Medicine & Healthcare

News

Delegates from Singapore and Vietnam signing an MoU and launching a new healthcare hub.
13 Mar 2025
SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute and Hanoi Medical University launch a new healthcare hub to drive innovation, education and research
12 Mar 2025
Cerebellar rhythm loss due to climbing fiber regression is a shared pathophysiology of motor deficits across cerebellar ataxias.
10 Mar 2025
Researchers from Osaka University found that plasma cells expressing high levels of the protein integrin β7 and the transcription factor KLF2 tend to leave immune tissues and migrate to the bone marrow. There, they become long-lived plasma cells that help create durable antibody responses, which are key to vaccine effectiveness.
10 Mar 2025
Researchers from Osaka University analyzed the clinical dental records of a large group of patients with hypophosphatasia (a skeletal disease) to identify its common oral symptoms. Their findings, including early tooth loss, poor oral habits, and disordered swallowing, may help early diagnosis of hypophosphatasia, thereby improving patient treatment and quality of life.
06 Mar 2025
Concurrent steatotic liver disease (SLD) is prevalent among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB); however, the effects of the associated cardiometabolic risk factors on all-cause and cause-specific mortality remain unknown. This study demonstrated that cumulative metabolic burden dose- dependently increased the risks of all-cause, liver-related, and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CHB and SLD. Moreover, new-onset diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and weight gain during the follow-up period further exacerbated these risks. However, patients with SLD had a lower risk of mortality than those without SLD. Thus, routine screening and monitoring of metabolic dysfunctions constitute a key element of daily care for patients with CHB.
Biometric palm identification
06 Mar 2025
Hyperspectral imaging and AI can identify individuals using blood vessels in palms
05 Mar 2025
Researchers at Tohoku University have found one more reason to quit smoking: the inhalation of first-hand and/or second-hand smoke may lead to placental abruption in pregnant mothers.
04 Mar 2025
Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have found a surprisingly simple way of understanding social-distancing behavior during an epidemic.
03 Mar 2025
This study questions recent claims about the rapid effectiveness of psychedelic drugs for treating depression. Among all psychedelics, only high-dose psilocybin showed greater effectiveness than the placebo in antidepressant trials and outperformed escitalopram.
03 Mar 2025
Glaucoma is called the “silent thief of sight” as many don’t notice until significant, irreversible vision loss has already occurred. A revolutionary early screening tool using AI may stop this thief dead in its tracks.
Side view of the gliding machinery (top) and detail of the internal chain (above).
27 Feb 2025
Cryo-electron microscopy reveals molecular structure of twin motors that power mycoplasma’s ability to glide
Researchers found one of the E. coli strains isolated in cheese in Egypt in 2018 had the same properties as the E. coli in the milk that caused food poisoning in more than 1,800 schoolchildren in Toyama Prefecture in Japan in 2021.
27 Feb 2025
Popular milk and dairy products in Egypt show over 25% prevalence of E. coli
New advancements in veterinary regenerative medicine plausible with these pluripotent cells.
25 Feb 2025
Advancement in veterinary regenerative medicine can help domestic and endangered wild cats alike
24 Feb 2025
N-Cadherin is found to boost cardiomyocyte regeneration after injury by stabilizing β-Catenin, suggesting a potential new way to improve the function of human failing hearts.
A questionnaire translated into Japanese can help practitioners understand psychological effects on esophageal symptoms.
21 Feb 2025
Verifying the Esophageal Hypervigilance and Anxiety Scale for clinical use
An inflamed lung and a healthy lung, artistically depicted by an AI
20 Feb 2025
As populations age worldwide, diseases like pulmonary fibrosis are increasingly impacting life expectancy and quality. Duke-NUS researchers have identified that blocking specific proteins in immune cells can significantly reduce or reverse lung scarring. This discovery paves the way for novel treatments that could potentially reverse damage from pulmonary fibrosis.
