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

Profile Photo of SBS Faculty Zhao Yan

Dr. Zhao, Yan

Senior Lecturer

Phone: (65) 6514 1901
Email: [email protected]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research Interest

  • Anti-cancer effects of extracts prepared from Chinese herbal medicines
  • Anti-diabetic effects of extracts prepared from Chinese herbal medicines.
  • Toxicity and pharmacokinetic studies on herbal extracts. 
  • Establish in vivo models for senile dementia and ischemia-reperfusion in rats.
  • Patho-physiological studies on a new Chinese medicine therapy for senile dementia.
  • Mechanistic studies on ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Clinical Research

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been increasingly investigated for its potential benefits in managing diabetes, a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels. Recent clinical research has focused on the efficacy of TCM approaches, including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and dietary therapy, in diabetic cohorts. Studies have demonstrated that TCM herbal formulations, such as those containing berberine, ginseng, and cinnamon, can significantly lower blood glucose levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce complications associated with diabetes. Acupuncture has shown promise in modulating insulin production and improving glycemic control by stimulating specific acupoints linked to pancreatic function and metabolic regulation.


Research Areas

Traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, acupuncture, cancer biology
  • Ng, C.Y.J., Zhong, L., Ng, H.S., Goh, K.S., and Zhao, Y. “Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus via the Regulation of Gut Microbiota: A Chinese Medicine Perspective.” Nutrients 16, no. 22 (2024): 3935. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16223935 PMID: 39599721; PMCID: PMC11597546
  • Ng, C.Y.J., Bun, H.H., Zhao, Y., and Zhong, L.L.D. “TCM ‘medicine and food homology’ in the management of post-COVID disorders.” Frontiers in Immunology 14 (2023): 1234307. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1234307 PMID: 37720220; PMCID: PMC10500073
  • Ky, N., Lim, C.B., Li, J., Tam, J.P., Hamza, M.S., and Zhao, Y. “KLF4 suppresses HDACi induced caspase activation and the SAPK pathway by targeting p57(Kip2).” Apoptosis 14, no. 9 (2009): 1095–1107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-009-0368-0 PMID: 19544095
  • Zhao, Y., Hamza, M.S., Leong, H.S., Lim, C.B., Pan, Y.F., Cheung, E., Soo, K.C., and Iyer, N.G. “Kruppel-like factor 5 modulates p53-independent apoptosis through Pim1 survival kinase in cancer cells.” Oncogene 27, no. 1 (2008): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1210625 Epub 2007 Jul 2. PMID: 17603560
  • Zhao, Y., Tan, J., Zhuang, L., Jiang, X., Liu, E.T., and Yu, Q. “Inhibitors of histone deacetylases target the Rb-E2F1 pathway for apoptosis induction through activation of proapoptotic protein Bim.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, no. 44 (2005): 16090–16095. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0505585102 Epub 2005 Oct 21. PMID: 16243973; PMCID: PMC1276064