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About Me

Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore

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Visiting Research Professor, NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.

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Adjunct Professor, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.

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Founding Director and Advisor of a BioMed Company.

Research

We have been focusing on Rnomics, RNA Interference, Genomics and Proteomics of several human diseases in collaboration with many Universities, Hospitals and Research  Institutions. We have been developing microRNA and other non-coding RNA based diagnostic and therapeutic agents against stroke, heart disease, diabetes and viral diseases such as Dengue and influenza.

 

We have also been working on the industrial and biomedical applications of aquaporins (AQP) especially bacterial (AQPz), mammalian and human AQPs embedded in biomimetic membranes since 2009. We have genetically engineered the aquaporin genes to produce novel water channel proteins for incorporation in biomimetic membranes at high density per unit area to enhance the rate of water permeability for both industrial (water desalination/reuse) and biomedical (kidney and liver dialysis) applications. 

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Furthermore, we advise and assist various researchers and laboratories that are interested in molecular biological and biomedical R&D studies on either collaborative or contractual basis.
 

Research Interests

(1)   Riboregulators (non-coding RNAs) & Rnomics

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(2)   MicroRNAs in cerebrovascular/cardiovascular, metabolic and viral diseases

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(3)   Exosomal microRNAs

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(4)   Modulators of Aquaporins and Human Diseases

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(5)   Aquaporins & Biomimetic membranes for desalination and water re-use

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(6)   Aquaporins for industrial and biomedical applications

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(7)   Gene cloning, expression and regulation of gene expression.

Other Relevant Responsibilities Held

Academic & Other Related Qualifications

BSc Hons (2A), Botany with Chemistry, University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, SriLanka

 

Commonwealth Scholar in the United Kingdom

 
PhD - Molecular Genetics,  University of Sheffield, UK

 
Chartered Biologist (C Biol.), Institute of Biology, London, UK

 
Fellow of the Institute of Biology (F.I.Biol.), London, UK


Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB), London, UK

 
Doctor of Science (DSc), University of Sheffield, UK

Employment History

Founding Director and Advisor, Aus-Biomed Services, Australia

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Visiting Research Professor, NERI, NUS, Singapore

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Adjunct Professor in Anatomy & Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Monash University, Australia

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Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry Department, School of Medicine (SoM), NUS

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Deputy Head, Department of Biochemistry, SoM, NUS.

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Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, SoM, NUS

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Research Associate, Howard Florey Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Melbourne University, Australia

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Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, SoM, NUS

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Senior Research Scientist, Howard Florey Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia

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Lecturer & Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, SoM, NUS

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Lecturer and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, SriLanka

  • Principal Investigator in the NUS Ageing & Neurobiology Research Program 

  • Principal Investigator & Theme Leader, Stroke Program 

  • Principal Investigator & Theme Leader, Aquaporin-biomimetic membrane program 

  • Principal Investigator & Theme Leader, Cardiovascular Program 

  • Member of the University Senate, NUS 

  • Adjunct Professor and Collaborator Monash University 

  • Research mentor for DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore.

  • External assessor for Promotion of Academic staff at University of Malaya, Malaysia 

  • Chairman for the Examination Committee for assessment of the quality of the examinations held in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology 

  • Coordinator for Experimental module on Molecular and Cell Biology for Life Science undergraduates 

  • Member of the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Research Grants-Review Committee for Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology 

  • Teaching Evaluation of Staff (Peer Review and as a Senior Faculty Member) 

  • Chairman and Internal Examiner for Ph.D vivas/ Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences 

  • Internal and External Examiner for Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and 1st Professional examinations for Medicine and Dentistry 

  • Academic Advisor/Mentor for Life Science and Medical students 

  • External Examiner for Ph.D and MSc theses 

  • Member of the Thesis Advisory Committees 

  • Research Supervisor for MSc and Ph.D students and examiner for Ph.D qualifying Examinations 

  • Research Collaborator with Monash University, Australia; University of Otago, New Zealand; Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom; University of Malaya, Malaysia, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA 

  • Mentor for Clinicians appointed by the National Health Care Group under the Mentorship & Assessment Programme (MAP) for Clinicians to develop their Research.

  • Professor & Senior Faculty Member National University Graduate School for Integrative Sciences & Engineering (NGS).

  • Chairman, Safety Committee & Safety Officer 

  • Member of Genetic Manipulation and Advisory Committee, Singapore 

  • Member of the Organizing Committees for symposia and meetings 

  • Acting Head & Deputy Head of Department of Biochemistry, NUS

  • Elected Member of the Senate Delegacy 

  • Visiting Professor, International Islamic University, Malaysia    

  • Chairman, Departmental Search Committee for appointment of Academic staff

  • Chairman of Departmental Promotion and Tenure Committee for Academic staff 

  • Member of the University’s Research Council (Peer Review of Research Grants)

  • Member of Year 1 Medical Cell Biology Track committee

  • Tutor for Problem Based Learning (PBL) for Medical students 

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  • Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee 

  • Research Associate and Collaborator, Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne 

  • Member of the Life Sciences Implementation Committee to build and equip a state of the art Life Sciences Teaching Laboratory and coordinate the teaching across 9 such laboratories within the campus – for the same standards and practical components

  • Member of committee for recruitment of Teaching Assistants for Life Sciences 

  • Coordinator for the Campus Upgrading Projects for the Department and the Faculty & performing improvements of Departmental infra structure with modern and state-of-the art research laboratories

  • Safety education for all staff and graduate students and implementation of basic safety procedures to undergraduates 

  • Revamping of curriculum including problem based tutorials for Medical students and Life Science students 

  • Coordinator for Biochemistry Honours courses

  • SARS Unit Commander 

  • Chairman of the committee for Revision of the entire Biochemistry curriculum to Biosciences and Biomedical students (Level 1000 to 5000)

  • Senior Research Scientist, Carlton United Breweries & Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia 

  • Lecturer & Senior Lecturer in Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore 

  •  Lecturer & Head of Department, Department of Biochemistry, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

  • Assistant Lecturer, University of Peradeniya, SriLanka 

  • Commonwealth Scholar in the United Kingdom and a Post Doctoral Fellow in The Netherlands 

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Achievements/Awards

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  • Commonwealth Scholar in the United Kingdom

  • Postdoctoral Fellow in the Netherlands

  • National Science and Technology award (Ministerial Citation), Singapore

  • Produced more than 50 PhDs

  • Supervised more than 80 Research students

  • Mentor for many Postdocs, Scientists and Clinicians

  • Taught several thousands of Medical, Dental, Science and Engineering undergraduates

  • Held many competitive Research grants from National and International organizations

  • Published many landmark discoveries on aquaporins, miRNAs, RNA & DNA, Rnomes and proteomes.

  • Reviewer and Academic Editor for many Scientific International Journals.

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