Medicine
News
22 Jan 2025
Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and Duke-NUS Medical School have provided compelling evidence that short-course antibiotic treatments can be a game-changer in tackling ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a serious infection common in critically ill patients.
17 Jan 2025
Lingnan University’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) and the Center of International Innovation for Technology and Science (CIITS), signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement at the InnoBay · Future Industry Forum——Shenzhen-Hong Kong Exchange Session (CIITS) in the Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone yesterday (16 January). Prof Chen Xi, Dean of SIS, and Mr Liu Renchen, Director of the CIITS, signed on behalf of both parties, injecting new momentum into promoting scientific and technological innovation cooperation.
17 Jan 2025
Intermittent fasting, especially alternate-day fasting, provides an effective alternative to continuous energy restriction for improving metabolic health.
15 Jan 2025
A research team proposes a method to assess cancer patients for their likelihood to either respond to treatment or relapse.
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.
10 Jan 2025
Gut microbe isolated from infertile women disrupts progesterone metabolism, lowering progesterone levels and impairing ovarian follicular development.
08 Jan 2025
Ateneo researchers are looking to turn milkfish skin, a common waste byproduct of the Philippine fishing industry, into an invaluable medical resource.
26 Dec 2024
New formula for hyperfiltration and glomerular filtration rate takes natural decline into account
17 Dec 2024
Researchers from Osaka University have revealed some of the precise mechanisms by which erroneous cells are recognized, marked for removal, and eliminated via apoptosis in developing zebrafish. Notably, they found that the protein Foxo3 may be a universal marker of cell competition in zebrafish and mice. These findings have important implications for congenital disorders, cancer, and aging, and may lead to novel treatments.
17 Dec 2024
Early administration of AHCC at the stage of hepatitis might hold possibility of preventing onset of cirrhosis
16 Dec 2024
Utilizing pericellular and intracellular controlled-release of carboplatin to precisely synergize with reduced-dose radiotherapy, aiming to eradicate malignant gliomas.
16 Dec 2024
Use of automated system in upper extremity paralysis care proves beneficial for patients and medical staff
12 Dec 2024
Enhanced pedicled latissimus dorsi flap technique achieves 100% success rate in high-risk head and neck reconstruction
05 Dec 2024
New research suggesting a link between motor protein Kif23 and microcephaly may be the key to developing more effective treatments for this condition.
03 Dec 2024
The hydrogen atoms of [4Fe-4S] type ferredoxin, one of the electron carriers, have been visualized and both experiments and calculations have revealed the mechanisms that control the redox potential. Aspartic acid (Asp64) located a distance away from the [4Fe-4S] cluster of ferredoxin, was found to be the control switch, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism.
29 Nov 2024
Although crackles have long been regarded as a hallmark finding in physical examinations, this study revealed their unreliability not only among human physicians but also in artificial intelligence systems.
29 Nov 2024
Researchers at Osaka University have identified ARMC5 as a key regulator of fatty acid balance in adipose tissue. ARMC5 degrades non-SCAP-bound SREBP1, activating it to regulate stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), an enzyme essential for fatty acid desaturation. This discovery opens avenues for developing drugs targeting ARMC5 to manage fatty acid levels and improve health outcomes.
26 Nov 2024
Lingnan University will confer honorary doctoral degrees on two leading professors in recognition of their outstanding achievements and valuable contributions to humanity.
They are renowned mathematician Prof Yau Shing-tung and distinguished structural biologist Prof Nieng Yan.
22 Nov 2024
A new simulator gives nursing students hands-on practice with vital procedures like mechanical ventilation and tracheal suctioning in children.
21 Nov 2024
International integration of drug-drug interaction information through mapping of Japanese and international drug codes
19 Nov 2024
Conversely, role in controlling cell proliferation might lead to novel tumor therapies in humans
15 Nov 2024
Born from 1995 to 2012, Gen Z is motivated by financial pragmatism, personal achievement, and values-driven work distinctive from older generations.
15 Nov 2024
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Tohoku University have discovered that PRDX6, a selenium carrier protein, plays a key role in regulating ferroptosis, a form of oxidative cell death. This finding could lead to new approaches in treating cancer by increasing ferroptosis sensitivity and in neurodegenerative diseases by protecting neurons. The study, published in Molecular Cell, highlights PRDX6’s potential as a therapeutic target for both conditions.
14 Nov 2024
• This breakthrough test requires only a small blood sample to track modified T cells in patients over time, ensuring therapies remain effective.
• This plug-and-play approach is set to accelerate the development of more T-cell-based therapies and vaccines.
14 Nov 2024
SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin helps oxygenate kidneys while causing glucose removal through urine
13 Nov 2024
Osaka University researchers elucidated the molecular details of how Drosophila larval epidermal cells (LECs) undergo cell death in a controlled manner to regulate epithelial tissue remodeling. Specifically, lower activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway occurs following reduced endocytosis. Decreased EGFR pathway activity allows LECs to switch from undergoing single-cell apoptosis to more widespread cell death in clusters. This supports faster LEC elimination and allows for proper tissue remodeling.
