best Poster for Basic Science/Translational Research Category in Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress (Silver)
​2018

​​Name of Grants​Year Obtained
Science – Translational & Applied Research (STAR) II grant of $163,693.34. Study on the longitudinal association between body composition and cognitive decline in type 2 diabetes with exploration of the underlying inflammatory pathway
2023

​Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) II grant of $496,850.00. The role of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor on renal trajectories in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease
​2022
Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) I grant of $72,000. A study on the role of muscle-fat ratio in the paradigm of reduced cognitive function in type 2 diabetes
2021
​Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) I grant of $100,000. Navigating the paradigm of testosterone deficiency in men with Type 2 Diabetes – interplay of sex hormones, body composition and diabetic complications
​2020
​Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) I grant of $99,995. Navigating the Paradigm of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly – Unravelling the Interplay between Hyperglycemia, Body Composition and Frailty
​2019
Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) Il grant of $202,528. Economic burden of progressive Type 2 Diabetes and its complications in Singapore – direct, indirect and intangible costs
2019
National Medical Research Council Research Training Fellowship
​2019
Science - Translational & Applied Research (STAR) I grant of $99,980. Normal Reference Range for Glycemic Variability for Individuals without Diabetes in Singapore
2018

Collaborations
  • LKC-Medicine
  • NHG HSOR
Link to Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HLoIN-gAAAAJ&hl=en

 
 

Dr Sharon Pek Li Ting

Principal Research Officer, Clinical Research Unit, KTPH
Email

[email protected]

Research Interests
  • Lipidology - Variant detection in cardiometabolic diseases (Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Familial Hypertriglyceridemia, monogenic disease in cardiology)
  • Type 2 Diabetes - Vascular measurements in patients with Type 2 diabetes and complications
  • Plasma Biomarkers in Lipid disorders and Type 2 Diabetes
 
Team Members
  • Ms Lai Con Li (Executive), Mr Chen Hoe Meng (Research Officer), Mr Nike Pui You Qi (Research Assistant)
  • Clinical Research Coordinators: Ms Atiqa Binte Zulkifli, Ms Madhuumetaa D/O Selvakumar, Ms Nurhusna Alifia, Ms Sharmaine Low
Biography

Dr Sharon Pek graduated with a PhD and has been a research scientist at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital since 2010.  As a molecular biologist by training, she has been working on elucidating molecular mechanisms of metabolic diseases. She is interested in deploying next generation sequencing data to inform clinicians and patients on the heritable risk for lipid disorders. She enjoys sharing project findings with the research participants especially when results are actionable and can improve scientific knowledge.  Dr Pek is also a passionate educator, and has mentored pre-university and undergraduates on internship at the Clinical Research Unit. She is currently the project manager of both Familial Hypercholesterolemia and Diabetic Foot research projects.

Publications
  • Pek SLT, Yap F, Sreedharan AV, Choo JTL, Tavintharan S. Persistent hypercholesterolemia in child with homozygous autosomal recessive hypercholesterolemia: A decade of lipid management. J Clin Lipidol. 2021 May-Jun;15(3):441-446. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2021.04.008. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
  • Pek SL, Lim SC, Ang K, Yeo D, Kwan PY, Tang WE, Sum CF, Tavintharan S. Elevated Endothelin-1 predicts incident Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in patients with Type 2 Diabetes: An observational prospective study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2020;182(4):429-438. doi:10.1530/EJE-19-0523
  • Pek, S.L.T., Cheng, A.K.S., Lin, M.X., Wong, M.S., Liang, E.C.Z., Moh, A.M.C., Sum, C.F., Lim, S.C., Tavintharan, S., 2018a. Association of circulating pro-inflammatory marker, Leucine-Rich-alpha2-Glycoprotein (LRG1), with obesity and changes following metabolic/bariatric surgery. Diabetes Metab Res Rev, e3029.
  • Pek, S.L.T., Dissanayake, S., Fong, J.C.W., Lin, M.X., Chan, E.Z.L., Tang, J.I., Lee, C.W., Ong, H.Y., Sum, C.F., Lim, S.C., Tavintharan, S., 2018b. Spectrum of mutations in index patients with familial hypercholesterolemia in Singapore: Single center study. Atherosclerosis 269, 106-116.
  • Pek, S.L.T., Sum, C.F., Yeoh, L.Y., Lee, S.B.M., Tang, W.E., Lim, S.C. & Tavintharan, S. (2017) Association of apolipoprotein-CIII (apoC-III), endothelium-dependent vasodilation and peripheral neuropathy in a multi-ethnic population with type 2 diabetes. Metabolism 72, 75-82.