17 Feb 2025
Researchers from Osaka University found that peristaltic pump flow mechanically breaks supersaturation to induce amyloid formation by hen egg white lysozyme, α-synuclein, amyloid β 1-40, and β2-microglobulin. The high shear stresses induced by peristaltic flow likely reflect those that occur the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that this factor could promote amyloidosis.
14 Feb 2025
A bilayer alginate hydrogel system encapsulating polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles (PCNs) loaded with anti-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic growth factors, which reducing inflammation, stimulating angiogenesis, and accelerating wound closure in a diabetic murine model.
13 Feb 2025
A multi-institutional research team led by Osaka University found that tricaprin, a natural supplement, improved long-term survival rates in patients with triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy, a new type of heart disease characterized by impaired triglyceride breakdown in heart and smooth muscle cells. Tricaprin improved clinical symptoms and long-term survival. Studying the effects of tricaprin on patients of different ethnicities would be an ideal next step to gather more evidence in favor of the drug.
05 Feb 2025
· Microbes affect pathways in the brain that regulate our anxiety levels. · Microbe secreting metabolites—indoles—alleviate anxiety levels. · Indigenous microbes producing indoles open avenues for an alternative treatment therapy using probiotic microbes producing indoles to reduce anxiety attacks—thus a vision of next generation therapy to combat mental health disorders.
05 Feb 2025
A team from Osaka University has developed scSPOT, a new technique that reveals how immune cells called Tregs simultaneously control the immune system. The team identified key immune cells controlled by Tregs and found that Tregs are targets for the cancer drugs ipilimumab and tazemetostat. They also found that Tregs are indicators of serious viral infection. This valuable technique may accelerate the development of treatments for cancer and other diseases.
03 Feb 2025
Researchers from Japan find that certain antioxidant enzymes, called selenoproteins, significantly contribute to fighting cell aging. The team used a gene knockout mouse model to help them study the effects of disrupting selenoprotein synthesis. This knockout negatively impacted hematopoietic stem cells and B cell-lineage immune cells, which was driven by the lack of selenoprotein-mediated fighting of lipid peroxides. These phenotypes mimic what is observed in age-related diseases, emphasizing the importance of selenoproteins in these disorders.
Salivary proteins reduced disinfection effect of ozonated water
30 Jan 2025
Amylase and mucin decrease the effects of ozonated water
How a drug might prevent cancer formation
23 Jan 2025
Latest findings on the significance and interaction between cell death and cellular senescence in cancer
23 Jan 2025
The study identifies gut microbes and genes that regulate TMAO production from L-carnitine, offering potential for personalized nutrition strategies.
17 Jan 2025
Intermittent fasting, especially alternate-day fasting, provides an effective alternative to continuous energy restriction for improving metabolic health.
hand and key
15 Jan 2025
At Duke-NUS Medical School scientists are pioneering breakthroughs in precision medicine and regenerative therapies, targeting everything from muscle loss to dramatically extending our years of health.
15 Jan 2025
A research team proposes a method to assess cancer patients for their likelihood to either respond to treatment or relapse.
cancer cells
13 Jan 2025
A new treatment with iron nanoparticles and nitric oxide gas shows promise in destroying oral cancer cells.
Asia Research News Editor's Choice header
13 Jan 2025
Crossing the uncanny valley, Batteries that don’t explode, Tiny climate change fighters, Liver-friendly mushroom & Foetal defence. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Events

23 Jul 2025 to 27 Jul 2025
2025 BIO Asia–Taiwan International Conference and Exhibition will be held on July 23-27, 2025 at the Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan with the theme “Next Wave of Biotech Opportunities”.
12 Mar 2025 to 13 Mar 2025
Discover how AI and digitalization are transforming the Global Biopharma Industry. Join industry leaders at the Biologics Digitalization & AI World conference.
19 Sep 2024 to 23 Sep 2024
World experts on Tropical Medicine and malaria will meet in ICTMM 2024 in Kuching to work towards SDG target 3.3 which is to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases.
28 Oct 2024 to 30 Oct 2024
Asia's premier technology-matching platform which connects the innovation and technology ecosystems from Singapore and beyond, TechInnovation, IPI’s flagship brokerage event, will return to Singapore for its 12th edition.
