On July 12, 2024, the Singapore National Academy of Science (SNAS) announced that Professor Chen Xiaoyuan of the National University of Singapore has been elected as a Fellow in recognition of his groundbreaking research and outstanding contributions in the fields of nuclear medicine and nanomedicine. This is the third Academician title that he was honored this year. Previously, he was elected a Fellow of the Academia Europaea (AE) on April 21 and the European Academy of Sciences (EURAS) on June 10. The conferment of the SNAS fellowship marks the third acknowledgment of his exceptional achievements this year.

The Singapore National Academy of Science was established in 1976 with a focus on addressing various survival and development issues faced by humanity. It is dedicated to supporting and promoting global scientific research and technological advancement while recognizing experts and scholars who have made remarkable achievements in fields such as physical, chemical, and mathematical sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, engineering and applied sciences, and environmental sciences. The SNAS fellowship is the highest academic honor in the natural sciences in Singapore. Prof. Chen is deemed by the Council to have made significant and outstanding contributions to science and technology. Congratulations again!

We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Chen on being elected as a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (Chemistry Division). This honor is well-deserved for his significant contributions to the fields of bioconjugation chemistry, molecular imaging and nanomedicine.
The European Academy of Sciences (EURASC)is an international scientific organization composed of distinguished scientists, scholars, and business leaders from around the world. It is also one of the most prestigious academies of sciences in Europe, comprising eight divisions that cover the fields of engineering, physics, mathematics, chemistry, environmental science, medicine, social sciences, law, and economics. EURASC is a fully independent international association, aims to recognize and elect the most outstanding scientists, with a vision that transcends national borders and encompasses all of Europe. It is dedicated to strengthening European science and scientific cooperation, leveraging the expertise of its members to advise other European bodies in improving research, technological application, and social development.
EURASC upholds the highest standards of scientific and ethical principles. Its membership, election procedures, deliberations, and actions are entirely independent of any national entities. The academy includes numerous Nobel Prize and Fields Medal laureates, selected solely based on their scientific achievements. Recognized as a non-profit, non-governmental, independent research organization, EURASC is committed to promoting excellence in science and technology and fostering socio-economic progress. The official name of the institution is the European Academy of Sciences (Académie Européenne des Sciences), recognized by Royal Decree of the King of Belgium.

Prof. Chen Xiaoyuan has recently been elected as a member of the Academia Europaea, an endorsement of his outstanding research accomplishments in the fields of biomedical sciences and nanomaterials. The Academia Europaea is an interdisciplinary academic institution committed to promoting and disseminating scholarly excellence in humanities, law, economics, social and political sciences, mathematics, medicine, and all branches of natural and technological sciences across the globe, thus benefiting the public and advancing public education, and interdisciplinary and international research.

The selection process for members of the Academia Europaea is exceptionally rigorous. Candidates must be nominated by current members and undergo a detailed and stringent evaluation process, assessing the innovativeness, impact, and contributions of their scientific work to the academic community. Membership not only signifies an individual’s distinguished achievements within their field of study but also represents high recognition from the international academic community. The academy boasts many of the world’s leading scholars, including 87 Nobel Laureates and 20 Fields Medalists among its members. Prof Chen is an undisputed leader in his worldwide comparison group of scientific seniority, and a very well-respected scientist among all those that operate in the fields of material sciences, molecular imaging and nanomedicine regardless of seniority.

Prof. Chen's election not only represents his breakthrough achievements in the fields of biomedicine and nanomaterials but also stands as a testament to his long-standing dedication to scientific research and innovation. Prof. Chen's work has significantly contributed to the advancement of these scientific fields and played a crucial role in addressing major global health challenges. Looking ahead, we eagerly anticipate his continued leadership in scientific innovation from his new academic position, contributing further to global scientific progress. Once again, congratulations to Prof. Chen on his prestigious election to the Academia Europaea!