Notable Research Awards & Grants from Past 5 Years
Name of Awards & Grants
​Year Obtained
​PRECISE-MOH Clinical Implementation Pilot Grant (Familial Hypercholesterolemia;
Co-investigator)
​April 2022
​Alexandra Health STAR2 Grant (Principal Investigator)
A longitudinal cohort study to evaluate the association of patient activation measures with clinical and patient related outcomes in patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)
​April 2022
​Asian Scientist Lab Tech Of The Year 2021 (Super Mentor Award)​2021
​Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress, Young Investigator Award (Oral presentation, Silver Award, Clinical Research)​Oct 2021
Alexandra Health STAR1 Grant (Principal Investigator)
Association of Autonomic Neuropathy and non-invasive vascular measures of arterial stiffness and rigidity in a cohort of patients with Type 2 Diabetes
​April 2021
​Alexandra Health STAR1 Grant (Principal Investigator)
Functional analysis of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor (LDLR) mutations in Familial Hypercholesterolemia: From Bench to Bedside
​April 2021
​National Day Award, Efficiency Medal​2020
​Singapore Prevention & Cardiac Rehabilitation Symposium. Poster Presentation Merit Award (FH)​2019
​NHG Research Awards - Outstanding Research Impact Award (FH Team)​Oct 2019
​Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress, Young Investigator Award (Oral presentation, Silver Award, Health Service Research)​Oct 2018
Alexandra Health STAR2 Grant (Principal Investigator)
Prospective observational study of potential genetic and biochemical predictors to response to cholesterol-lowering therapy in patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
​April 2018
Collaborations
  • Lipid disorders: Changi General Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, National Heart Centre of Singapore, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, National University Hospital, National University Polyclinics, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Seng Kang Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore Heart Foundation
  • Diabetic Foot: National Neuroscience Institute, Duke-NUS, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
Link to Google scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=18qvroMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

 
 

Dr Angela Moh Mei Chung

Principal Research Officer, Clinical Research Unit, KTPH
Email

[email protected]

Research Interests
  • Obesity
  • Fatty Liver
  • Type 2 diabetes and its complications
  • Diabetes remission
 
Team Members
  • Ms Bhuvaneswari Pandian, Research Officer
  • Ms Lim Boon Khim, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator 
  • Ms Alicia Miyuki Lim, Clinical Research Coordinator  
Biography

Since joining the Clinical Research Unit, KTPH in October 2013, Dr Angela Moh is actively involved in obesity and type 2 diabetes-related research. During this period, she has been awarded over 15 grants as Principal Investigator, and have established several new study cohorts in addition to managing a relatively large bariatric surgery cohort. She has also published more than 15 manuscripts as first author and have won 8 conference scientific awards. Besides internal collaborations with KTPH Diabetes Centre and Department of Surgery, Dr Moh also has ongoing external collaborations with local institutions such as LKC-Medicine, NUH, GIS and NCCS. Over these 10 years, she has mentored about 15-20 polytechnic, junior college, and university students.

