Dr. Teo Cheng Peng

Co-founder of Regenosis

Medical Director, Haematology MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (Internal Medicine), FAMS (Haematology)

Dr Teo obtained his medical degree in NUS, post-grad qualification in 1984 and started his specialist training in haematology-oncology at NUS 1987. He then underwent further specialist training in stem cell therapy at Royal Marsden Hospital, UK.

He initiated and developed the Autologous Stem Cell Transplant programme at the Division of Haematology-Oncology, NUH and Department of Medical Oncology, SGH and was awarded another major grant by National Medical Research Council. With his interest in stem cell biology, he co-founded StemCord, the first private cord blood and stem cell bank in Singapore and achieved accreditation with the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), the most prestigious stem cell accreditation.

Along with his 30 years of clinical experience with NUH, SGH, Gleneagles Hospital, Dr Teo spearheaded the development of Stem Med, which specialises in Haemopoietic & MSC applications & Advance Cellular Therapy for Cancers. He also started the first MSC trial in liver cirrhosis in Singapore.

Currently, he is still active in his clinical practice in Parkway Cancer Centre and TalkMed Group and sits in the blood transfusion committees of both Gleneagles Hospital and Mt Alvernia Hospital. He also serves in Medical Advisory Board of Mt Alvernia Hospital since 2000 and is a member of Singapore Society of Haematology, Singapore Society of Oncology, International Society for Cellular Therapy.

Fellowship:

• Academy of Medicine (Singapore)

Prof. Brian Kennedy

Chief Scientific Officer

Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System (Singapore)

Prof Brian Kennedy graduated from the Northwestern University with Bachelors in Mathematics and BMBCB (Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cellular Biology) in 1989. He then attained his Ph.D. in Biology, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with dissertation on Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Aging in Yeast.

Prof Kennedy is internationally recognised for his research in the basic biology of ageing and as a visionary committed to translating research discoveries into new ways of delaying, detecting, and preventing human ageing and associated diseases. He is a Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Physiology at National University Singapore and Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity in the National University Health System. From 2010 to 2016, he was the President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Currently, he remains as a Professor at the Institute. Prof Kennedy also has an adjunct appointment at the USC Davis School of Gerontology. Prof Kennedy is also actively involved in Biotechnology companies, serving in consulting and Board capacities, as well as Scientific Director of Affirmative Health. Prof Kennedy also serves as a Co-Editor-In-Chief at Aging Cell.

Fellowship:

• Gerontological Society of America

Award and Certifications:

• Denham Harman Award for Research by American Ageing Association, 2017
• Gerontological Society of America Fellow, 2015
• Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar Award, 2012
• National Institute of Aging Nathan Shock Award, 2010
• Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star in Aging Research Award, 2009
• Kavli Fellow, 2009
• Julie Martin Mid-Career Award in Aging Research, 2008
• Searle Scholar, The Chicago Community Trust, 2003-2006
• American Federation for Aging Research Junior Faculty Research Grant, 2003-2004
• Postdoctoral Fellow, The Leukaemia Society, 1997-2000

Prof. Zeng Xian Min

Chief Advisory Scientist (Stem Cell Research)

Prof Xianmin Zeng received her PhD in Molecular Biology from the Technical University of Denmark in 2000 and had her postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA in 2000-2005. She joined the faculty of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in 2005 where she was Professor from 2005-2018.

Prof Zeng is a renowned stem cell biologist and neurobiologist with expertise in the development of pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based therapy and drug discovery. One of her research focuses is to study neural development in human and to model neurodegenerative diseases using patient-specific and genome edited isogenic PSC lines. A biotech entrepreneur with >100 peer-reviewed publications, Prof Zeng is a well-established and internationally recognized leader in the creation of disease models for drug discovery. Prof. Zeng is a recipient of a major translational grant to develop clinically grade dopaminergic neurons from pluripotent stem cells (PSC) for Parkinson’s disease from California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (https://www.cirm.ca.gov/our-progress/people/xianmin-zeng).

Prof Zeng is the Founder and CEO of RxCell Inc, a US-based biotechnology company focused on therapeutic applications of PSC, and Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore School of Medicine.

Prof. Matt Kaberlein

Scientific Advisor

Prof Matt Kaeberlein graduated from the Western Washington University with Bachelors in Biochemistry and Mathematics in 1997. He then attained his Ph.D. in Biology, from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2002 and did his post-doctoral work in the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.