10 Sep 2024 to 11 Sep 2024
The event this year hence features a focused track on Biologics Digitalisation & AI on the first day, 10th of September. This congregation would be a platform to meet the leaders from the Biologics World of APAC, who have pioneered in adopting AI & Digitalisation in the R&D, Manufacturing/Bioprocessing,
06 Nov 2024 to 07 Nov 2024
Vaccine World Asia Congress 2024 - South East Asia Focused stands as a premier destination for all things vaccine-related in the South East Asia region.
13 Nov 2024 to 15 Nov 2024
FCS2024 is jointly organized by eight major research institutes in Singapore and includes a line-up of internationally renowned cancer experts. The conference converges the latest cancer discoveries around the world and promises ground-breaking and innovative insights into cancer research.
26 Mar 2025 to 27 Mar 2025
Since its inception in 2012, Biologics World Taiwan has experienced remarkable success by gathering over 300 pioneers in the biologics industry from Taiwan and around the world.
13 Aug 2024 to 14 Aug 2024
The 13th Annual Biologics Manufacturing Korea (BMK) 2024 conference encompasses crucial themes such as upstream processing with a focus on high-throughput cell line development and cell culture, downstream processing involving product concentration and purification by chromatography, analytics and quality assurance, automation, Bioprocessing 4.0, and the digitalization landscape.
13 Aug 2024 to 14 Aug 2024
Key themes from Vaccine World East Asia (VWEA) 2024 include the swift acceleration of research initiatives, the optimization of manufacturing capabilities, and the seamless integration of novel technologies poised to revolutionize vaccine development.
13 May 2024 to 14 May 2024
The Symposium will showcase the growing field of early cancer intervention in Asia and will serve as a vital platform for scientists and clinicians to converge and explore the latest advancements in early cancer intervention strategies, spanning from cutting-edge research to community-centric strategies.
13 Aug 2024
The Korea Biopharma Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of biopharma experts/organizations in South Korea and East Asia who have made remarkable advancements in biologics, cell and gene therapy, and vaccine development throughout the years.
20 Mar 2024
The Asia-Pacific Biopharma Excellence Awards 2024 seeks to give recognition to exceptional Asian bioprocessing, logistics and supply chain management, as well as clinical trials experts, organisations and technologies over the past year. Recognising outstanding achievements of top biopharma leaders in the industry, the Asia-Pacific Biopharma Excellence Awards applauds extraordinary leaders & trend-setters of today and inspires innovators of tomorrow.
06 Nov 2023 to 08 Nov 2023
Bringing together distinguished cancer researchers with complementary knowledge and expertise from across the globe for the exchange of ideas and information.
26 Oct 2023
The Faculty of Medicine Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia will be organising the 15th Medical Undergraduates' Annual Scientific Research Meeting (MUASRM) on 26th October 2023.
31 Oct 2023 to 02 Nov 2023
Experience TechInnovation 2023, held at Marina Bay Sands from October 31 to November 2. Explore themes of Sustainability, Health and Well-being, and AI in Healthcare.
14 Sep 2023
Asia Pacific CGT Excellence Awards 2023 seeks to give recognition to exceptional Cell & Gene Therapy Pioneers, Researchers, Innovators & Manufacturers that facilitate fast advancement in new therapies, R&D and manufacturing.
14 Sep 2023
Asia Pacific Biologics CMO Excellence Awards 2023 seeks to give recognition to exceptional CMO & CDMO that facilitate biologics manufacturing excellence at enhanced speed, reduced cost, and superior quality from the biologics contract manufacturing space. 
11 Oct 2023 to 13 Oct 2023
Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event. Asia's Largest Partnering will be held in both digitally and physically.
12 Jul 2023 to 14 Jul 2023
Advancing Precision Public Health in Asia and Beyond – The Future is Now
09 Aug 2023 to 11 Aug 2023
The Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2023: Advanced Healthcare and Life Sciences International Innovation Awards & Expo (AHLS IIAE) is set to take place virtually on 9-11 August 2023, bringing together the best and brightest minds from the healthcare and life sciences industries.