11 Nov 2024
King of nanomaterials, Old but new, Probing stardust properties, Two-in-one, The good grain & Brain-inspired electronic skin. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.
07 Nov 2024
The two Pseudo-nitzschia species found in Luzon produce a dangerous neurotoxin that can cause severe sickness and permanent short-term memory loss.
06 Nov 2024
National Taiwan University researchers highlight the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in reducing mortality and severe cardiovascular and renal outcomes for diabetic patients with acute kidney disease (AKD). Using a global dataset and propensity matching, they found significantly lower mortality rates, major cardiovascular events (MACEs), and adverse kidney outcomes (MAKEs) among GLP-1 RA users compared to non-users. These findings underscore the potential for GLP-1 RAs to offer tailored protection against complex diabetic complications, marking an advancement in personalized medicine for managing diabetes-acute kidney disease.
Events
29 May 2025
For over 35 years, ITEX has been the premier event in Asia for inventors and investors to connect and collaborate. Held at the KL Convention Centre in Malaysia, ITEX offers a unique opportunity to showcase your inventions to a global audience and propel your ideas forward.
19 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.
16 Oct 2024
Join this multidisciplinary conference where we will be focusing on policy issues and scientific findings for harmonising humanity with nature in the Tropics.
06 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 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
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.
16 May 2024
Dive into the future of technology at ITEX 2024, where "Generative AI" takes centre stage, revolutionising how we approach Artificial Intelligence (AI). This groundbreaking theme shifts away from the ordinary, showcasing AI's power to create entirely new content and solutions.
06 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.
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
Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event. Asia's Largest Partnering will be held in both digitally and physically.
21 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.
27 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).
07 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
World’s brightest minds converge at virtual summit to inspire young researchers and discuss key issues
01 Nov 2021
We invite scientists, doctors, students and other delegates engaging in scientific research related to cancer to join us at Singapore’s preferred cancer conference.
12 Oct 2021
The Asia's Largest Partnering “BioJapan” will be held both digitally and physically. Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event!
07 Oct 2021
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is proud to present the 19th Edition of the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC).
24 Feb 2021
INTERPHEX Week Osaka is Asia's leading exhibition for pharmaceutical industry, consists of 2 exhibitions for pharmaceutical technologies - INTERPHEX OSAKA (Manufacturing & Packaging) and PharmaLab Expo OSAKA (Pharma R&D and Drug Discovery).
23 Nov 2020
Global health emergencies look set to be a part of our lives. What awaits us in 2021 and what lessons can we draw from COVID-19 coverage? How can we support newsrooms and journalists for more informed and impactful journalism about global scientific, technical and human challenges? What role does journalism play in seeking solutions for a better world that is both healthy, and sustainable?
27 Nov 2020
ACRLS 2020 aims to contribute to strengthening cooperation and relationship among members worldwide and forming a strong global network by providing various benefits to robotic clinics in rapidly growing nations throughout Asia.
25 Nov 2020
Asia's Leading Pharma & Bio Tech Show will be held as scheduled from November 25-27, 2020 at Makuhari Messe, Japan. It will be held both on-site and online.
16 Nov 2020
Optimising Clinical Trials | Commercialising Great Science | Partnering for Growth
02 Nov 2020
We invite scientists, doctors, students and other delegates engaging in scientific research related to cancer to join us at Singapore’s preferred cancer conference.
01 Oct 2020
The 6th annual RNA Biology Symposium jointly organized by the RNA Biology Centre of CSI Singapore (NUS), Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A*STAR), Duke-NUS Medical School, School of Biological Sciences (NTU) and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)
The Khwarizmi International Award (KIA) acknowledges the efforts made by researchers, innovators and inventors from across the globe and to appreciate their high quality research work and contributions to different fields of science and technology.
Researchers
National Taiwan University
Professor Ru-Shi Liu, based at the Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University (NTU) research interests span several areas, including investigating phosphor materials for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), exploring materials for energy conversion (such as water splitting, fuel cells, and batteries), and delving into the application of nanomaterials in medicine, particularly for photodynamic therapy.
Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) at Kyoto University
Prof Jun Suzuki is a biochemist and the deputy director at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Japan.
Chief Physician at Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China.
Dr Sarkar is a senior research fellow at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. She is
actively engaged in collaborating with academic and industry stakeholders and leads multiple projects for the development of novel therapeutics/vaccines to tackle antimicrobial resistance.
Ts. Uganeeswary Suparmaniam, AMIChemE (UK) is a multiple award-winning young scientist, sustainability advocate, and climate activist attached to the HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, PETRONAS University of Technology, Malaysia.
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 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.
I am a japanese physician-scientist in gastroenterology, especially in neurogastroenterology.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
Epidemiologist working with health of marginalized groups, including migrants, informal houses residents, homeless and women caregivers.
Duke-NUS Medical School
Physician-researcher; Primary area of research: Ageing, at the individual and the population level; Geographical focus: Singapore, with some work in other Asian countries.
Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)
Miho Katsuragawa is a specially appointed project researcher at Kavli IPMU. Her areas of expertise include experimental physics, detector/instrument development, medical application of gamma-ray imaging, and high energy astrophysics.
Taishi Yokoi is an Associate Professor of the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. His research areas include biomedical engineering, inorganic compounds and inorganic materials chemistry.
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University
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.
Dr. Zong-Hong Lin is a Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University and at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
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.
Hokkaido University
Dr. Akira Kakugo is an Associate Professor at Hokkaido University. He has researched biomolecular motors and swarming of active matters.
Dr. Hira Khalid is serving as Associate Professor at Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan. She is also a US Fulbright Fellow and a member of several prestigious scientific organizations, including the American Chemical Society (ACS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), and the Chemical Society of Pakistan (CSP).
Dr. Crumlish has researched aquatic microbial diseases, specifically ones that have economic impact in global aquaculture, and potential solutions to such infectious diseases. Her current project seeks to develop vaccines against antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Dr. Tay has researched antibodies and diseases like malaria and SARS-CoV-2 at A*STAR. His focus is on discovering methods for developing antibodies that can be used in therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Professor St-Hilaire is associate head and 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.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Dr. Oehlers leads the Bacterial Pathogenesis Laboratory at A*STAR ID Labs, where he and his colleagues focus on identifying molecular bases of mycobacterial disease and, thus, deploy therapies that address antibiotic resistance in mycobacterial infections.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Dr. Yue Wang is senior principal investigator at the Antifungal Resistance Laboratory of A*STAR ID Labs, where his body of work focuses on virulence mechanisms of the fungal human pathogen Candida albicans.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
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.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Dr. Bifani is a principal investigator at A*STAR ID Labs at their Antimicrobial Resistance Lab. He has extensively researched antimicrobial resistance in tuberculosis and malaria. He is also an associate professor and research director at the Yong Yoo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
Dr. Yan is an assistant professor at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (CityU). His current research focuses on developing genomic tools to dissect lncRNA function and mechanism in diseases and to identify genetic variations that contribute to disease pathogenesis.
City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
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.
Osaka Metropolitan University
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.
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.
Michiaki Takahashi (17 February 1928 – 16 December 2013) was a Japanese virologist who developed the first chickenpox vaccine.
Irene Ayako Uchida’s (8 April 1917 – 30 July 2013) strides to understand genetic diseases such as Down syndrome paved the way for early screening of chromosomal abnormalities in foetuses.
Baron Kitasato Shibasaburo (29 January 1856 – 13 June 1931) was a Japanese physician and bacteriologist whose work led to a new understanding of preventing and treating tetanus, diphtheria and anthrax.
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.
By isolating soil microorganisms and studying the compounds they produce, Satoshi Omura (born 1935) discovered almost 500 organic compounds with unique properties that were produced by these microorganisms, including many new antibiotics.
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.
Chinese-American virologist and molecular biologist Flossie Wong-Staal (27 August 1946 – 8 July 2020) was the first scientist to clone HIV and determine the function of its genes.
Maharani Chakravorty (1937 – 2015) was one of India’s earliest molecular biologists whose research paved the way for advances in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections.
Archana Sharma (16 February 1932 - 14 January 2008) conducted research into plant and human genetics that expanded the understanding of both botany and human health. In relation to botany, she uncovered the means by which asexually-reproducing plants evolve into new species.
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.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
Husband and wife team, Kimishige (3 December 1925 – 6 July 2018) and Teruko Ishizaka (28 September 1926 – 4 June 2019) discovered the antibody class Immunoglobulin E (IgE) that triggers allergic reactions. They also discovered that IgE antibodies attach to white blood cells, known as mast cells, releasing histamine, which causes allergic reactions.
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.
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.
Korean parasitologist Seung-Yull Cho (16 November 1943 – 27 January 2019) is remembered largely for his pioneering works to control infections caused by helminthic parasites and his contribution to journal publishing.
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.
Chika Kuroda (24 March 1884 – 8 November 1968) was a Japanese chemist whose research focussed on the structures of natural pigments.
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.
Salimuzzaman Siddiqui (19 October 1897 – 14 April 1994) was an artist and chemist from Pakistan whose research focused on natural products from plants.
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.
Syed Qasim Mehdi (13 February 1941 – 28 September 2016) was a Pakistani molecular biologist who was a founding member of the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), which assessed human diversity by studying human migration, mutation rates, relationships between different populations, genes involved in height and selective pressure.
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.
Min Chueh Chang (10 October 1908 – 5 June 1991) was a Chinese-American biologist who studied fertilization in mammalian reproduction.
A Japanese surgeon, Tetsuzo Akutsu (20 August 1922 – 9 August 2007) built the first artificial heart capable of keeping an animal alive.
Ogino Ginko (3 March 1851 – 23 June 1913) was the first registered female doctor to practise modern medicine in Japan.
Esther Park (1877-1910), born Kim Jeom-dong, was the first female Korean physician to practise modern medicine in Korea and trained the first generation of Korean female doctors.