Duke-NUS research highlights: Quintessential discoveries in focus

T cells

Prof Antonio Bertoletti (right) and Asst Prof Anthony Tan (back middle) led a team in developing a novel T cell test // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Scientists at Duke-NUS are not just pushing the boundaries of basic scientific research; they are redefining them. In every issue of MEDICUS, we uncover the most impactful discoveries that bridge the gap between understanding diseases and enhancing patient care, as well as highlight innovative new methods that provide insights into how illnesses develop within the body. 

Here’s a glimpse into the future of medicine with our top five discoveries:



Female scientist in protective workwear sitting at the table and typing on laptop during her work in the lab

Credit: istock.com / shironosov


Integrated genomic surveillance lag in South and Southeast Asia

“It is vital that pathogen sequencing is used to maximise public health impact through infectious disease surveillance, response and control. Assessing the current state and needs was a crucial first step.”

Asst Prof Ruklanthi de Alwis

Despite advancements in genomic sequencing for pathogen detection, a study led by Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness found that about half the countries in South and Southeast Asia still lack integrated pathogen genomic surveillance in their national health plans.

The study, published in Nature Microbiology, reveals that while all 13 countries surveyed have genomic sequencing capacity, only a few have included it in national strategies or established relevant guidelines.



Professor Wang Hongyan and the research team, Dr Mahekta Rajeshkumar Gujar, PhD student Lin Jiaen and Dr Gao Yang
Credit: Norfaezah Abdhullah, Duke-NUS


Brain cell repair and regeneration

 “Our insights open exciting new opportunities for interventions that could lead to targeted therapies that harness the body’s own regenerative powers.”

Prof Wang Hongyan

An international team of neuroscientists, led by Duke-NUS, has discovered a crucial mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are vital for brain cell repair and regeneration.

The research, published in Nature Communications, offers exciting potential for advancing our understanding and treatment of common neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.



Loss of Gα13 in ER+ breast cancer cells leads to increased cell growth and tumour development, suggesting that Gα13 may suppress tumours in this subtype of cancer.
Loss of Gα13 in ER+ breast cancer cells leads to increased cell growth and tumour development, suggesting that Gα13 may suppress tumours in this subtype of cancer // Credit: Illustration by Liao Pei-Ju, Duke-NUS, created with BioRender.com

Breast cancer protein paradox

 “Our findings also offer a fresh perspective on targeting recurrent ER+ cancers. While treatments for ER+ breast cancers primarily target ER signalling, nearly half of these patients develop resistance to such therapy over time.”

Assoc Prof Mei Wang-Casey

In looking for new ways to fight breast cancer, scientists from Duke-NUS have unmasked a protein, generally associated with cancer growth, as a tumour suppressor in the most common form of breast cancer, oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

The unexpected finding counters long-held views that the protein, known as Gα13, acts as an accelerator of cancer cell growth.

This latest discovery, published in Breast Cancer Research, is the first study to identify Gα13 as a tumour suppressor in solid tumours, opening the doors for new personalised approaches to breast cancer treatment.



The research team
Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah, Duke-NUS

Genetic variation and drug resistance

 “Our findings suggest that genetic testing for this variant at diagnosis can improve outcomes by identifying patients who may benefit from more aggressive treatments.”

Assoc Prof Charles Chuah

Scientists from Duke-NUS and their collaborators developed a unique model that enabled them to pinpoint an inherited genetic variation prevalent among East Asians that contributes to drug resistance in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Taking their research a step further, they found that blocking the action of a protein called MCL-1 yielded promising results, effectively killing cancer cells resistant to conventional treatments in the lab. 



New blood test to cancer treatment


With a new plug-and-play blood test, clinicians can now monitor T cells engineered to fight cancer in real time and ensure that immunotherapies continue to work as expected.

Developed by scientists from Duke-NUS, the test requires just a small blood sample and offers a quick, accessible method for tracking these specialised cancer-fighting cells throughout the course of treatment.

T cells are removed from the patient’s body, engineered to fight disease, then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream
T cells are removed from the patient’s body, engineered to fight disease, then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream. At the point of infusion, and at various time points after, blood is drawn to monitor the efficacy of the T-cell therapy // Credit: Duke-NUS

“We hope that with this proof-of-concept, we can help accelerate research into other CAR and TCR T-cell therapies as well as support clinicians on the frontline caring for patients receiving these novel therapies.”

Prof Antonio Bertoletti

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