News: One Year of EXCEL: Championing Interdisciplinary Research and Mentorship at LKCMedicine

Within a year, the EXCEL Research Seminar Series has established itself as LKCMedicine’s signature research seminar, championing scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and mentorship. Launched in May 2024, this monthly series has featured 11 seminars with thought leaders, drawn over 1,500 attendees, and engaged researchers, clinicians, and partners across clinical, academic, and industry sectors.

“EXCEL exemplifies our commitment to building a vibrant research culture that translates discovery into meaningful healthcare outcomes,” said Professor Joseph Sung, Dean of LKCMedicine. “As we look to the future, platforms like EXCEL will be essential in shaping a more connected, patient-centred, and impact-driven research ecosystem.”

Built from the Ground Up

EXCEL was created in response to community feedback – co-developed with faculty, research administrators, NHG clinicians, early-career researchers, and graduate students, including teams from Research Administration and Support Services (RASS), the Office of International Relations, LKCMedicine EArly Researcher Network (LEARN), and the Graduate Students’ Club.

With the inaugural session held on 10 May 2024, the series was designed to spotlight LKCMedicine’s eight research programmes through focused, in-person seminars covering themes such as AI in healthcare, microbiome science, and regenerative medicine. Each session brings together faculty, students, clinicians, and industry collaborators for cross-cutting conversations grounded in translational relevance.

Top Experts, Real Impact

EXCEL has welcomed top local and international experts, including Professor Sir Aziz Sheikh (University of Edinburgh), Professor Wong Tien Yin (Tsinghua University), Professor Paul Ross (APC Microbiome Ireland), Professor Zee Upton (University of Newcastle), Professor Elif Ekinci (University of Melbourne), and Professor Wang Linfa (Duke-NUS), tackling topics from asthma, regenerative medicine and AI to microbiome therapeutics, diabetes care and pandemic preparedness.

Prof Zee’s and Prof Elif’s sessions were co-organised with Women in Science @ LKCMedicine.

 Significantly, each seminar opens with a personal reflection by a patient advocate, supported by the Office of Patient Engagement (OPEN), anchoring the science in lived experience. Speakers have included Ms Christina Tan, a diabetes and breast cancer survivor; Ms Fung Mei Fong, a lymphoma survivor; Dr Carlos Eisenberg, living with medullary thyroid cancer; Ms Nidhi Swarup, founder of the Crohn’s & Colitis Society of Singapore; Ms Evelyn Yeo, caregiver to a parent with dementia and Parkinson’s disease; and Ms Josie Liow, caregiver to a daughter with heart failure. To extend these conversations, the EXCELLENT CONVERSATIONS podcast was launched on the LKCMedicine Research X page, featuring short interviews with invited speakers who share their research journeys, insights, and advice – building a growing digital library of mentorship and reflection.

 A Growing Ecosystem 

EXCEL has drawn participation from across NTU and LKCMedicine, as well as national partners such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), National Neuroscience Institute (NNI), SingHealth, A*STAR, Duke-NUS, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Yakult, and Novo Nordisk.

“EXCEL has created an important space for clinician-researchers to connect meaningfully with scientists across disciplines,” said Associate Professor Rupesh Agrawal, NHG Clinician Lead. “By anchoring each session in real-world health needs, the series encourages translational thinking and ensures our research remains relevant to patients and practice.”

A standout feature of EXCEL is its Ask Me Anything segment—small-group mentoring sessions with invited speakers. These candid discussions cover topics such as international research funding, academic leadership, and navigating setbacks, giving early-career researchers access to real-time, relevant guidance.

“We wanted to create a platform that not only celebrates great science, but also invites open discussion, mentorship, and collaboration,” said Assistant Professor Lynn Yap, Academic Lead for EXCEL. “It’s been encouraging to see how warmly this has been received—not just within LKCMedicine, but across the wider research community.”

A Collective Commitment to Research Excellence 

Indeed, EXCEL is more than just a seminar—it is a collaborative platform built with researchers, for researchers. Its success reflects the shared efforts of faculty, students, clinicians, administrators, and partners across Singapore’s academic health ecosystem.

“EXCEL is one of several initiatives we’ve introduced at LKCMedicine to foster a thriving research ecosystem,” said Associate Professor Sanjay Chotirmall, Vice-Dean for Research. “It reflects our commitment to supporting innovation, collaboration, and community-building at every level of scientific inquiry.”

As it enters its second year, EXCEL continues to evolve—a space where world-class science meets purpose, empathy, and the next generation of discovery. At its core, it remains a testament to what’s possible when institutions co-create with intention.

A big thank you to all of our first year EXCEL Research Seminar Speakers for making the Seminar Series a success!