We held the international academic event THE 2ND SINGAPORE MOLECULAR IMAGING AND THERANOSTICS SYMPOSIUM (MITS 2024) from April 17th to 20th at the National University of Singapore. Renowned scholars from around the globe gave presentations that not only showcased the latest research findings but also facilitated the exchange of professional knowledge and the emergence of new ideas. Molecular imaging, serving as a vital link between basic science and clinical applications, is increasingly recognized for its role in early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutic evaluation. The discussions and interactions among participants were notably vibrant, deepening understanding of molecular imaging technologies and their applications in personalized medicine, and paving the way for future collaborative research. The symposium also addressed the potential market for molecular imaging technologies in future healthcare and discussed strategies to overcome challenges in the technology's adoption.
To better record and disseminate the outcomes of the symposium, we plan to compile key presentations and discussions and publish a special journal issue in Theranostics. This initiative will not only provide information to international colleagues who could not attend but also serve as a reference for further research in the academic and industrial sectors. Welcome for your submission for the special journal issue at: https://www.thno.org/si/imaging.html .

On April 9th, our recently work about the DNA origami device which can spatially control CD95 signalling to induce immune tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis was accepted by Nature Materials. This is our first paper in Nature Materials this year, and we will be dedicated to developing more therapeutic nanodevices for disease treatment in the future.
DNA origami is capable of spatially organizing molecules into sophisticated geometric patterns with nanometric precision. Here we describe a reconfigurable, two-dimensional DNA origami with geometrically patterned CD95 ligands that regulates immune cell signalling to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis. In response to pH changes, the device reversibly transforms from a closed to an open configuration, displaying a hexagonal pattern of CD95 ligands with ~10 nm intermolecular spacing, precisely mirroring the spatial arrangement of CD95 receptor clusters on the surface of immune cells. In a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, DNA origami elicits robust and selective activation of CD95 death-inducing signalling in activated immune cells located in inflamed synovial tissues. Such localized immune tolerance ameliorates joint damage with no noticeable side effects. This device allows for the precise spatial control of cellular signalling, expanding our understanding of ligand–receptor interactions and is a promising platform for the development of pharmacological interventions targeting these interactions.
Please find more details at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-024-01865-5

Recently, Prof. Chen Xiaoyuan has secured an impressive second position among the Best Scientists in Singapore and holds a commendable global ranking of 495th. Furthermore, he was awarded the honor of "Materials Science Leader" owing to his remarkable contributions to the field of materials science, with the 4th ranking in Singapore and an impressive 65th globally.
Professor Chen's recent research endeavors have been predominantly centered around the cutting-edge field of transnational nanotheranostics, showcasing his commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation in the scientific community. This recognition is a testament to the impact of his work on the broader landscape of materials science. Once again, congratulations to Professor Chen Xiaoyuan for these well-deserved accolades!
More information: https://research.com/u/xiaoyuan-chen

The 18F and 177Lu formulations including 18F-LNC1003, 18F-LNC1005, 177Lu-LNC1003, and 177Lu-LNC1004, developed by Yantai Lannacheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (LNC), have received approval for the clinical trials. Leveraging the patented nanotechnology, LNC developed the injectable formulations targeting cancer markers PSMA and FAP, achieving specific accumulation in tumors for precise radiotherapy against cancer. On July 29, 2022, 18F-LNC1003 was greenlit for clinical trials in China. The phase III clinical trials for the 18F-LNC003 formulation is currently underway. On December 20, 2022, 18F-LNC1005 secured approval for clinical trials in China. Furthermore, 177Lu-LNC1003 and 177Lu-LNC1004 had previously obtained clinical trial approvals in the United States (on April 28, 2023, and January 6, 2023, respectively, by the FDA) and Singapore (on November 7, 2023, and March 29, 2023, respectively, by HSA). Recently, both of them are approved for clinical trials by China National Medical Products Administration. Clinical trials for 177Lu-LNC1003 and 177Lu-LNC1004 are slated to commence soon. Building on promising preclinical and Investigator-Initiated Trial (IIT) results, these radiotherapy formulations are poised to usher in new hope for the treatment of clinical tumors.

