The school has received generous funding from A*STAR and the Singapore Totalisator Board for its research activities. Recently funded projects include:

Students undertake their projects in the research laboratories of government and private organisations or in the laboratories of the School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology.

Examples of reseach projects undertaken by students in external organizations include:

• Development of a cloning vector for gene repair in muscular dystrophy (NUH)
• Development of environmentally friendly processes for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals (NTU)
• New processes for the synthesis of ultrapure drugs (NTU)
• Preparation of nanomaterials (NUS)
• Asymmetric cell division in Drosophila neuroblasts (Temasek Life Science Laboratories)
• DNA isolation using paramagnetic beads (NTU)
• DNA amplification in nanoscale reaction wells on a biochip (NTU)
• Signaling Pathways of Pseudomonads species (NUS)
• Effects of extracts from Chinese medicine/ Spices on cancer cells (National Institute of Education)
• Molecular mechanisms of drugs that activate E2F1-induced apoptosis (Genome Institute of Singapore)
• Osterix expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels (IMCB)
• The mechanism of MAVS in regulating innate immunity (IMCB)
• Molecular Markers Associated with DNA Replication Checkpoints (IMCB)
• Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) Multiple Myeloma Cells (SGH)
• Evaluation of neurotransmitter function (NNI)

Examples of internal research projects undertaken by final year students include

• Production of chicken embryo fibroblast cells on microcarriers
• DNA finger-printing of Phalaenopsis spp.
• Heat shock proteins of ornamental fish
• Surface pigments of seahorse
• Effect of fish waste on herb aquaponics
• Proteome Analysis of Acinetobacter sp.
• Bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacteria
• Secondary metabolites from Actinomyces
• Tissue culture of Pleiocarpa mutica
• Metastasis in Breast Cancer
• Effect of Plant Extracts on tumour cells
• NMDA receptor antagonists from traditional Chinese medicines
• Role of erythropoietin in the mouse testis
• Mechanisms of resistance in antibiotic resistant bacteria
• Glass transition temperature and sticky point temperature of powders
• Development of novel sour dough breads

In addition, staff are developing R&D programmes in a number of key research areas including

• Diagnostics
• Protein Expression Studies
• Natural Product Research
• Biomarker Identification
• Sustainable Development
• Biofuels

Diagnostics

In the area of Diagnostics, we have expertise in the development of diagnostic kits based on molecular and immunochemical methods for the detection of pathogenic and opportunistic pathogenic organisms. To date, strategies for the detection of pesticides, Helicobacter spp., caliciviruses and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and pathogenic Vibrio spp. have been established.

Protein Expression Studies

We are currently looking at the dentification of proteins which are up- and down-regulated in different cells in order to gain an understanding into the molecular mechanisms of specific diseases. Current projects involve the comparitive study of protein expression in nerve cells of normal and mutated Drosophila (fruit fly) and protein expression in non-virulent and virulent strains of bacteria.

Natural Product Research

Our current focus is on the screening for lead compounds from natural products used traditionally in this region e.g. buak keluak, jering, belinjau and pulasan.

Biomarker Identification

In this area, we will be seeking to identify genomic and proteomic biomarkers for specific diseases such as cancer, neurological and immunological diseases. The biomarkers can be used to indicate cellular stress arising from cancers, viral diseases and eco-toxic substances and susceptibility to these diseases.

The technology is also being employed in environmental technology for the detection of low concentrations of toxic environmental contaminants. In the presence of very low concentrations of such contaminants, bacteria produce specific protective stress proteins. These stress proteins can be used as biomarkers for the detection of low levels toxic contaminants in waters. Immunochemical techniques can then be applied to detect for the presence of the stress proteins. From this technology, diagnostic kits and biosensors can be developed. To date, a number of stress proteins have been identified using proteomics tools.

Sustainable development

Projects in this area include the

• Development of plants, systems and processes enabling the low maintenance greening of the rooftops in high rise buildings in Singapore.
• Design and development of low energy, high yielding hydroponics and aquaponics systems for producing high value crops
• Development of feeds for high value fish in the aquaculture industry

Biofuels

Projects in this area involve the identification of potential lignocellulosic materials for bioethanol production available in the region and development of novel biocatalysts for lignocellulosic digestion and ethanol production leading to the cost effective production of biofuels.