Prof Kaeberlein’s research interests are focused on understanding the biological mechanisms of aging to facilitate translational interventions that promote healthspan and improve quality of life. He has published more than 200 scientific papers and has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including investigator awards from the Ellison Medical Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association, the Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star in Aging Research Award, the Murdock Trust Award, the NIA Nathan W. Shock Award, and the Robert W. Kleemeier Award for outstanding research in the field of gerontology.

Prof Kaeberlein’s scientific discoveries have generated substantial public interest, with featured stories in major media outlets including the New York Times, the Today Show, CNN, Popular Science, Time Magazine, Scientific American, NPR, USA Today, National Geographic, and many others. Prof Kaeberlein’s contributions to science have been recognized by his colleagues through awarding of Fellow status with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Aging Association (AGE), and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).

Prof Kaeberlein is also currently appointed as Adjunct Professor in Genome Sciences and Oral Health Sciences at the University of Washington. Additionally, he serves as CEO and Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Aging Association (AGE). He is also the Director of the University of Washington Healthy Aging and Longevity (HALO) Research Institute, Director of the NIH Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging and Director of the Biological Mechanisms of Healthy Aging Training Program.

Dr. J Yong

Chief Scientific Advisor

Head Doctor, Geroscience MBBS

Dr Yong obtained his medical degree from National University of Singapore and developed continuous strong interest in geroscience, medical nutrition and longevity.

As his career developed, he became very interested in longevity and the profound role that nutrition and lifestyle can play on disease prevention, healthy ageing and lifespan. With his years of research and experience during his practice, he would be able to develop a bespoke nutrition and longevity consultancy dedicated to improve people’s healthspan and longer lives.

Dr. Leong See Odd

Medical Director, Nephrology

MBBS (Singapore), M.Med (Int Med), MRCP (United Kingdom), FRCP (Edinburgh), FRCP (London), FAMS (Renal Medicine)

Dr Leong obtained Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery from the National University of Singapore in 1986, and proceeded to attain his Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine and was accepted as a resident in the Department of Medicine in 1991. This achievement was followed by the admission, as a member, into the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom, one of the leading membership organisations for over 32,000 physicians across the globe with the aim of improving patient care and reducing illnesses.

Apart from being one of the co-founders of Stem Cord Private Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Leong is also the physician in charge of multiple dialysis centres in Singapore, a consultant nephrologist at Gleneagles Hospital and a visiting consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Dr Leong was also awarded the Health Manpower Development Programme fellowship, reserved for top performers in healthcare, to train in Guy’s Hospital, a leading Nephrology Centre in the United Kingdom. In 1996, he was also admitted as a fellow of the Academy of Medicine of Singapore.

Dr Leong’s clinical interests include diabetes, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), glomerulonephritis, kidney diseases and kidney failure.

Board Certification:

• MBBS (Singapore)
• MMED (Int Med)
• MRCP (UK)
• FRCP (Edin)
• FRCP (London)
• FAMS

Dr. Kenneth Thean

Medical Director, Medical Aestherics

MBBS (Singapore), FRCS (Glasgow), FRCS (Edinburgh)

Dr Kenneth Thean graduated with MBBS (Singapore) in 1981, and attained Membership to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and a Surgical Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Dr Thean is also qualified as a Specialist Physician in 2004 with dual accreditation in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine.

Being known for his interests in Medical Lasers globally, he has been appointed as the Key Opinion Leader for many Aesthetic Energy Based Devices to treat the skin and body. He was invited to give talks and lectures regionally and internationally. His interest in the skin and body treatment has also earned him a seat as one of the members on Cynosure Asia Pacific SculpSure Steering Committee, where he continues to impart his knowledge and medical know-how to his fellow doctors through international medical conferences as he continue to improve and provide solutions to achieve better results for our patients.

Dr Thean has held senior positions in many hospitals including Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Gleneagles Hospital, Parkway Hospitals, and Executive Health Screening Centres. He had been a member of the Medical Advisory Board of both Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Gleneagles Hospital. While he was with Singapore’s Ministry of Health, he worked in the National Skin Centre, National University Hospital, Singapore General Hospital, Changi Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Toa Payoh Hospital. He was also the founder Administrator, and helped establish Singapore’s National Skin Centre in 1988.

Fellowship:

• Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow)

Stephen Newman

Advisory Board Member

Mr Newman obtained his training certificate from Mt Gravatt Technical College, Queensland and Management certificate from Kilkenny Technical College, South Australia. He is the Chief Technology Officer and Executive Officer, Global Research & Development of Menicon Co Ltd and is responsible for their global research and development and product development divisions.

