Bench to Bedside Series

In Episode 4 of the Bench to Bedside Tech Talk video series, we sit down with Associate Professor Nagaendran Kandiah and Adnan Azam from the Dementia Research Centre Singapore at LKC School of Medicine. Join us as they share how their research journey culminated in the creation of Gray Matter Solutions—an innovative end-to-end software as a medical device (SaMD) platform designed to detect, diagnose, and manage cognitive disorders like Mild Cognitive Impairment. 

0:31 [Prof N.Kandiah] What drives your enthusiasm for the work you’re engaged in? What inspired you to pursue a career as a clinician scientist in addition to being a clinician?

1:15 [Adnan] After graduating, what inspired you to join Prof NK’s team?

1:49 [Prof N.Kandiah] As a busy clinician, researchers, and innovator, how do you effectively manage your time and set priorities? Could you share some valuable do’s and don’ts that have guided you on your journey for aspiring clinician-scientist. 

2:39 [Prof N.Kandiah] Did you need to learn or develop any new skills during your journey as a clinician scientist and now as an innovator/entrepreneur?

3:21 [Adnan] What are the main insights you have gained so far?

4:04 [Adnan] What are some fears or challenges you had to overcome? 

4:42 [Prof N.Kandiah] Could you provide two tips for aspiring clinician innovators, drawing from your experience thus far

5:23 [Adnan] Do you have any advice that would give to young graduates who are keen on pursing a similar pathway as yours? 

6:09 [Both] How did LKCMedicine Office of Innovation and Enterprise (OIE) help you in this journey?

We are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Andrew Tan as the new Vice Dean of Innovation and Enterprise at LKC School of Medicine from 1 April 2025. With his extensive experience in translational research and innovation, Assoc Prof Tan brings valuable insights into bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world applications. In this episode 3 of the Bench to Bedside Tech Talk Video series, he shares his perspectives on the role of innovation in advancing healthcare and emphasizes the importance of developing soft skills to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in translational research. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge on how these elements come together to drive impactful research and innovation.

0:30 What motivates you as a research and innovator?

1:00 Could you elaborate on the importance of establishing partnerships, collaborations and networking as well as provide some insights on how a researcher can go about doing it

1:54 Did you have any fears when you started out? How did you overcome it?

3:11 You have always been an advocate of supporting young team members and providing them opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship. How do you balance between academic research and fostering innovation? 

4:32 What advice would you offer to aspiring researchers and innovators who are just starting out?

5:26 How can researchers remain relevant in today's world and the Singapore ecosystem? What specific skill sets should they focus on developing to stay competitive?

In Episode 2, we sit down with Assistant Professor Lynn Yap from Cardiometabolic Medicine at LKCMedicine. Dr Yap is an interdisciplinary stem cell biologist focused on investigating the molecular and physiological mechanisms that underpin stem cell-based therapies in regenerative cardiology. 

0:28 What inspired you to pursue a career in research and eventually motivated you to become an innovator and entrepreneur as well?

2:06 As a postdoc, you transitioned into a Co-Founder role. What type of support was available to you at that time that facilitated this opportunity?

3:50 Now that you are a Principal Investigator, how do you offer similar support to your postdocs to foster innovation? 

5:24 Could you share two aspects you would like to see in the ecosystem to better support scientists, researchers and innovators. What changes or improvements do you envisions?

6:30 In your opinion, what are the top three essential skill sets that any aspiring researcher should have in today's era in Singapore? 

7:30 Any words of advice to aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs out there?

Welcome to Episode 1 of Bench to Bedside series, presented by the LKCMedicine Office of Innovation and Enterprise(OIE). In this inaugural episode, Professor Louis Phee, Vice President (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Chairman of NTUitive and Professor at School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, NTU shares his journey and insights on translation of research and innovation. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation! 

0:23  You were a tenured academician when you first started up. What motivated you to transition into entrepreneurship? What factors did you contemplate before making this significant decision?

1:18  What challenges or fears did you encounter during your journey in innovation and entrepreneurship, and how did you successfully overcome them? 

2:43  What do you consider the top three traits essential for individuals who aspire to be innovators and entrepreneurs?

5:00  What new initiatives and programs are being planned and implemented by NTU I&E to assist researchers, postdocs and faculty in their innovation journeys? 

National GRIP is a collaboration between NRF, NUS, and NTU. The 12-month programme will accept aspiring founders, innovators, and researchers from Singapore’s autonomous universities and A*STAR research institutes. Feel free to visit www.grip.sg or contact your Innovation office for more details on these programs.