Prof. Chen was invited to contribute a review for the Advanced Materials Hall of Fame. The review titled "Cellular Trafficking of Nanotechnology-Mediated mRNA Delivery" is now available online. This comprehensive review introduces therapeutic applications of mRNA, summarizes common types of mRNA cargos and delivery systems, and highlights strategies to enhance the efficiency of nanotechnology-mediated mRNA delivery during the cellular trafficking process, including accumulation, internalization, endosomal escape, mRNA release, and translation. This review offers valuable insights into the future development of mRNA nanocarriers with optimal cellular trafficking performance. Congratulations to Prof. Chen and the co-authors!
Please see more details at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202307822

The International Molecular Imaging Summit (IMIS 2023)and Innovative Development and Clinical Translation Seminar on Radiopharmaceuticals were held in Xiamen from October 20th to 22nd. As a prominent and influential gathering in the field of molecular imaging, the event brought together over 500 industry elites, including academicians, medical scholars in the field of nuclear medicine, and entrepreneurs. They delivered keynote speeches, participated in specialized sub-forums, and deliberated on the future direction of molecular imaging.
On the morning of the 21st, the forum's opening ceremony was held, hosted by Professor Chen Xiaoyuan. In the keynote speech segment, Professor Chen Xiaoyuan presented a special report titled "Cancer Radiotheranostics." Using the development process of several market-approved radiopharmaceutical therapeutic drugs as examples, Professor Chen elaborated on the key aspects of drug development. He also shared the progress and remarkable clinical results of LanNaCheng's 177Lu-LNC1003, 177Lu-LNC1004, and 177Lu-LNC1011, earning the full recognition of industry experts. In the afternoon of the 21st, a special session on the development and clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals featured presentations by several domestic and international experts and scholars. Professor Zhang Jingjing shared the research history of FAP-targeted therapeutic drugs, from the early 177Lu-FAPI-2286 to the EB-modified 177Lu-LNC1004, using clinical treatment outcomes as examples, vividly showcasing the surprising clinical efficacy of FAP-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy.

Recently, Zunyong’s work based on An in vitro-transcribed circular RNA targets the mitochondrial inner membrane cardiolipin to ablate EIF4G2+/PTBP1+ pan-adenocarcinoma has been accepted by Nature cancer. This is our first paper in this journal.
In vitro-transcribed (IVT) mRNA has arisen as a rapid method for the production of nucleic acid drugs. Here, we have constructed an oncolytic IVT mRNA that utilizes human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2) internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) to selectively trigger translation in cancer cells with high expression of EIF4G2 and PTBP1. The oncolytic effect was provided by a long hGSDMDc .825 T>A/c.884 A>G-F1LCT mutant mRNA sequence with mitochondrial inner membrane cardiolipin targeting toxicity that triggers mitophagy. Utilizing the permuted intron-exon (PIE) splicing circularization strategy and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulation reduced immunogenicity of the mRNA and enabled delivery to eukaryotic cells in vivo. Engineered HRV2 IRESs-GSDMDp.D275E/E295G-F1LCT circRNA-LNPs (GSDMDENG circRNA) successfully inhibited EIF4G2+/PTBP1+ pan-adenocarcinoma xenografts growth. Importantly, in a spontaneous tumor model with abnormal EIF4G2 and PTBP1 caused by KRAS G12D mutation, GSDMDENG circRNA significantly prevented the occurrence of pancreatic, lung and colon adenocarcinoma, improved the survival rate and induced persistent KRAS G12D tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.
Please see more details in: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-023-00650-8

On August 7th, undergraduates and doctoral students from Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy participated in a joint workshop with students from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The workshop was focused on fostering student exchange and collaboration in the field of biomedical sciences between the two institutions. Several graduate students delivered oral presentations and engaged in discussions related to their research work within the realm of biomedicine. Meanwhile, undergraduates from Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy conducted a comparative analysis of "Curriculum Development and Course Offerings in Pharmacy Programs: A Case Study of the National University of Singapore and Zhejiang University."
This collaborative event provided a platform for students and scholars from both universities to engage in meaningful discussions and knowledge sharing within the context of biomedical research and education. The workshop not only facilitated valuable cross-cultural and cross-institutional interactions but also contributed to the advancement of expertise and perspectives in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. Such initiatives enhance the overall academic experience and promote international cooperation among educational institutions.

