Translational and Clinical Studies

Track 2

We translate our findings from the preclinical research in Track 1, and other relevant research, to clinical validation.

There are two fundamental goals:

  1. Improve the efficacy of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)
  2. Enhance female reproductive lifespan

Clinical studies will be designed to test the variables that will improve ART outcomes. They will involve collaboration with IVF center/laboratories and pharmaceutical partners, and the use of data from Singapore’s Ministry of Health for AI analysis and synthesis. The sample pool will comprise candidates from Singapore’s uniquely diverse Asian population who have undergone ART.

The female reproductive lifespan trials, spanning across 3 phases, will study women in post-reproductive years (prematurely or otherwise) and involve various collaborators. 

Possible interventions in both clinical approaches will include lifestyle modification, nutraceuticals and/or drugs. Interventions will be tested alone and in combinations suggested by findings in Track 1, as well as inferences from WisDM.

Team Leads

Professor Brian Kennedy Prof Brian 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, preventing and treating human ageing and associated diseases. He is the Director of the NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity. He also serves as a Distinguished Professor in…

Asst Prof Huang Zhongwei

Deputy Director

Asst Prof Huang Zhongwei Zhongwei is a clinician-scientist and MOH accredited assisted reproductive techniques (ART) specialist who focuses on managing couples with fertility issues. He completed his PhD in 2011 under Associate Professor Dagan Wells at University of Oxford on effects of reproductive ageing via understanding the mechanisms of human oocyte aneuploidy and utilizing human cumulus cells as a non-invasive…

Professor Dean Ho

Principal Investigator

Professor Dean Ho Professor Dean Ho is currently Provost’s Chair Professor, Director of The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Director of the N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. Prof. Ho and collaborators successfully developed and validated CURATE.AI, a powerful…

Publications & Activities

S-Nitrosylation-Mediated Reduction of CaV1.2 Surface Expression and Open Probability Underlies Attenuated Vasoconstriction Induced by Nitric Oxide
Hu Z, Zhang B, Lim LJY, Loh WZK, Yu D, Tan BWQ, Liang MC, Huang Z, Leo CH, Huang H, Soong TW
Hypertension.

Two kinds of embryo research: four case examples.
Savulescu J, Labude M, Barcellona C, Huang Z, Leverentz MK, Xafis V, Lysaght T.
Journal of Medical Ethics.

Physical Activity Levels and Mental Health Burden of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Lockdown
Kua Z, Hamzah F, Tan P T, Ong L J , Tan B, Huang Z+
Stress Health

Identification of microRNA biomarkers in women predictive of reproductive senescence and longevity
Zhongwei Huang in collaboration with Cheong Jit Kong
Award: Ministry of Health and National Research Foundation of Singapore Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award

Analyses of child cardiometabolic phenotype following assisted reproductive technologies using a pragmatic trial emulation approach
Huang JY, Cai S, Huang Z, Tint MT, Yuan WL, Aris IM, Godfrey KM, Karnani N, Lee YS, Chan JKY, Chong YS, Eriksson JG, Chan SY.
Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):5613 (IF 14.92)

Retrospective analysis of neonates born after assisted reproductive technology admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital
Stephanie Zhen Wan Hii, Zhongwei Huang, Joyce Elizabeth Mathew, Lee Le Ye
Annals Academy of Medicine Singapore

Interaction between cigarette smoking and genetic polymorphisms on the associations with age of natural menopause and reproductive time: The Singapore Chinese Health Study
Zhongwei Huang, Xuling Chang, Ling Wang, Jianjun Liu, Chew-Kiat Heng, Chiea-Chuen Khor, Jian-Min Yuan, Woon-Puay Koh, Rajkumar Dorajoo
Human Reproduction

Collaboration with Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pte Ltd on AMH study in Asian Women – multicentre study
Zhongwei Huang