Conference Speakers

​Educational Speakers

• A/Prof Mikael Hartman

  Head & Senior Consultant
  Division of General Surgery (Breast Surgery), Department of Surgery, National University Hospital
  
  Associate Professor
  Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University Hospital

• Associate Professor Mikael Hartman is a visionary breast cancer specialist and researcher who has been at the forefront of revolutionizing breast cancer detection and treatment in Singapore and Southeast Asia since 2009. Trained at the renowned Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where he received his medical board certification in General Surgery in 2005 and completed his doctoral studies in epidemiology in 2007, A/Prof Hartman brings a wealth of expertise in breast cancer etiology, prognostication, and the inheritance of cancer prognosis.
  
  
  Recognizing the silent epidemic of breast cancer in Southeast Asia, where women often present at later stages, A/Prof Hartman embarked on an epic motorcycle journey from Singapore to Sweden in 2014 with Dr. Philip Lau. This awareness campaign, known as "The Long Ride," aimed to highlight the importance of early detection and gain deeper insights into the cultural factors influencing help-seeking behaviors across 17 countries.
  
  
  As the lead investigator of the Breast Cancer Prevention Programme (BCPP) at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, A/Prof Hartman has spearheaded groundbreaking research initiatives. His current focus is on the BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) programme, a precision medicine initiative that aims to revolutionize breast cancer screening by tailoring schedules according to individual risk profiles.
  
  
  Driven by the belief that "to truly maximise outcomes, we must exit the hospital and focus on screening and detection," A/Prof Hartman is also pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in mammogram assessment. This innovative approach aims to address the global scarcity of radiologists and support early detection of breast cancer.
  
  
  A/Prof Hartman's dedication to improving breast cancer outcomes has been recognized internationally, including co-recipient honors for the Breast Cancer Concept Award from the US Army in 2002 and 2006. His multifaceted approach to breast cancer research, combining clinical expertise, epidemiological insights, and technological innovation, continues to shape the landscape of breast cancer prevention and treatment in Singapore and beyond.

Prof Lee Soo Chin

Senior Consultant
Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore

Associate Director of Research
National University Cancer Institute, Singapore

Director, Cancer Genetics Program
National University Cancer Institute, Singapore

Senior Principal Investigator
Cancer Science institute, Singapore

Professor
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore

Prof Lee Soo Chin is a distinguished medical professional and researcher specializing in breast cancer and cancer genetics. She received her medical education from the National University of Singapore and the Royal College of Physicians in the UK, further enhancing her expertise with a fellowship in cancer genetics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the USA.

Currently, Prof Lee holds several prominent positions, including Senior Consultant of the Department of Haematology-Oncology at National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), Associate Director of Research at NCIS, and Senior Principal Investigator at the Cancer Science Institute, Singapore. Her leadership extends to various professional committees, reflecting her significant influence in the field of oncology.

Prof Lee's research focuses on breast cancer, pharmacogenetics, and cancer genetics. She has led over 60 breast cancer clinical trials and directs the Haematology-Oncology Research Group, overseeing over 200 clinical trials. Her laboratory work is dedicated to developing novel therapeutics and predictive biomarkers in breast cancer, with notable achievements including the identification of a blood-detectable biomarker for breast cancer recurrence and the discovery of a genetic variant affecting breast cancer drug metabolism in Asian populations.

Prof Lee has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articales in major oncology and pharmacogenetics journals and is a respected reviewer for several interantional publications. Prof Lee's ongoing research continues to push the boundaries of breast cancer treatment, exploring innovative therapeutics strategies and personalised approaches. Her work not only advances scientific understanding but also holds the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes in cancer care.

A/Prof Too Heng-Phon

Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore

Director Research
N2CR, National University of Singapore

Co-Founder, Non-executive Chairman, Scientific Director 
MiRXES Pte Ltd

Co-Founder, Non-executive Chairman, Scientific Director
AGEM Bio Pte Ltd

A/Prof Too Heng-Phon is a distinguished researcher and educator with a background in biochemistry and molecular biology. He received his undergraduate degree from Imperial College, UK, and completed his PhD through a joint project in London. His postdoctoral training includes positions at the Medical Research Council, Cambridge, and Harvard Medical School. He is a recipient of the President Technology Award Singapore.