On August 6th, Professor Gu Zhen, the Dean of Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy, along with his team members, paid a visit to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. During this visit, Professor Gu Zhen delivered a captivating presentation titled "Bioresponsive Bioinspired Drug Delivery," which captured the keen interest of the attending audience. The response was highly enthusiastic, carrying a significant positive impact on advancing research in related fields and fostering academic exchanges among universities.
Moreover, Professor Gu provided insights into the developmental trajectory of Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy and reflected upon the collaborative accomplishments achieved with Singaporean universities in recent years. He conveyed his anticipation for forging even stronger international collaborative relationships. The visiting delegation immersed themselves in substantial discussions with their counterparts from the host institutions, centering on crucial themes including international talent cultivation, research collaboration, and knowledge dissemination. A unanimous consensus emerged to actively propel the internationalization of talent development and to establish a collaborative consortium focused on pharmaceutical sciences. The overarching objective is to collectively drive innovation and transformative progress within the realm of biomedicine.
This visit and ensuing exchange distinctly underscore the cooperative engagement and cross-institutional discourse at an international level. The endeavor prominently accentuates the vigorous pursuit of breakthroughs in pharmaceutical research. The palpable enthusiasm evoked by Professor Gu's presentation underscores the profound import of such scholarly exchanges, not only propelling advancements but also nurturing synergistic partnerships among universities.

Recently, Prof. Chen hosted a l mini-symposium for the Nanomedicine TRP program in LT37. The Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB) members, Prof. Kam. Leong, Prof. Jackie Ying, and Prof. Guangjun Nie, were invited to give presentations. As experts in their respective fields, the presentations delivered by the SAB members provided valuable insights and expertise to the audience. Their contributions enhanced the understanding of the program's progress and the cutting-edge research being conducted. The audience was actively questioning after the meeting. This symposium fostered a collaborative environment for knowledge exchange and idea sharing.

During the meeting held in MD6, the Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB) members were invited to participate. Prof. Chen provided an overview of the aims and research progress of the TRP program, highlighting completed work, milestones achieved, and the project timeline. The PIs within the TRP program shared recent research progress and discussed their group's plans for the next phase. Additionally, presentations were delivered by PhD students and research fellows, who also addressed questions posed by the SAB members.
The SAB members' valuable comments and suggestions for the program will undoubtedly contribute to further improvements and success in the future. The encouragement given to the PIs and their teams for their exceptional findings and achievements will be a motivating factor as the program continues. Once again, congratulations on a successful interim report meeting, and may the Nanomedicine TRP Programme continue to thrive and make significant contributions to the field!

Recently, Prof. Chen has been invited to join the Advanced Materials Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes researchers who have made significant advancements and demonstrated leadership in the field of materials science. Over the past thirty years, Advanced Materials journal has witnessed remarkable progress in various scientific disciplines and has published numerous groundbreaking achievements in the field. Congratulations to Professor Chen!

