Department of Biomedical Engineering
National University of Singapore
The TTE group leverages bioengineering tools to engineer in vitro and ex vivo tumors for personalized drug testing
Research Staff
Zhao Zixuan
During my Ph.D., I focused on the development of in vitro non-alcoholic fatty liver disease models for drug screening and pathogenesis studies. I joined the TTE lab as a Research Fellow to work on the development of head and neck cancer niches to understand macrophage heterogeneity.
Chen Changchong
I obtained my Ph.D. from the Department of Chemistry at ENS-PSL in France. Then, I focused on the development of ovarian cancer on-a-chip models for the study of cancer cell migration and invasion. I joined the TTE lab as a Research Fellow to work at the interface between microfluidic systems and tumor explant cultures for the evaluation of immunotherapies.
Elekuttige Anton Kanishka Fernando
I completed my Master of Science in Biomaterials from the University of Manchester where I was involved in developing novel biosensors using enzyme bioconjugates. I then worked for MAS Holdings for 7 years as a technology entrepreneur to develop innovative solutions focused on addressing the needs of women’s reproductive cycle. I obtained my Ph.D. from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore and am currently a Research Fellow in the lab, exploring the use of bioengineered tumor explants for drug development.
Fathima Farzana Kuthubudeen
I completed my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with First Class Honors from Northumbria University in 2019. In my undergraduate studies, I investigated the expression of different markers in the progression of colorectal cancer. I subsequently worked as a Research Assistant in Duke-NUS for three years where I investigated how IL11 affects fibrosis. I joined the TTE lab at the start of May 2023 as a Research Assistant. Currently, I work on areas related to developing personalized tumor models for head and neck cancer patients.
Graduate Students
Wu Zhuoran Kenny
I completed my Bachelor of Engineering from South China University of Technology (SCUT) in 2016 and Master of Engineering from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2018. I specialized in nanomaterials and macromolecular materials for biological applications where I developed an advanced encapsulation system that comprises a polymeric capsule capable of sustained release of Vitamin E and an amino acid-guided therapy that works well against mammary carcinoma. I am currently a doctoral student with a primary research focus on developing tumor microenvironment - mimetic hydrogels/microfluidics for in vitro tumor slice culture and high-throughput drug testing.
Wang Yunyun
I graduated from SWJTU with a Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering in 2020. My previous research experiences were related to development of multifunctional cardiovascular stents and using 3D bioprinting for cardiac tissue repair. I am currently a NUS Research Scholar focused on constructing in vitro models to recapitulate the heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs).
Josephine Yap
I joined the TTE lab at the end of 2022 as an ISEP student, after graduating from Imperial College London with a BSc in Medical Biosciences. My project focuses on generating heterogeneous tumor-associated macrophages in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Seah Dong Hua
I obtained my BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Engineering from the National University of Singapore in 2023. In my free time, I engage in rock climbing and jogging. Currently, I am a Ph.D. student in the TTE lab, working on developing immune-competent head and neck tumor models.
Madhumathi Kalaichelvan
I obtained my BSc (Hons) with Honours in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Greenwich in 2020. Prior to joining the TTE lab, I was a medical laboratory technologist primarily in the area of microbiology. I am currently a Ph.D. student in the TTE lab, working on developing biomaterials-based platforms for preserving patient-derived tumor explants ex vivo.
Ding Haiyao
I obtained my Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Biomedical Engineering (Minor in Life Sciences) from the National University of Singapore in 2024. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the TTE lab, with my research focused on developing enhanced readouts for evaluating drug testing using tumor explant cultures.
Undergraduate Students
Kevin Philip Fong
I am a Year 4 student from the National University of Singapore (NUS), majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a Specialization in Tissue Engineering. I am pursuing my Final Year Project in the TTE Lab.
Alumni
Nicholas Ho, Ph.D. conferred 2024
Aleksandr Mitriashkin, Ph.D. conferred 2024
Kanishka Fernando, Ph.D. conferred 2024
Lab Outings
June 2024
December 2023
December 2022
June 2022
December 2019