Originally trained and employed as a cartographer, Mr Newman has been involved in virtually all aspects of contact lens manufacture and design. His contact lens experience extends from the design and production of PMMA & RGP scleral lenses. His experience and expertise include the design and production management of custom clean room facilities to house contact lens manufacturing.

During his career, Mr Newman has co-published international scientific papers and contributed to a number of leading textbooks via authoring and co-authoring relevant chapters. He has contributed to co-operative research programmes and lectured on contact lens manufacture and design at many international conferences around the world and at all of the Optometry Schools in Australia’s Universities.

He has patented many contact lens designs and specialised manufacturing techniques on behalf of his employers and holds a number of international patents both on his own and with his partner. He received the Australian Design Award in 1989 on behalf of Capricornia for a co-patented Toric Lens design and for his prosthetic lens tinting process. A multifocal toric lens design he created and licensed (SA Multifocal toric) won the Silmo Award in Europe for most innovative lens design of 1997. He was also recognised in the Top 100 Australian Inventions.

Whilst he was Managing Director of Capricornia Contact Lens Pty Ltd, Capricornia was awarded the Business Achiever of the Year by the Logan Chamber of Commerce, South East Queensland for three consecutive years. In July 2006 at an international presentation in New York, Mr Newman unveiled one of Clearlab’s newest and innovative products, a flat pack packaging designed to revolutionise contact lens usage. The patented packaging was subsequently awarded a position and honoured as one of the most innovative package designs of the year by Brand Packaging in its annual publication 2007 Design Gallery, for its innovation that increases functionality and fulfils unmet consumer needs. It has since won virtually every major design award in the world.

He was also the National Research and Development Manager for an American multi-national corporation, Hydron Inc. He pioneered the use of lasers in the marking of contact lenses for the purposes of toric axis location observation, co-designing a CO2 laser marking system with an Adelaide company, Laserex. He also pioneered a number of contact lens-related technologies such as lens tinting and pediatricaphakia lenses on behalf of Hydron.

He spent ten years as a co-founder and director of Capricornia Contact Lens Pty Ltd in Queensland, Australia working as Research Director and finally as Managing Director, remaining as a shareholder/partner today. He was also retained as an external consultant, specialising in lens design, by Vistacon, Johnson & Johnson Ltd from 1998 to 2001. He co-patented certain toric and aberration type designs with them during this tenure.

Dr. Lim Beng Hai

Medical Director, Hand & Microsurgery

MBBS (Singapore), M. Med. Surgery (Singapore), FRCS (Edinburgh), FAMS (Hand Surgery), Senior Fellow Christine Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery (USA)

Dr Lim obtained his medical degree from the National University of Singapore in 1985 and his Master of Medicine in 1990. He also joined the Fellow Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in the same year. He went on to receive Advanced Hand Surgery Traineeship and was accredited as a Specialist in Hand Surgery in 1998. Dr Lim did his fellowship in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the Christine Kleinert Institute in the USA for Hand and Microsurgery in 1994. He was awarded the Senior Fellowship in Hand Surgery by the University of Louisville Hospital. Upon his return to Singapore he was appointed the Adjunct Assistant Professor to the Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, USA.

Prior to entering private practice, Dr Lim served as a consultant Hand Surgeon at the Singapore General Hospital where he went on to become Chief of the Department of Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at the National University Hospital.

Dr Lim has published widely and his innovative surgical techniques are internationally recognised by the hand surgery community. His pioneer techniques are cited in texts, including Green’s Operative Hand Surgery, Atlas of Hand Clinics and Grabbs Encyclopedia for Flap Surgery. Dr Lim’s research interests include the Distal Radial Ulnar Joint, flexor tendon repairs and training and certification in microsurgery.

Fellowship:

• Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)
• Hand and Microsurgery at the Christine M. Kleinert Institute
• Christine M Kleinert Institute for Hand and Microsurgery, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
• Academy of Medicine, Singapore (FAMS) for Hand Surgery

Awards and Certifications:

• Dr Lim Chong Eu Gold Medal, 1997
• Malaysian Young Scientist Award (2nd) 1978/79
• President, King Edward VII Hall of Residence, 1984/85
• KEVIIAN Award 1985
• Journal of Engineering in Medicine, “Strain rate effect on the failure properties of tendons” 2004 PE Publishing Award
• Prof BB Joshi Orator 2010 (Indian Society for Surgery of the Hand)

Dr. Steve Seah

Medical Director, Ophthalmology

MBBS, FRCS (G), M.Med (Ophth), FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth, FAMS

Dr Seah obtained his Bachelor of medicine and surgery in 1984 and three other fellowship degrees in ophthalmology in 1989. In the same year, he received his Master of Medicine in ophthalmology. Subsequently, he was admitted as a Fellow to the Academy of Medicine Singapore in 1993.