Please follow the link to the Hall of Fame article to stay updated on the latest top contributions in the Hall of Fame series.：
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1002/(ISSN)1521-4095.HallofFame

A new radiotracer, 68Ga-FAP-2286, has been found to be more effective than the most commonly used nuclear medicine cancer imaging radiotracer, 18F-FDG. In a study published in the March issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 68Ga-FAP-2286 detected 100 percent of primary tumors across multiple cancer types as compared to 18F-FDG, which identified only 80 percent. 68Ga-FAP-2286 was also more effective in detecting lymph node metastases and distant metastases.
Chen noted that FAP-2286 not only exhibits promising characteristics for diagnosis, but also for cancer treatment. “Due to its molecular makeup, FAP-2286 can be paired with 177Lu to create a new radiopharmaceutical therapy,” he said. “177Lu-FAP 2286 has the potential to offer potent and selective FAP binding, which could lead substantial therapeutic efficacy for cancer patients in the future.”
This study was made available online in September 2022. See more details at: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/982979

Recently, at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) in North America, the nuclear medicine products and research achievements of LNC, a subsidiary of Dongcheng Pharmaceutical Holdings, attracted widespread attention and acclaim.
At this SNMMI annual meeting, LNC achieved remarkable results, showcasing its cutting-edge technology and research achievements in nuclear medicine. Professor Chen and Professor Zhang Jingjing delivered progress reports.
Professor Chen gave a keynote presentation during the "FAP Satellite Symposium: FAP ligands for Imaging and Therapy," where he introduced the 177Lu-LNC1004 product (targeting fibroblast activation protein FAP for radiotherapy of solid tumors) and its clinical research progress, along with the latest industry developments. As the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of LNC, Professor Zhang Jingjing orally presented the first human study of a novel SSTR antagonist, 68Ga-DATA5m-LM4, in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. This exciting research received the SNMMI 2023 Travel Award and the SNMMI 2023 International Best Abstract for Singapore.
Professor Chen Xiaoyuan also delivered an oral presentation at the conference on the research progress of the 177Lu-LNC1003 product (targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen PSMA) and showcased the preclinical and clinical research results of 177Lu/225Ac-LNC1003 for prostate cancer radioligand therapy. The performance of this product in prostate cancer treatment surpassed the FDA-approved 177Lu-PSMA-617 and the previously researched 177Lu-EB-PSMA by the team.
These showcased achievements at the SNMMI annual meeting once again demonstrate BlueNachiBio's innovative capabilities and technical strength in the field of nuclear medicine and oncology diagnosis and treatment. LNC's groundbreaking research brings new hope to cancer patients and demonstrates the influence and competitiveness of China's nuclear medicine field internationally.

Theranostics has just received its latest Impact Factor for the year 2022, which is 12.4. It ranks 8th among 136 comprehensive journals worldwide in the field of medical research and experimental studies, placing it in the top tier of JCR Q1. Congratulations!
Theranostics journal is dedicated to integrated research in clinical and basic medicine. It primarily publishes articles and review papers on molecular diagnostics in vivo and in vitro, tumor treatment, targeted therapy, biological therapy, nanomedicine, translational medicine, as well as basic biomedical research. Welcome to submit your manuscript to Theranostics.

Dr. Jianhua Zou has been awarded a 2-year duration Open Fund Young Individual Research Grant (OFYIRG) by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Ministry of Health (MOH). Congratulations!

Dr. Mengyao Zhao has been awarded a 3-year duration Open Fund Young Individual Research Grant (OFYIRG) by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Ministry of Health (MOH). Congratulations!

Prof. Chen was recently invited to an interview with Wiley about his inspiration for science research. He believes that the research career is a long journey. One needs to have a consistent dedication to always pursue the next peak throughout his time as a researcher. A firm determination is also a key to unlocking the truth. More importantly, a distinct research direction that the researcher is passionate about is of equal significance. In Prof. Chen's eyes, scientific research can always be interesting and charming. If you don't appreciate or enjoy the beauty, then it's no more than a miserable boring work. He endeavors to culture the students to take initiative in their work, has the potential to carry out scientific research independently, think critically, and always keep that curiosity to discover and innovate while, of course, having a good theoretical and experimental foundation. See more information: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hEVG785b0CxVHApJ8IMX-g

This weekend, the extended TNT Chen group held the OFFICIAL First overseas lab bonding in Johor, Malaysia. Prof. Chen planned and led the lab outing with diverse activities and entertainment to create a space of relief and motivation for the lab and, more importantly, to bring everyone’s heart together in this family. Members had much fun and enjoyed themselves in this trip. Thanks to a wonderful trip among the rich research life. Wish our group more glory and achievement in the future!

