SBS Research Pillar Key Visual for Development, Disease and Target Discovery Mobile Version

Profile Photo of SBS Faculty Li Hoi Yeung

Assoc. Prof. Li, Hoi Yeung

Associate Professor
Director (Special Projects)

Phone: (65) 6316 2931
Email: [email protected]

 

Dr. Li Hoi Yeung’s research integrates cancer biology, drug discovery from natural compounds, and advanced microscopy imaging. He specializes in developing targeted cancer therapies through synthetic lethality mechanisms using bioactive natural products. His innovative use of AI-driven platforms, exemplified by the patented Drug-Target Interaction Graph Neural Network, significantly accelerates therapeutic discovery. Dr. Li has attracted substantial industrial funding and established multiple successful collaborations with biotech companies, translating laboratory innovations into potential medical solutions. His entrepreneurial achievements include founding NYB-AI, an AI-focused drug discovery startup selected by the Nvidia Ignition AI program. With over 50 peer-reviewed publications and multiple patents, Dr. Li demonstrates a sustained commitment to bridging academia and industry, significantly advancing translational biomedical research and innovation.

Patent

1. The isolation of a sesquiterpene compound, Molephantin, from Elephantopus Tomemtosus L. And the generation of novel 
Molephantin derivatives that have inhibitory effects on cancer cell growth and can be pharmaceutically useful in cancer therapeutics (2022). (Licenced, PCT filed: WO2022/231520 A1)

2. Collective synthesis of phantomoplin family through total synthesis of the sesquiterpene lactone molephatin (PCT application No. PCT/SG2024/050568)

3. Advancing Bioactivity Prediction through Molecular Docking and Self-Attention: The Drug-Target Interaction Graph Neural Network (DTIGN) (Licenced PCT patent application no PCT/SG2025/050009) 

Research Areas

AI-driven Drug Discovery, Cell and Cancer Biology, Advance imaging, Entrepreneurship
Profile Photo of Lab Member Lai Soak Kuan
Lai Soak Kuan
Principal Research Scientist
Profile Photo of Lab Member Pearlyn Yeo Mei Xin
Pearlyn Yeo Mei Xin
PhD Student
Profile Photo of Lab Member Yang Ruhan
Yang Ruhan
Project Officer
  • Wong, C.H., Chan, H., Ho, C.Y., Lai, S.K., Chan, K.S.K., Koh, C.G., and Li, H.Y. "Apoptotic histone modification inhibits the nuclear transport by regulating RCC1." Nature Cell Biology 11 (2009): 36–45. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1810
  • Lai, S.K., Wong, C.H., Lee, Y.P., and Li, H.Y. "Caspase-3-mediated degradation of condensin Cap-H regulates mitotic cell death." Cell Death and Differentiation 18, no. 6 (2011): 996–1004. https://doi.org/10.1038/cdd.2010.165
  • Khong, N.Z.J., Lai, S.K., Zeng, Y., Koh, C.G., Liang, Z.X., Chiam, K.H., and Li, H.Y. "Dynamic swimming patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa near a vertical wall during initial attachment stages of biofilm formation." Scientific Reports 11 (2021): 1952. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81621-w