26 Jul 2023 to 30 Jul 2023
BIO Asia–Taiwan is Asia's largest biotech networking event, and is jointly organized by the global Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO).
24 Sep 2023 to 28 Sep 2023
RehabWeek is a week-long event that brings together different conferences in the field of rehabilitation technology at the same time and place in order to foster cross-disciplinary communication and the development of relationships between different players.
21 Feb 2023 to 22 Feb 2023
The 2nd Edition Asia Healthcare Analytics Summit by 3novex aims to bring together experts and key-players to present and discuss current trends in healthcare technology to catapult your data-driven outcomes.
07 Nov 2022 to 11 Nov 2022
The World One Health Congress is the world’s premier conference to advance the One Health agenda, profiling and advancing transdisciplinary efforts that further our collective understanding of animal-human disease transmission alongside their social and environmental determinants.
27 Jul 2022 to 31 Jul 2022
BIO Asia–Taiwan is Asia's largest biotech networking event, and is jointly organized by the global Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO).
20 Jun 2022 to 24 Jun 2022
This event, held alongside the COVID-19 International Innovation Awards from 20 to 24 June, will bring forth and showcase innovations that are driving improvements and transforming the healthcare industry.
20 Jun 2022 to 24 Jun 2022
COVID-19 International Innovation Awards (a virtual event), part of MTE 2022 year-long innovation awards programme, is scheduled to return on 20-24 June 2022. The awards are created to acknowledge and celebrate all innovations in response to COVID-19.
07 Nov 2022 to 09 Nov 2022
FCS2022 is jointly organized by eight major research institutes in Singapore and includes a line-up of internationally renowned cancer experts. The conference converges the latest cancer discoveries around the world and promises ground-breaking and innovative insights into cancer research.
17 Jan 2022 to 21 Jan 2022
World’s brightest minds converge at virtual summit to inspire young researchers and discuss key issues

Researchers

A public health researcher and educator specializing in epidemiology, biostatistics, and molecular biology, with a passion for advancing global health, infectious disease control, and data-driven public health solutions.
Sadia Salim is an environmental and public health researcher working on climate change, planetary and environmental health, WASH, sustainability, education and empowerment, and grassroots community development and resilience in vulnerable regions.
Dr.Yasodha T
I am an efficient Professor able to Develop courses with IT skills & sound teaching skills in a manner attractive to students. I have vast experience in supervising postgraduate research & Contribute in a well manner to the ongoing academic development of the School’s postgraduate courses and research.
Chief Physician at Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China.
Dr. Hiran Shanake Perera
Dr. Hiran Shanake Perera is a Cognitive Neuroscientist in Malaysia and a Senior Lecturer of Psychology at Taylor's University. He is currently the Deputy Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab. 
I'm currently an adjunct professor at the Asian Institute of Management in Manila. I crafted a course called Art-Science Thinking based on my dissertation on Culture as Transformative Innovation: Filipino Care in the Practice of Family Medicine. Since 2017, my consultancy & studio has been collaborating with the Dept. of Science & Technology in the Philippines.
Dr Linny Kimly Phuong is a paediatric infectious diseases physician and researcher. She holds appointments at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Cabrini Health and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Linny’s areas of research include paediatric infections, Kawasaki disease and vaccine safety.
Sarfraz Ahmed
Sarfraz Ahmed is working as a Scientist at Harvard Medical School's Mass General Hospital. His research interests include Diseases and Therapeutics especially focus on Cancer and Therapeutics, Cancer Immunology, Photomedicine, Photo compounds and Photodevices for Cancer, Cancer and Natural agents, Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology for Cancer, Drugs resistance, Microbiology (Bacteriology & Virology) and Drugs resistance
I am a microbiologist currently working as a lecturer in the Medical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Hajjah University, Yemen. I am interested in research areas related to the prevalence of infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in different areas in Yemen.
Angeli Ambayya is a Scientific Officer (Ministry of Health, Malaysia). She is passionate about research in the field of hemato-oncology.