Dr Sadra Bakhshandeh was trained as a mechanical engineer and moved to biomedical engineering and medical biotechnology at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Germany. He has now been working as an editor at Nature Reviews Bioengineering for more than a year. Dr Sadra Bakhshandeh introduced Nature Reviews Bioengineering, how it differs from Nature Research journals, and the type of content we cover in the first part of the seminar. After that, he talked about the skills of writing for Nature Reviews journals and gave his suggestions for the authors.

Dr. Li Jun is a Professor in Biomedical Engineering at National University of Singapore (NUS). Before joining NUS, he worked as a Senior Scientist at the A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, and as a Special Postdoctoral Researcher at the RIKEN Institute in Japan. He received his PhD (1995) and MSc (1992) in macromolecular science from Osaka University, Japan. Prof. Li’s expertise lies across the synthetic and bio-based polymers, and their supramolecular self-assemblies forming nanostructures for various applications such as drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, personal care, and environmental sustainability. So far, he has published more than 200 international journal articles, which have received more than 15,000 citations with an h-index of 69. He filed 12 patents, authored a few book chapters, and edited one research book. He served chairs/co-chairs for 6 international symposia/conferences on the topics of bio-based polymers, hydrogels, and biomaterials, and supramolecular chemistry.
Prof. Li Jun’s research group in Department of Biomedical Engineering of NUS has been working on developing novel supramolecular self-assembled biomaterials starting from bio-based polymers and synthetic polymers as building blocks. It has been a challenge to incorporate multiple functional features into a single drug and gene carrier system to overcome numerous hurdles during the delivery of drugs and genes. Prof. Li Jun demonstrated several examples for building multifunctional carrier systems with controllable molecular architectures based on supramolecular self-assemblies including micelles, hydrogels, and nanoparticles.

Prof. Phei Er Saw is an excellent scientist in the field of bio-nanomedicine, with an emphasis on developing novel lipid nanoparticles as well as understanding the uptake mechanisms of lipid-based nanoparticles for cancer therapy. Her prior research combined the development of novel lipid-based nanoparticles, micelles, bicelles, and liposome synthesis as well as drug and siRNA encapsulation and targeted delivery in vitro and in vivo. In her new position in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, she now focusing on using various bioresponsive nano-delivery system to target and modulate TME for immunotherapy. She is also developing fully natural bio-active nanomedicine for medical application.
Prof. Phei Er Saw gave her speech entitled “Tumor microenvironment (TME)-modulating nanoparticles for cancer therapy”. She summarized the various pathways that one could make use of the unique TME (i.e. high ROS, lower pH, etc.) to develop TME-modulating nanoparticles for the delivery of chemotherapeutics and biologics. Meanwhile, she introduced the concept of “back to nature”, to fully utilize natural materials as nanoparticles that could lead to synergistic anti-cancer properties.

Zhu Yang’s paper entitled with “Enhancing Catalytic Activity of a Nickel Single Atom Enzyme by Polynary Heteroatom Doping for Ferroptosis-Based Tumor Therapy” was accepted by ACS Nano.
As a rising generation of nanozymes, single-atom enzymes show significant promise for cancer therapy, due to their maximum atom utilization efficiency and well-defined electronic structures. However, it remains a tremendous challenge to precisely produce a heteroatom-doped single-atom enzyme with an expected coordination environment. Herein, we develop an anion exchange strategy for precisely controlled production of an edge-rich sulfur (S)- and nitrogen (N)-decorated nickel single-atom enzyme (S-N/Ni PSAE). In particular, sulfurized S-N/Ni PSAE exhibits stronger peroxidase-like and glutathione oxidase-like activities than the nitrogen-monodoped nickel single-atom enzyme, which is attributed to the vacancies and defective sites of sulfurized nitrogen atoms. Moreover, both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that, compared with nitrogen-monodoped N/Ni PSAE, sulfurized S-N/Ni PSAE more effectively triggers ferroptosis of tumor cells via inactivating glutathione peroxidase 4 and inducing lipid peroxidation. This study highlights the enhanced catalytic efficacy of a polynary heteroatom-doped single-atom enzyme for ferroptosis-based cancer therapy.