Publications
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Association between neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and kidney impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A role of extracellular water/total body water ratio. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2023;199:110634. 
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Associations of non-invasive indices of liver steatosis and fibrosis with progressive kidney impairment in adults with type 2 diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2023;60:827-835.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Association of baseline triglyceride-glucose index with poor glycemic control and diabetes remission after metabolic surgery. Obes Surg. 2023;33:164-172.
  • Lim JG, Moh A, …, Lim SC. Short-term weight trajectory of severely obese individuals with and without pathogenic satiety-regulation melanocortin 3/4 receptor (MC3/4R) mutations from a multi-ethnic Asian large bariatric surgery program. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2023 Jan-Dec;11:23247096231168108.
  • Cheng A, Yeoh E, Moh A, …, Lim SC. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass versus best medical treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults with body mass index between 27 and 32 kg/m2: A 5-year randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2022;188:109900.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Association between depressive symptoms and pulse wave velocity is mediated by increased adiposity in older adults with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2021;46:E176-E183.
  • Moh A, …, Lim SC. Zinc-α2-glycoprotein is associated with non-albuminuric chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes: A retrospective study with 3-year follow-up. Diabetic Medicine  2020;37:1919-1926.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Metabolic surgery diabetes remission (MDR) score: a new preoperative scoring system for predicting type 2 diabetes remission at 1 year after metabolic surgery in the Singapore multi-ethnic Asian setting. Obes Surg. 2020;30:3387-3393.
  • Moh AMC, …, Lim SC. Plasma osteoprotegerin as a biomarker of poor glycaemic control that predicts progression of albuminuria in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 3-year longitudinal cohort study. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2020;161:107992.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Role of endothelium-independent vasodilation in the relationship between visceral adiposity and reduced cognitive performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Microcirculation. 2020;27:e12609.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Association of traditional and novel measures of central obesity with cognitive performance in older multi-ethnic Asians with type 2 diabetes. Clin Obes. 2020;10:e12352.
  • Moh AMC, …, Lim SC. Association between gain in adiposity and diabetic kidney disease worsening in type 2 diabetes is mediated by deteriorating glycaemic control: A 3-year follow-up analysis. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2019; 157:107812.
  • Moh MC, …, Lim SC. Gain in adiposity over 3 years is associated with progressive renal decline in multi-ethnic South-east Asians with type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes. 2019; 11:316-325.
  • Moh A, …, Lim SC. Excess visceral adiposity is associated with diabetic retinopathy in a multiethnic Asian cohort with longstanding type 2 diabetes. Endocr Res. 2018; 43:186-194.

Notable Research Awards & Grants From Past 5 Years
Name of Awards 
​Year Obtained
​SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Clinical Research, Gold)
​2023
​SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Basic Science/Translational Research, Silver)
​2023
​SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Clinical Research, Bronze)
​2022
​SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Basic Science/Translational Research, Silver)2022
​SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: COVID-19: Our Response to a New Challenge, Bronze)
2021
5th Asian Congress of Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery (Best oral presenter)
2019
SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Clinical Research, Gold)
2019
SHBC Best Poster Award (Category: Basic Science/Translational Research, Gold)
2019

Name of Grants
​Year Obtained
Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR23102
2023
Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR23203
2023
Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR22103
2022
​Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR21201
​2021
Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR20202
2020
​Science - Translational and Applied Research STAR19103
​2019
​Alexandra Health Enabling Grant AHEG1908
​2019

Collaborations
  • LKC-Medicine
  • NUH
  • GIS
  • NCCS
Link to Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&pli=1&user=C4bZC1gAAAAJ

 
 

Adjunct Assistant Professor Resham Lal Gurung

Principal Research Officer, Clinical Research Unit
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School
Email

[email protected]

Research Interests
  • Molecular (Genetics and Omics) epidemiology of Diabetic Complications
  • Monogenic Hypertension
  • Ageing and metabolic diseases
  • Pharmacogenetics
 
Team Members
  • Ms Yiamunna M, Research Officer
  • Ms Siti Umairah, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Ms Diana Yong, Clinical Research Coordinator
Biography

Dr Resham is a Principal Research Officer, Principal Investigator at the Clinical Research Unit at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Upon receiving PhD at National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2012, Dr Resham undertook his post-doctoral training at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR with Professor Sydney Brenner (Nobel Laureate) and Professor B. Venkatesh (Comparative Genomic Lab). He researched on identifying rare genetic variants related to a metabolic disturbance in the local population. He then joined as a Post-doctoral Fellow at MRC Genome Damage and Stability Centre in the United Kingdom. Dr Resham joined KTPH as Clinical Scientist in 2015. 

Dr Resham clinical research team actively seeks to understand the etiology of cardio-renal diseases in Asian populations using multi-omics approaches. These include (1) novel omics biomarker discovery; (2) using genetics to infer causality and discover new druggable targets (Mendelian Randomization); (3) identification of genetic variants associated with ageing and metabolic diseases using large cohort studies. Since 2020, in collaboration with clinicians, the group has pioneered clinical research using customized gene panels and long-chain PCR assay (MonoGenic Hypertension (MGH) Study) to screen for several forms of monogenic hypertension locally. Recently, the group has embarked on new studies, including epigenetic and blood profiling to understand mechanisms linking successful diet-induced weight loss, diabetes remission and hypertension. 

Dr Resham enjoys teaching and mentoring graduates, undergraduates and diploma students. Since 2019, he lectures on Functional Ageing module at NUS. Currently, he is an Adjunt Assistant Professor at Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders at Duke-NUS Medical School and Associate Editor of Cardiovascular Diabetology. 