He is a senior consultant ophthalmologist with rich clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma, cataract and refractive errors including presbyopia. He has invented a divide and scoop technique which make phacoemulsification surgery for cataract faster and safer. In addition, Dr Seah has also performed numerous glaucoma procedures including the complicated glaucoma drainage implant surgeries.

He was past president of the Singapore Society of Ophthalmology and was appointed head and senior consultant of Glaucoma Service in Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) as well as head of Glaucoma Research Unit in Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). He was also the clinical senior lecturer in the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is the founding executive member of the Asian Oceanic Glaucoma Society (AOGS).

Dr Seah is especially active in China, and has been appointed the international scientific advisor to the Tianjin Eye centre and consultant to Xiamen Eye Centre. He was invited to co-chair for The Association for the International Glaucoma Societies (AIGS) committee on Global Glaucoma Research, WHO, and Prevention Glaucoma Blindness with Prof Harry Quigley, and nominated as a member of the Glaucoma Research Society, a prestigious organisation with membership limited to only 50 prominent glaucoma specialists in the world.

Active in the research of ophthalmology, Dr Seah is a member of many ophthalmic committees including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), Asia-pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, Singapore Medical Council and Ministry of Health drug evaluation panel. He has co-authored numerous book chapters, scientific papers, articles and abstracts in various scientific journals. His interests include glaucoma wound healing, epidemiology and angle closure glaucoma.

With over 30 years of experience in the treatment of eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors, Singapore eye surgeon Dr Seah is known for his experience and expertise in LASIK. A Fellow of the Academy of Medicine (Singapore), Dr Seah is currently the Director of Steve Seah Eye Centre and a Visiting Senior Consultant Eye Specialist at the Singapore National Eye Centre.

Board Certification:

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (Fellow), 1989
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists, U.K. (Fellow), 1989
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Fellow), 1989
• Academy of Medicine (fellow), 1994

Awards and Certifications:

• Distinguished Service Award, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, 2006
• Distinguished Service Award, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, 2001
• Distinguished Graduate in First National Service Command and Staff Course, 2000
• Merit award for free paper presentation at SNEC first International Meeting, April 1993
• Public Service Commission, Local Merit Scholarship, 1979-1984
• First Prize, Biology essay writing competition organised by Ministry of Education, 1978
• Special Achievement Award, Singapore National Eye Centre, 1997
• Senior author for young investigator award project: The effects of perfluorocarbon gases in rabbit conjunctiva

Dr. Wong Mun Yew

Medical Director, Dermatology

MBBS (Singapore)

Dr Wong Mun Yew graduated with a Medical Degree and Diploma in Dermatology from the National University of Singapore. Dr Wong practised clinical medicine for 7 years in Singapore before getting into investing. He is also the Founder & Managing Director of Imagene Labs, a genetics personalisation technology company aiming to improve preventive health and wellness through personalised health.

Dr Wong has worked more than 15 years in the investment industry. He is currently an Advisor at China-based venture capital firm Tai Partners, and Venture Partner for US Silicon Valley-based venture fund Builders VC. He is also a member of the Investment Committee for Ericsenz-K2 Global Unicorn Investment Fund I & II. Between 2013 and 2016, he was a Business Development Operating Partner at Formation8 Partners – a successful Silicon Valley technology venture capital fund where his focus was on technology companies in Singapore and South East Asia. He began his investment career in 2005 with Singapore government-linked healthcare private equity fund Bio*One Capital, before becoming Senior Vice President at EDB Investments (EDBI). He had served as a board director for Codexis Inc., Amaranth Medical Inc., and was board observer in Fluidigm Corp, Revance Therapeutics and Innovalight Inc.

Dr Wong gained experience in business development and operations in healthcare services, and spent time in China as Vice President (International Operations) at Parkway Pantai Limited. He is also a member of the board of directors for School of Science and Technology in Singapore in a pro-bono capacity.