Prof. Chunming Wang from Macau University was invited to give a research seminar entitled with “Modulating macrophages with microbe- and tumourinspired approaches for tissue repair”. Chunming is an old friend of NUS, he got his PhD degree in NTU and worked in A*STAR for many years.
He shared his recent research in this seminar, focusing on the development of glycan biomaterials and cell therapies for modulating the immune niche for promoting tissue regeneration. He has won multiple research grants at national and regional levels, been elected as a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Biology and Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, and serves on the editorial board of Bioactive Materials. Prof. Wang’s research was published in a series of peer-reviewed journal such as Nature Communications, Science Advances, EMBO Molecular Medicine, Gut, and Advanced Materials, etc.

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based messager mRNA vaccines have emerged as a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Efforts have been made worldwide to improve the current design of the particles to address the side effects.
In our recent work published on Advanced Materials (Huang, P., et al.), Prof Chen and the group in NUS developed potent yet low inflammatory mRNA cancer vaccine vectors. The team synthesised a series of alternating copolymers instead of LNP, which can work as vehicles and help mRNA cargos deliver into cells. After entry into cells, mRNA is translated into protein antigens and kills the disease. In the process, the stability of polymeric nanoparticles (PNP) is maintained, which can ensure the accurate transmission of all genetic information to the targeted action sites of the antigen to kill the disease. This ensures the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.
This work was highlighted by www.news-medical.net. Full news article available at: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221204/Researchers-develop-potent-yet-low-inflammatory-mRNA-cancer-vaccine-vectors.aspx .

Zheng’s review paper entitled with “In Response to Precision Medicine: Current Subcellular Targeting Strategies for Cancer Therapy” was accepted by Adv. Mater. Congratulations to Zheng!
Emerging as a potent anti-cancer treatment, subcellular targeted cancer therapy has drawn increasing attention, bringing great opportunities for clinical application. In this review, we summarize two targeting strategies for four main subcellular organelles (mitochondria, lysosome, endoplasmic reticulum, and nucleus), including molecule and nanomaterial (inorganic nanoparticles, micelles, organic polymers, and others)-based targeted delivery or therapeutic strategies. Phototherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and “all-in-one” combination therapy are among the strategies covered in detail. Such materials have been constructed based on the specific properties and relevant mechanisms of organelles, enabling the elimination of tumors by inducing dysfunction in the corresponding organelles or destroying specific structures. The challenges faced by organelle-targeting cancer therapies are also summarized. Looking forward, we envision a paradigm for organelletargeting therapy with enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to current clinical approaches.

Published last month, Professor Chen was recognized as one of the most influential scientific minds in the field of both Chemistry and Materials Science, based on the Highly Cited Researchers 2022 List published by data analytics firm Clarivate.
The Highly Cited Researchers 2022 list uses both quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify individuals from across the globe who have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their chosen field or fields of research. This year, 7,225 researcher awards (issued to 6,938 individuals) from 69 countries and regions were announced – 3,981 in specific fields and 3,244 for cross-field impact. The list is drawn from highly cited papers that rank in the top 1 percent by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science citation index over the past decade. The list also identifies the research institutions and regions where they are based.
Prof. Chen is among a total of 34 researchers awarded in NUS. He has made a significant contribution to translating research breakthroughs to practice. His tremendous effort in transforming science and nurturing next-generation scientists is highly acknowledged in the field.
Congrats Professor Chen for this honor!