Hamidah Othman, obtained her Bachelor of Nursing Science in 2008, Master of Nursing in 2013 from the University of Malaya and PhD in Nursing, 2022 from International Islamic University Malaysia. Her interest was a critical care in nursing and psychological need towards family members with patients’ admit to the Intensive Care Unit, End of Life care and research in relation to the evidence based practice in nursing. She is currently working as Head and Lecturer at School of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Prof. Ryo Katsumata
Prof. Ryo Katsumata specialized in clinical research within gastroenterology, particularly in neurogastroenterology. His focus revolves around understanding the brain-gut interaction and the pathophysiology of disorders like functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that involve the gut-brain connection.
Crystal Ying Chan
Epidemiologist working with health of marginalized groups, including migrants, informal houses residents, homeless and women caregivers.
Physician-researcher; Primary area of research: Ageing, at the individual and the population level; Geographical focus: Singapore, with some work in other Asian countries.
Young scientist from Kulgam,  Kashmir.
Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Shah 'اشفاک ' born on 6 June 1992, from south Kashmir, Doderkoot ددیرکوٹ Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India is the infection immunity doctoral researcher at the Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, UK, India. Dr Shah is pursuing novel dimensions of infection immunity pertaining to the correlation and impact of phyto-immune components termed phytoalexins and phytoanticipins on the benign immune system of human beings. This parameter of immunology is termed phytoalexin-immunomodulation scrutiny. His area of interest lies in Preclinical and clinical studies, i.e. vaccine adjuvant development, development of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial compounds, evaluation of antibiotic resistance, study of Immuno-modulatory activities, disease model studies, protease isolation against specific protein antigens, and the discipline of Kalology including tyrosinase inhibition, PPO inhibition, skin whitening agents, kerato-peeling etc. Dr Ashfaq is a Doctoral Researcher, Reviewer and Editorial member of several journals and books. He is having several publications in journals of national and international repute. So far he has published more than thirty scopus infection/immunology/pharmacology scientific papers, including Fifteen international book chapters and two international books. Mr Shah received the Young scientist award in August 2023 for his groundbreaking academic performance in the field of infection immunity. Mr Shah has also been an editor of Wikipedia pages in medical science since 2015 with more than 1000 edits in medical topics available to medical literature worldwide.
Cheng Siang Tan
Dr. Cheng-Siang Tan is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). He is an expert in infectious and emerging diseases and biosafety and biorisk management.
Ilham Akhsanu Ridlo is an early-career researcher and assistant professor at Indonesia's Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga. He is a Ph.D. student at Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung (IfKW), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Ilham believes science communication is crucial in bridging the gap between research practice and health policy implementation. His research area concerns how scientists and journalists influence decision-makers to understand scientific uncertainty in public health.
Nguyen Huu Nghia
Nguyen Huu Nghia is the Director of the Center for Environment and Disease Monitoring in Aquaculture (CEDMA) at the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 (RIA1) under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He has co-managed various research efforts in Vietnam aquaculture as well as published recent research into the use of nanobubbles.
Dr. Phan Thi Van
Dr. Van was previously the Director of the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 (RIA1) under Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. She has extensive expertise in aquatic animal health and aquaculture safety management.
Sophie St-Hilaire
Professor St-Hilaire is a professor at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong (CityU). She has extensively researched fish nutrition and diseases, including treatment efficacy, and has helped investigate fish disease outbreaks.
Amit Singhal
Dr. Singhal serves as senior principal investigator at the Bacterial Immunopathology Lab at A*STAR ID Labs in Singapore. His work at A*STAR ID Labs revolves around three main pathogens: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Gram-negative bacteria and Dengue virus.
Xin Deng
Dr. Deng is a biomedical scientist with a special interest in bacterial virulence, including gene regulation, signaling pathways, and RNA epigenetics. He has worked on virulence regulation in pathogens to discover new therapies against bacterial infections.
Toshiyuki Ozawa
Dr. Ozawa is a Specially Appointed Professor at the Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University (formerly Osaka City University). His specialized field is skin malignant tumor and surgery.