Selected Publications
  • Liu JJ, Liu S, Wang J, Pek SLT, Lee J, Gurung RL, Ang K, Shao YM, Tavintharan S, Tang WE, Sum CF, Lim SC. Urine Leucine-Rich α-2 Glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) Predicts the Risk of Progression to End-Stage Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2023 Feb 1;46(2):408-415. (Impact Factor=16.2)
  • Wang J, Liu JJ, Gurung RL et al. Clinical variable-based cluster analysis identifies novel subgroups with a distinct genetic signature, lipidomic pattern and cardio-renal risks in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 2022 Jun 28 (IF= 8.2)
  • Gurung RL et al. Genetic risk score for plasma uric acid levels is associated with early rapid kidney function decline in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Apr 1 (IF= 5.8)
  • Liu JJ, Liu S, Wang J, Lee J, Tang JI, Gurung RL et al. Risk of Incident Heart Failure in Individuals With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Jan 1;107(1). (IF=5.8)
  • Gurung RL et al. Association of leukocyte telomere length with chronic kidney disease in East Asians with type 2 diabetes: a Mendelian randomization study. Clin Kidney J. 2021 Mar 26;14(11):2371-2376 (IF=4.6)
  • GurungRL et al. Association of Genetic Variants for Plasma LRG1 With Rapid Decline in Kidney Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jul 13;106(8):2384-2394 (IF=5.8)
  • Gurung RL et al. Correlation of Telomere Length in Adipose Tissue and Leukocytes and its Association with Postsurgical Weight Loss. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Dec;28(12):2424-2430. (IF=6.9)
  • Ooi DSQ, Dorajoo R, Gurung RL, Dehghan R, Lim YY, Ho CWL, Tay V, Karuppiah V, Loke KY, Lim SC, Liu JJ, Sng AA, Lee YS. Association of leukocyte telomere length with obesity-related traits in Asian children with early-onset obesity. Pediatr Obes. 2021 Jan 26. (IF=3.9)
  • Gurung RL et al. Ethnic disparities in relationship of obesity indices and telomere length in Asians with type 2 diabetes. J Diabetes. 2018 Oct 3.(IF=4.5)
  • Gurung RL et al. Association of haptoglobin phenotype with incident acute myocardial infarction in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2019 May 30;18(1):65.(IF= 9.3)
  • Dorajoo R*, Chang X*, Gurung RL* et al. Loci for human leukocyte telomere length in the Singaporean Chinese population and trans-ethnic genetic studies. Nat Commun. 2019 Jun 6;10(1):2491. (IF=16.6) (*Joint first co-author)
  • Gurung RL et al. Genetic markers for urine haptoglobin is associated with decline in renal function in type 2 diabetes in East Asians. Sci Rep. 2018 Mar 23;8(1):5109 (IF=4.6)
  • Liu JJ, GurungRL et al. Association of young onset age and genetic risk of beta cell dysfunction with glycaemic progression in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Meta.2021 Nov;47 (6):101238 (IF=7.2)
  • GurungRL et al. Short leukocyte length predicts albuminuria progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Kidney Int Rep.2017 Dec 16;3(3):592-601 (IF=6.0)
  • Liu JJ, Liu S, GurungRL et al. Urine tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites predicts progressive chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Meab. 2018 Dec 1 (IF=5.8)
  • Chang X, GurungRL et al. Low frequent variants associated with leukocyte telomere length in the Singapore Chinese population. Commun Bio. 2021 May 3 (Impact factor:5.9)
Conference and Media Hightlights
  • Short leukocyte telomere length is associated with increased risk for albuminuria progression in type 2 diabetes in Asians - Media Centre | EASD (2017)
  • Berita Harian ("Kajian KTPH buka jalan bagi rawatan penyakit kencing manis lebih tepat", 15 November 2022
  • 联合早报 ("糖尿病患者分类型 护理治疗更精准", 28 February 2023
Notable Research Awards & Grants from Past 5 Years
​Name of Awards & Grants
​Year Obtained
DYNAMO II: Diabetes StudY in Nephropathy And other Microvascular cOmplications II (MOH-001327-02), NMRC (Co-PI)​
2023​
​Diet-induced weight loss impact on biological ageing and benefits in patients with early T2D - A pilot study (PI)
​2023
​STAR22206: Integrating clinical and genomic information for treatment of monogenic Hypertension (PI) 
​2022
​STAR22109: Biomarker study of blood pressure response to diet induced weight loss in type 2 diabetes (PI) 
​2022
​AHF Program grant: Application of genomic information to identify novel biomarkers, causal factors, and therapeutic targets for chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (PI)
​2022
​AHF Program grant: Identification of novel genetic variants for angiogenic factors and Mendelian randomisation analysis to determine its causal role with diabetic kidney disease (PI)
​2020
​STAR18115: Assessing causality: Is hyperuricemia renal toxic in type 2 diabetes? A pilot study (PI)
​2018
​STAR17109: Association of Haptoglobin genotype with end stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease in multi-ethnic Asian population (PI) 
​2017
​AHEG1622: Association of telomere length with progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes in Asian population (PI) 
​2016
Collaborations
  • National University of Singapore
  • National University Hospital
  • Changi General Hospital
  • Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
  • Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR
Link to Google scholar

