A/Prof Tang graduated from The Scripps Research Institute, USA in 1998 on a Glaxo Wellcome-EDB funded scholarship. She subsequently undertook postdoctoral training at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore (cell cycle) and the Howard Florey Institute, Melbourne in developmental neurobiology. Together with her Co-Principal Investigator and neurosurgeon colleague, A/Prof Ang Beng Ti, they established the Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratory in 2006.

The lab’s research focuses on primary brain tumours, specifically glioblastoma (GBM). Histologically identical GBM tumour tissue sections from different patients have been shown to be molecularly heterogeneous; possibly accounting for the frequently observed interpatient variability to treatment response. Over the years, the team has utilised large public clinical databases to establish hypotheses for biological validation. Pivotal to the neuro-oncology effort is the setup of GLIOPORTAL, NNI’s first tumour resource complete with molecular annotation of de-identified patient-derived cell lines and orthotopic xenograft mouse tumours, fully integrated with the patient’s clinical information. GLIOPORTAL provides biological validation critical in preclinical studies, and potentially offers re-identified patients the option for targeted therapy. This forms a core capability of precision medicine.

The multidisciplinary team comprising investigators from NUS, Duke-NUS, A*STAR and NTU was awarded the Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) Flagship Programme Grant in 2016. The research programme seeks to establish a seamless transition of basic science discoveries to clinical implementation by prioritising specific technologies capable of discerning GBM molecular subtypes. These include the creation of minimally invasive diagnostic platforms, imaging modalities and novel therapeutic strategies associated with stratified patient cohorts.

In 2021, the team was once again awarded the Large Collaborative Grant administered by the National Medical Research Council, which seeks to translate research findings into clinical practice. Themes include the evaluation of immunotherapeutic strategies targeting the mesenchymal transition and tumour cell plasticity. Through participation in GBM adaptive trials, the team will implement patient stratification methods in the diagnosis and treatment decisions of patients with GBM.

The lab also takes great pride in mentoring young scientists and clinical investigators who are critical to the continuity of any meaningful diseased-focused research programme.

• PhD, Glaxo Wellcome - EDB Scholarship
  The Scripps Research Institute, USA, 1992-98
  Macromolecular and Cellular Structure and Chemistry
• BSc Hons (Microbiology)
  Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, 1988-91

• Associate Professor, Adjunct
  School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
• Co-Director, Talent Development Unit
  National Neuroscience Research Institute Singapore (NNRIS)
• Assistant Professor, Joint
  Neuroscience Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School
  Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School
• Member, Scientific Grant Review Committee (Translational)
  SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Research
• Subject Expert Member
  SingHealth Institutional Biosafety Committee
• Institutional Biosafety Officer, Microbiologist
  National Neuroscience Institute

• Best Mentor Award, NUS High School of Math and Science, 2018
• Outstanding Mentor Award, 17th Youth Science Conference, Ministry of Education, 2012
• Glaxo Wellcome-EDB PhD Scholarship, 1992-98

• Neuro-oncology
• Neuroscience
• Precision medicine
• Systems biology

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2. Bae, K., Xin, L., Zheng, W. et al. Mapping the Intratumoral Heterogeneity in Glioblastomas with Hyperspectral Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy. Analytical Chemistry 93, 2377-2384, (2021)
3. Cheng, H. S., Marvalim, C., Zhu, P. et al. Kinomic profile in patient-derived glioma cells during hypoxia reveals c-MET-PI3K dependency for adaptation. Theranostics 11, 5127-5142, (2021)
4. Xu, L., Chen, Y., Huang, Y. et al. Topography of transcriptionally active chromatin in glioblastoma. Sci Adv 7, (2021)
5. Wang, Z., Sun, X., Natalia, A. et al. Dual-Selective Magnetic Analysis of Extracellular Vesicle Glycans. Matter 2, 150-166, (2020)
6. Tan, M. S. Y., Sandanaraj, E., Chong, Y. K. et al. A STAT3-based gene signature stratifies glioma patients for targeted therapy. Nat Commun 10, 3601, (2019)
7. Bae, K., Zheng, W., Lin, K. et al. Epi-Detected Hyperspectral Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy for Label-Free Molecular Subtyping of Glioblastomas. Anal Chem 90, 10249-10255, (2018)
8. Xu, L., Chen, Y., Mayakonda, A. et al. Targetable BET proteins- and E2F1-dependent transcriptional program maintains the malignancy of glioblastoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 115, E5086-E5095, (2018)
9. Leong, S. H., Lwin, K. M., Lee, S. S. et al. Chromosomal breaks at FRA18C: association with reduced DOK6 expression, altered oncogenic signaling and increased gastric cancer survival. NPJ Precis Oncol 1, 9, (2017)
10. Chong, Y. K., Sandanaraj, E., Koh, L. W. et al. ST3GAL1-Associated Transcriptomic Program in Glioblastoma Tumor Growth, Invasion, and Prognosis. J Natl Cancer Inst 108, (2016)
11. Koh, L. W., Koh, G. R., Ng, F. S. et al. A distinct reactive oxygen species profile confers chemoresistance in glioma-propagating cells and associates with patient survival outcome. Antioxid Redox Signal 19, 2261-2279, (2013)
12. Choudhury, Y., Tay, F. C., Lam, D. H. et al. Attenuated adenosine-to-inosine editing of microRNA-376a* promotes invasiveness of glioblastoma cells. J Clin Invest 122, 4059-4076, (2012)
13. Ng, F. S., Toh, T. B., Ting, E. H. et al. Progenitor-like Traits Contribute to Patient Survival and Prognosis in Oligodendroglial Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 18, 4122-4135, (2012)
14. Yeo, C. W., Ng, F. S., Chai, C. et al. Parkin pathway activation mitigates glioma cell proliferation and predicts patient survival. Cancer Res 72, 2543-2553, (2012)
15. Tay, S. P., Yeo, C. W., Chai, C. et al. Parkin enhances the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 and negatively regulates the proliferation of breast cancer cells. J Biol Chem 285, 29231-29238, (2010)
16. Chong, Y. K., Toh, T. B., Zaiden, N. et al. Cryopreservation of neurospheres derived from human glioblastoma multiforme. Stem Cells 27, 29-39, (2009)