Dr. Soojin Jang
Dr. Soojin Jang heads the Antibacterial Resistance Research Laboratory at Institut Pasteur Korea, where her team focuses on discovering new antibacterial agents for “superbugs” or bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.
Dr Kanimolli Arasu is a lecturer and a dietitian at the International Medical University, Malaysia.
Dr Singh is working as an Additional Professor of Radiology. Besides specializing in medical Imaging, he has received certifications in Global Health, Science Diplomacy and Biomedical Research. His areas of interest and expertise are as follows: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Medicine, Health, Public Health, Global Health, Health Policy, Health Systems, evidence-based healthcare and Healthcare leadership.
A PhD student in the health sciences department, studying population studies in health. A graduate student researcher at the University of Lethbridge, under the guidance of Dr. Olu Awosoga and Dr. Hendrika Beaulieu. Majoring in Indigenous health and conducting research on perceived mental and general health status of Indigenous women with chronic illnesses, relating to past experiences of discrimination, trauma and racism. Also focusing on the impact of health policies on the perception of wellness and health. Prior to coming to Canada, worked under the supervision of the UNHCR in Malaysia in project on the access and utilization of healthcare services among refugees. Holds an MSc in public health from the International Medical University and a Bachelor degree in Dental Surgery from Sana’a University.
Dr. Iyaswamy Ashok
Dr. Iyaswamy Ashok is currently a Research Assistant Professor at School of Chinese Medicine.
Dr. Brian Man Yu Bon
Dr. Brian Man Yu Bon is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong.
Dr Kwa is currently a Pharmacy Clinician Scientist and Assistant Director, Pharmacy (Research), at the Singapore General Hospital. She specializes in critical care medicine, infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance research.

Giants in history

Henriette Bui Quang Chieu (1906 – 2012) was inspired to follow in her brother’s footsteps and become a doctor after losing her mother to tuberculosis. She studied in France and became the first Vietnamese woman to receive a medical degree. Upon her return to Vietnam, Bui was appointed head of the Department of Midwifery at Cho Lon Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. A pioneer in gynaecology, she applied acupuncture techniques that she had learned in Japan to obstetrics. As Vietnam was still a French colony, Bui also lobbied for the rights of Vietnamese doctors, nurses, and patients.
Japanese biochemist Akira Endo (1933 – 2024) discovered the first statin, called mevastatin, which lowered cholesterol levels in the blood by inhibiting a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. His work laid the foundation for the development of statins to help patients lower their blood cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease or stroke.
Filipina paediatrician and scientist Perla Santos-Ocampo (25 July 1931 – 29 June 2012) made important contributions to treatments and policies that curbed debilitating and sometimes deadly diarrhoea-related diseases and malnutrition in children.
Singaporean physician Oon Chiew Seng (1916 – 31 March 2022) advanced dementia care and research in Singapore, and co-founded the Apex Harmony Lodge, the nation’s first nursing home for residents with dementia.
Vietnamese surgeon Tôn Thất Tùng (10 May 1912 – 7 May 1982) developed a pioneering technique that reduced the risks and mortality rate of liver operations.
Ruby Sakae Hirose (1904 – 1960) was a Japanese-American scientist whose research contributed significantly to our understanding of blood clotting, allergies and cancer.
Iranian physician and bacteriologist Azar Andami (8 December 1926 – 19 August 1984) developed a cholera vaccine to combat an outbreak that swept through the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa in 1937.
Maggie Lim (5 January 1913 – November 1995) was a Singaporean physician who promoted family planning and expanded the access to clinics to improve the quality of life for mothers and children in Singapore’s early days.
The founder of the Adyar Cancer Institute in India, Muthulakshmi Reddy (30 July 1886 – 22 July 1968), fought to uplift women and girls from impoverished situations.
The first Thai woman to receive a degree in medicine, Margaret Lin Xavier (29 May 1898 – 6 December 1932), is best remembered for her compassion towards her less privileged patients.
In 1915, pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa and his research assistant Koichi Ichikawa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
In 1915, Koichi Ichikawa along with pathologist Katsusaburo Yamagiwa became the first to prove that chronic exposure to chemicals can cause cancer.
Japanese chemist Takamine Jokichi (3 November 1854 – 22 July 1922) founded the Tokyo Artificial Fertilizer Company, where he isolated a starch-digesting enzyme (named takadiastase) from the fungus Aspergillus oryzae.
Ground-breaking cancer researcher Kamal Jayasing Ranadive (8 November 1917 – 11 April 2001) advanced the understanding of the causes of leukaemia, breast cancer and oesophageal cancer through the use of animal models. She was also among the first to recognise how susceptibility to cancer is linked to tumour-causing interactions between hormones and viruses.
The research of Filipino pharmaceutical chemist Luz Oliveros-Belardo (3 November 1906 – 12 December 1999) focussed on essential oils and other chemicals derived from native Philippine plants.
Thai physician and conservationist Boonsong Lekagul (1907 – 1992) made major contributions to the preservation of his country’s wildlife.
Indian scientist and physician Upendranath Brahmachari (19 December 1873–6 February 1946) is best known for creating a drug called Urea Stibamine, used to safely and reliably treat visceral leishmaniasis (or Kala-azar), a severe infection caused by the Leishmania parasite.
Filipina chemist María Orosa (29 November 1892–13 February 1945) fought malnutrition and food insecurity in the Philippines by devising over 700 culinary creations including Soyalac, a nutrient rich drink made from soybeans, and Darak, rice cookies packed with Vitamin B1, which could prevent beriberi disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency. She was also a partisan of the guerrilla movement resisting Japanese occupation during World War II, and died after being struck by shrapnel while working in her laboratory during the Battle of Manila.
Filipino chemist and pharmacist Manuel A. Zamora (29 March 1870 – 9 July 1929) is best remembered for his discovery of the tiki-tiki formula to combat beriberi, a disease caused by Vitamin B1 deficiency.
Fe Villanueva del Mundo (27 November 1911 – 6 August 2011) was a Filipina paediatrician who founded the Philippines’ first paediatric hospital.
After witnessing death and suffering as a youth in his home village during World War II, Nguyễn Tài Thu (6 April 1931 – 14 February 2021) set his sights on alleviating pain by becoming a doctor. After studying Traditional Chinese Medicine in China in the 1950s, Thu returned to Vietnam to serve in military hospitals. Eventually, he became the country’s foremost practitioner of acupuncture, a technique he first learned by inserting needles into himself.
Minoru Shirota (April 23, 1899 – March 10, 1982) was a Japanese microbiologist who invented the popular fermented drink Yakult.
Wu Lien-teh (10 March 1879 – 21 January 1960) was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. Winning the prestigious Queen’s Scholarship enabled Wu to become the first Chinese student to study medicine at the University of Cambridge.
David T. Wong (born 1936) is a Hong Kong-born American neuroscientist who is best known for discovering the antidepressant drug fluoxetine, better known as Prozac.
Indian organic chemist Asima Chatterjee (1917 to 2006) studied the medicinal properties of plant products, especially compounds known as vinca alkaloids.
Tu Youyou (born 30 December 1930) is a Chinese pharmaceutical scientist who was awarded the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on extracting artemisin from sweet wormwood to treat malaria.
Umetaro Suzuki (7 April 1874 – 20 September 1943) was a Japanese scientist best remembered for his research on beriberi, a disease caused by vitamin B1 deficiency, characterized by limb stiffness, paralysis and pain.
Barry Paw (29 August 1962 – 28 December 2017) was a biologist and oncologist who discovered several novel genes and their functions in red blood cells.
Tsai-Fan Yu (1911 – 2 March 2007) was a Chinese-American physician and researcher who was the first female full professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She discovered that gout, a condition characterized by the painful inflammation of joints, was caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream.
A Japanese surgeon, Tetsuzo Akutsu (20 August 1922 – 9 August 2007) built the first artificial heart capable of keeping an animal alive.