https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=112XAmMAAAAJ&hl=en

 
 

Ms Clara Tan Si Hua

Senior Research Office, Clinical Research Unit, KTPH
Email

[email protected]

Special Interests
  • Young-onset diabetes
  • Monogenic diabetes
  • Monogenic CKD
  • Diabetic complications​​
 
Team members
  • Mr Kee Kai Xiang, Research Officer
  • Ms Lovynn Chan Wan Ting, Clinical Research Coordinator
  • Ms Song Yuzhen, Clinical Research Coordinator
Biography

Ms Clara Tan is currently a Senior Research Officer at Clinical Research Unit, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. She graduated with a Master of Science (MSc) in Genetics of Human Diseases from the University of College London (UK) in 2016. Her research interest includes young-onset diabetes and she has been working on monogenic diabetes for more than 10 years. She and her team members have established the KTPH-NHG Monogenic Diabetes Registry in 2017 for better understanding of the prevalence and spectrum of monogenic diabetes in the local population. She is also working on young-onset type 2 diabetes, by studying the lifestyle, behavioural choices, clinical and molecular profile of affected individuals.

Selected Publications
  • CSH Tan, SF Ang, E Yeoh, WJ Loh, CF Shum, MMP Eng, AYL Liu, LWT Chan, T Subramaniam, CF Sum, SC Lim. MODY5 Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1B (HNF1B)-associated nephropathy: experience from a regional monogenic diabetes referral centre in Singapore. Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports (2022) 10:1-10.
  • Su Fen Ang, Clara SH Tan, Lovynn WT Chan, Li Xian Goh, Winston YC Kon, Joyce X Lian, Tavintharan Subramanium, Chee Fang Sum, Su Chi Lim. Clinical experience from a regional monogenic diabetes referral centre in Singapore. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (2020) 168: 108390. 
  • Clara SH Tan, Su Fen Ang, Su Chi Lim. Response to multiple glucose-lowering agents in a sib-pair with a novel HNF1a (MODY3) variant. Eur J of Hum Genet (2019) 28: 518-520.
  • Su Fen Ang, Clara Si Hua Tan, Jessie Choi Wan Fong, Su Chi Lim. Precision Medicine for a man presented with diabetes at 2-month old. Eur J of Hum Genet (2019) Vol. 27: 989-993.
  • Ang SF, Tan CS, Wang L, Dorajoo R, Fong JC, Kon WY, Lian XJ, Ang K, J Rahim, B Jeevith, Lee BS, Tang WE, Subramanium T, Sum CF, Liu JJ, Lim SC. PAX4 R192H is associated with younger onset of Type 2 diabetes in East Asians in Singapore. J Diabetes Complications (2019) Vol. 33: 53-58.
  • Ang SF, Lim SC, Tan CS, Fong JC, Kon WY, Lian JX, Subramanium T, Sum CF. A preliminary study to evaluate the strategy of combining clinical criteria and next generation sequencing (NGS) for the identification of monogenic diabetes among multi-ethnic Asians. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice (2016) 119; 13-22.
Notable Research Awards & Grants
​Name of Awards & Grants​Year Obtained
​Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress. Best Poster Presentation (Basic Science/Translational Research Category) (Bronze)
​2023
​Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress. Best Poster Presentation (Bronze)
​2015
​Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress. Best Poster Presentation (Bronze)
​2013
​Alexandra Health Research Forum. Best Poster Presentation (1st runner up)
​2012
​Alexandra Health Research Forum. Best Oral Presentation (1st runner up)
​2011