A/Prof Too's research focuses on Bioanalytics, MicroRNA, Gene Delivery, and Stem Cells. His work has led to significant advancements in microRNA detection and biomarker discovery, particularly in oncology. His work has led to the clinical implementation of blood tests for early disease detection, particularly cancer, significantly improving patients' chances of recovery and survival.

His research has been funded by organizations such as Roche Diagnostics and the National Institute of Health (USA), focusing on developing qPCR assays for infectious diseases. A/Prof Too has received several Commercialization of Technology grants from A*STAR and Singapore-Massachusetts Research & Technology (SMART).

A/Prof Too's current research includes developing virus-free methods for introducing therapeutic genes into stem cells and metabolic engineering for high-value biologics production. He collaborates with clinical groups globally and has received numerous grants and intellectual property protections for his innovative work.

Plenary Session

• Prof Dennis Lo

• Vice-Chancellor and President 
  Chinese Univerity of Hong Kong (CUHK

  Director
  Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK

  Li Ka Shing Professor 
  Medicine and Professor of Chemical Pathology, CUHK

Professor Dennis Lo is the ninth Vice-Chancellor and President and the Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He is also the President of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. His research interests focus on the biology and diagnostic applications of cell-free nucleic acids in plasma. In particular, he discovered the presence of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma in 1997 and has since then been pioneering non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using this technology. This technology has been adopted globally and has created a paradigm in prenatal medicine. He has also made many innovations using circulating nucleic acids for cancer detection, including the screening of early-stage nasopharyngeal cancer. 

In recognition of his research, Professor Lo has been elected as Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Founding Member of the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society and Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Sciences. Professor Lo has won numerous awards, including the 2014 King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, the 2016 Future Sciences Prize in Life Science, the 2019 Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award, the 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, the 2021 Royal Medal, the 2021 ESHG Mendel Award, the 2022 ISPD Pioneer Award, the 2022 Lasker~DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, the 2023 Inaugural Tengchong Science Prize and the 2024 Jimenez Diaz Lecture Award.

Hear-the-Journey Session

• Prof Paul Anantharajah Tambyah

  Senior Consultant

  Division of Infectious Diseases, Departmnet of Medicine, National University Hospital

  Professor
  Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM), National University of Singapore

Professor Paul Anantharajah Tambyah is a distinguished infectious diseases specialist and researcher at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Hospital (NUH). He currently serves as a Senior Consultant in Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital, Professor of Medicine at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Deputy Director of the Infectious Diseases Translational Research Program and Honorary Joint Professor at CBmE.

Prof Tambyah's journey in medicine began at the NUS, where he obtained his MBBS. He then pursued further training in the United States, completing his fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Wisconsin. With a career spanning over two decades, Prof Tambyah has made significant contributions to the field of infectious diseases, particularly in the areas of nosocomial infections and emerging infections. His research interests include clinical infectious diseases, device-associated infections, and emerging infections, with a special focus on dengue and influenza.

Prof Tambyah has played key roles in several professional organizations. He is currently the immediate past President of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection and also immediate past President of the Society of Infectious Diseases (Singapore). His past appointments include the founding head of the division of Infectious Diseases in NUS, Assistant Dean in YLLSOM, and a board member of the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology in America.

His expertise and contributions have been recognized globally. Prof Tambyah has been invited as a visiting professor to numerous institutions worldwide and has delivered lectures at international conferences. He has authored over 400 scientific papers and book chapters.

Beyond his clinical and research work, Prof Tambyah is actively involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals. He has received multiple teaching awards, including the National University of Singapore's Annual Teaching Excellence Award.

Prof Tambyah's journey in infectious diseases has been marked by his dedication to improving patient care, advancing scientific knowledge, and fostering international collaboration in the fight against infectious diseases. His experiences and insights promise to offer valuable perspectives to conference participants interested in understanding the path of clinical scientists and researchers.

• • Dr Kumarakulasinghe Nesaretnam

    

    Consultant
    Department of Haematology Oncology,
    National University Hospital

    Dr. Nesaretnam is a medical oncologist who specializes in genitourinary and geriatric oncology. He has a keen interest in Health Informatics and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. He is especially interested in the human factors at play in the validation, implementation, and adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare.