Profile: Up-close with: Associate Professor Tan Nguan Soon

LKCMedicine's recently appointed Vice-Dean of Faculty Affairs talks to The LKCMedicine about his passion for science, research, and aspirations for the School. 


Q. Welcome to the LKCMedicine family, as full faculty, and just as important as the Vice-Dean for Faculty Affairs. It's been more than 3 months since you assumed this position. How has it been so far? What in particular attracted you to LKCMedicine?

LKCMedicine is a vibrant and dynamic school. There are also many very driven and ambitious faculty. I enjoy the numerous interactions with them. My research direction is also gearing towards clinical applications, and LKCMedicine is the ideal place for this. In addition, LKCMedicine is known for its forward-looking MBBS curriculum and pedagogy.

Q: Congratulations on your appointment as LKCMedicine's new Vice-Dean for Faculty Affairs. What were your thoughts before taking up this new, exciting position, how do you see this role, and what are your plans for it?   

9 October 2020 will mark my "first 100 days" as VDFA of LKCMedicine. Starting any job can feel a bit nerve-wracking. It is much more daunting knowing that I am taking over from someone who was highly respected. Thankfully, I am supported by a team of highly dedicated professionals. 

Our faculty strives to grow professionally, and we must provide them with opportunities to do so. I am committed to that goal, facilitating their career development, and developing future leaders. I believe in building, understanding, and managing relationships. Beyond knowing who people are, it is also important for me to know what they care most about, what they each expect from me, and what concerns they may have.

Having feedback is important. I have asked a few colleagues to share early, what is going well and what less so, so I can adjust, as needed. I will focus on my strengths and what I know I can bring to the role.

Q: You run a lab studying metabolic disorders. Could you share with us what your lab is focused on?  

Metabolic dysfunctions, cellular and system levels are the core of human pathology, impacting a diverse array of chronic diseases. Joining LKCMedicine, I am interested in under gut-liver communication, especially in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease of which there are currently no approved drugs. My lab wants to develop microbiota-directed interventions that delay the progression to or even reverse liver fibrosis. We believe that using the correct synbiotics to selectively increase the abundance of beneficial human gut microbe and their expressed functions will improve the health status of the liver. 

A/Prof Tan and his lab team 

Q: Your most recent work is widely lauded and news travelled across the world on its potential impact on cancer patients. Could you explain what it is in summary first, before proceeding to talk about the impact you hope to achieve?

Cellular metabolic dysfunction contributes to cancer metastasis and drug resistance are two complex and poorly understood processes, which often co-exist clinically. A direct consequence is the production of a reactive oxygen species (ROS), highly reactive to biomolecules that are by-products of metabolism. ROS have important roles in normal cell signalling and homeostasis. My lab previously showed that metastatic cancer cells produce more ROS at a higher rate; at the same time, the cancer cell has a strong antioxidant system to avoid cell death by these ROS.

We have since developed a 'Trojan horse' to trigger cancer cells to self-destruct. We've created nanoparticles to release a burst of ROS that outstripped the antioxidant capacity of the cancer cell, killing them without the need for a drug. To achieve selective killing, these nanoparticles are cloaked by an essential amino acid to be taken up by the cancer cells aka, the Trojan horse.

The most satisfying part of this work is the 'marrying' of two different fields, and the new findings that can be achieved from interdisciplinary research. The nanoparticles are the 'brainchild' of Dr Dalton Tay from MSE, NTU, whom we have collaborated with on different topics.

Q: You also hold an appointment at NTU's School of Biological Sciences. How important is it for you to have that link with another school of science within this institution? 

Interdisciplinary research is recently highlighted in the NTU2025. As highlighted in my recent work, interdisciplinary research opens up many opportunities and new discoveries. Currently, we consult Dr Wilson Goh on different approaches to analyse single-cell data and prioritise networks that integrate clinical, kinome, and cell data. We previously collaborated with Assoc Prof Thirumaran Thanabalu on his cancer focus.

Q: And you also link up actively with the clinical community/partners? 

I have been collaborating with various clinicians for a long time. In SBS, I collaborated with Prof Steven Thng from the National Skin Centre and Dr Marcus Wong from Wong's Plastic Surgery Centre. Working with them help me better understand unmet clinical needs. They are several others who have brought greater meaning to my work in the lab.  

Currently, I am working with several clinicians on the development of a rapid urine metabolite kit for threatened miscarriage. They include Drs Ku Chee Wai and Tan Thiam Chye from KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Assoc Prof Ling Xing Yi from the NTU School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

In the current COVID situation, A/P Ling and I began to explore adopting this technology for the rapid, point-of-care detection of SARS-Cov-2 infected patients. We are collaborating with clinicians from the National Centre for Infectious Diseases Dr Shawn Vasoo, Assoc Prof Raymond Lin and Prof Leo Yee Sin.

We also collaborate with Dr Kalaiyarasi Kaliyaperumal from TTSH to develop a non-invasive urine metabolite diagnostic kit for NAFLD.

Q: What made you decide to go into research and science or in particular metabolic disorders? Were there any inflection point in your life earlier that made you choose this course/career?

My earliest and closest encounter of diabetes and colorectal cancer was when they took my grandparents away from me. I still vividly remember them suffering from gangrene and cachexia. That was when I realised that there is still much to be done and to understand about these two diseases. My research aspiration is to be an internationally recognised scientist and contributor towards a better understanding of these diseases, hence my focus on metabolic dysfunction.

Q: Previously at SBS, you were rather involved in education. Is that your plan here as well, and if so, in what form?

Before joining LKCMedicine, I was the Associate Chair (Student) and Assistant Chair (Undergraduate Affairs) of SBS. I was actively involved in student welfare, alumni, and student admission. 


 

A/Prof Tan with his students in the States for a conference

Q: Are you planning to be involved in teaching at LKCMedicine?

I plan to be involved in teaching at LKCMedicine, both at MBBS and postgraduate. I will also offer my assistance in the development of a new postgraduate diploma if required.

Q: For those who would like to get to know the man behind the lab coat or beyond the doors of the Vice-Dean (FA), can you tell us what you like to do in your free time?  To unwind perhaps? Tell us something about yourself, that would surprise many!

I was an avid marathon runner and participated in half- and full marathons, on average 2-3 per year. I still like running especially at night, albeit at a slower pace and shorter distance. It is a quiet time that allows me to unwind.
Q: It's the medical school's 10th anniversary come 29 October. What are your ambitions for the School, and what would you wish for LKCMedicine on this important milestone?  

My wish is for LKCMedicine to be the best place to be a faculty, and the place that people are envious to join.