Collaboration
  • KTPH-NHG Monogenic Diabetes Registry: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Changi General Hospital
Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Nfh589wAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

 
 

Dr Liu Jian-jun

Principal Research Officer, Clinical Research Unit, KTPH
Email

[email protected]

Research Interests
  • Epidemiology and pathophysiology of diabetic complications
 
Team members
  • Mr Janus Lee Wei Lun, Research Officer
  • Ms Sylvia, Research Officer

Biography

Dr Liu Jian-jun was trained as a clinical doctor and has been working as a research scientist for the past 20 years. His main research interest focuses on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of diabetic complications. He has published more than 60 papers in peer-reviewed journals in this research domain, including prestigious journals such as Diabetes Care, Diabetologia, Kidney International and JCI.

Publications
  • Liu JJ, Ching J, Wee HN , Liu S, Gurung RL, Lee J, MY, Zheng H, Lee LS, Ang K, Shao YM, Kovalik JP, Subramaniam T, Sum CF, Sharma K, Kestenbaum BR, Lim SC. Plasma Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites and Risk for Progression to End-Stage Kidney Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2023;46(12):2223-223 (IF 17.1) 2. Liu JJ, Liu S, Wang J, Pek SLT, Lee J, Gurung RL, Ang K, Shao YM, Tavintharan S, Tang WE, Sum CF and Lim SC. Urine leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) predicts the risk for progression to end stage kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2023;46(2):408–415 (IF 17.1)
  • Wang J, Liu JJ et al. Clinical variable-based cluster analysis identifies novel subgroups with a distinct genetic signature, lipidomic pattern and cardio-renal risks in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia 2022;65(12):2146-56 (IF: 10.1)
  • Liu JJ, Liu S, Wang J, Lee J, Tang JIS, Gurung RL, Ang K, Shao YM, Tavintharan S, Tang WE, Sum CF, Lim SC. Risk of incident heart failure in individuals with early-onset type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022;107(1):e178-e187 (IF 6.0)
  • Wee HN, Liu JJ, Ching J and Kovalik JP and Lim SC. The Kynurenine Pathway in Acute Kidney Injury and Chronic Kidney Disease. Am J Nephrol 2021;52:771-787 (IF 4.6)
  • Liu JJ, Pek SLT, Wang JX, Liu S, Ang K, Shao YM, Tang JIS, Gurung RL, Tavintharan S, Tang WE, Sum CF and Lim SC. Association of plasma leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1), a modulator of TGF-beta signalling pathway, with incident heart failure in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2021;44:571-577 (IF 17.1)
  • Liu JJ, Pek SLT, Liu S, Wang J, Lee J, Ang K, Shao YM, Gurung RL, Tavintharan S, Tang W, Sum CF, Lim SC. Association of plasma leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein 1 (LRG1) with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Clin Chem 2021;67(12):1640-1649 (IF 12.2)
  • Liu JJ, Gurung RL, Liu S, Yiamunaa M, Lee J, Ang K, Tavintharan S, Tang WE, Sum CF, Lim SC. Association of young-onset age and genetic risk of beta cell dysfunction with glycaemic progression in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Metab 2021;47(6):101238 (IF: 8.3)
  • Liu JJ et al. Risk of progressive chronic kidney disease in individuals with early-onset type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2020; 35:115-121 (IF: 6.0)
  • Liu JJ et al. Association of urine haptoglobin with risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes- a trans-ethnic collaborative work. Diabetes Care 2020;43:625-633 (IF: 19.2)
  • Liu JJ, Liu S, Gurung RL, Ang K, Tang WE, Sum CF, Tavintharan S, Hadjadj S and Lim SC. Arterial stiffness modulates the association of resting heart rate with rapid renal function decline in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2019;39:2437-2444 (IF 10.5)
  • Liu JJ et al. Urine tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites predict progressive chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endo Metab 2018;103:4357-4364 (IF:6.0)
Collaboration
  • Collaborative work with US Kidney Precision Medicine Consortium to identify biomarkers for prediction of renal outcomes in patients with diabetes.
  • Collaboration with French SURDIAGENE group to study risk factors for diabetic complications using a trans-ethnic approach.
  • Collaborative work with Dr David Cherney in Canada and Kumar Sharma in USA on DKD research.
 

 Enquiries

Please email:
[email protected]