Molecular Neurotherapeutics Laboratory

Ivy Ho, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore

Contact Information
Molecular Neurotherapeutics Laboratory
National Neuroscience Institute
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore 308433
Phone: (65) 6357 7547 (Office) / (65) 6357 7634 (Lab)
Email: [email protected]

Dr Ivy Ho received her Ph.D. from the National University of Singapore in the field of viral gene therapy for glioma. She continued her postdoctoral training on mesenchymal stem cells studying their migration and role in cancer therapy at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Her findings suggested a role of mesenchymal stem cells in modulating the tumour stroma microenvironment that inhibited glioma progression.

She is currently a Principal Investigator and heads the Molecular Neurotherapeutics Laboratory at the National Neuroscience Institute. Her long-time interest in brain tumour therapy has led her to focus on understanding the intrinsic and microenvironmental factors that could impact glioma therapy.

In particular, the lab is investigating how reciprocal communication between glioma cells and the immune microenvironment influences glioma invasion and mesenchymal transition. In connection with glioma invasiveness, her laboratory also investigates the role of the NF1 tumour suppressor gene in neuroblastoma metastasis.

Research Interest:

• Brain tumour biology
• Tumour microenvironment
• Stem cells
• NF1

Publications:

• Pathogenic mutations in neurofibromin identifies a leucine rich domain regulating glioma cell invasiveness. Fadhullah SF, Abdul Halim N, Yeo JYT, Ho RLY, Um P, Ang BT, Tang C, Ng WH, Virshup DM, Ho IAW. Oncogene 2019 36(2):5367-5380.
• Interleukin-13 receptor alpha 2 cooperates with EGFRvIII signaling to promote glioblastoma multiforme. Newman JP, Wang GY, Arima K, Guan SP, Waters MR, Cavenee WK, Pan E, Aliwarga E, Chong ST, Kok CYL, Endaya BB, Habib AA, Horibe T, Ng WH, Ho IAW, Hui KM, Kordula T, Lam PYP. Nat Commun. 2017 4;8(1):1913.
• Contribution of the microenvironmental niche to glioblastoma heterogeneity. Ho IA*, Shim WS. Biomed Res Int. 2017; 2017:9634172. doi: 10.1155/2017/9634172.  *Corresponding author.
• Redox-Active Mn Porphyrin-based Potent SOD Mimic, MnTnBuOE-2-PyP5+, Enhances Carbenoxolone Mediated TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis in Glioblastoma Multiforme Yulyana Y, Tovmasyan A, Ho IA, Sia KC, Newman JP, Ng WH, Guo CM, Hui KM, Batinic-Haberle I, Lam PY. Stem Cell Rev 2016 12(1):140-155.
• Combined treatment of Nimotuzumab and rapamycin is effective against temozolomide-resistant human gliomas regardless of the EGFR mutation status.Chong DQ, Toh XY, Ho IA, Sia KC, Newman JP, Yulyana Y, Ng WH, Lai SH, Ho MM, Dinesh N, Tham CK, Lam PY. BMC Cancer.2015 15(1):255.
• Paracrine factors of human fetal MSCs inhibit liver cancer growth through reduced activation of IGF-1R/PI3K/Akt signaling.Yulyana Y*, Ho IA*, Sia KC, Newman JP, Toh XY, Endaya BB, Chan JKY, Gnecchi M, Huynh H, Chung AYF, Kim KH, Leong HS, Iyer NG, Hui KM, Lam PY. Mol Ther. 2015. 23(4):746-56. PMID: 25619723. *co-first author.
• Matrix metalloproteinase-1-mediated mesenchymal stem cell tumor tropism is dependent on crosstalk with stromal derived growth factor 1/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 axis. Ho IA, Yulyana Y, Sia KC, Newman JP, Guo CM, Hui KM, Lam PY. FASEB J. 2014. (10):4359-68.
• Carbenoxolone enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the upregulation of death receptor 5 and inhibition of Gap Junction Intercellular Communication. Yulyana Y, Endaya B, Ng WH, Guo CM, Hui KM, Lam PY, Ho IA*. Stem Cells Dev. 2013. 22(13): 1870-1882. PMID: 23428290. *corresponding author.
• Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells suppress human glioma growth through inhibition of angiogenesis. Ho IA, Toh HC, Ng WH, Teo YL, Guo CM, Hui KM, Lam PY. Stem Cells. 2013.  31(1):146-55.
• Signaling molecules and pathways involved in MSC tumor tropism. Ho IA, Lam PY. Histol Histopathol. 2013. 28(11):1427-1438.
• Tumor trophic migration of mesenchymal stem cells.  Lam PY and Ho IA. (2013). In Khalid Shah (Ed). Stem Cell based Therapeutics for Cancer (p21-39). Wiley-Blackwell.
• FasL and FADD delivery by a glioma-specific and cell cycle-dependent HSV-1 amplicon virus enhanced apoptosis in primary human brain tumors. Ho IA, Ng WH, Lam PY. Mol Cancer. 2010. 9 (1): 270.
• Hybrid HSV/EBV amplicon viral vectors confer enhanced transgene expression in primary human tumors and human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Sia KC, Chong WK, Ho IA, Yulyana Y, Endaya B, Huynh H, Lam PY. J Gene Med. 2010. 12(10):848-58.
• Isolation of peptide ligands that interact specifically with human glioma cells. Ho IA, Hui KM, Lam PY.   Peptides 2010. 31(4):644-50.
• Targeting human glioma cells using HSV-1 amplicon peptide display vector. Ho IA, Miao L, Sia KC, Wang GY, Hui KM, Lam PY. Gene Ther 2010. 17(2):250-60.
• Matrix metalloproteinase 1 is necessary for human bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells migration. Ho IA, Chan KY, Ng WH, Guo CM, Hui KM, Cheang P, Lam PY. Stem Cells 2009. 27(6):1366-1375.
• Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) mediated gene transfer to human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Ho IA, Chan KY, Miao L, Shim WS, Guo CM, Cheang P, Hui KM, Lam PY. Cancer Gene Ther 2008.15(9):553-62.
• Angiopoietin: A TIE(d) Balance in Tumor Angiogenesis.  Shim WS, Ho IA, Wong PE. Mol Can Res 2007. 5(7): 655-665.
• An efficient and safe Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 amplicon vector for transcriptionally targeted therapy of human hepatocellular carcinomas. Lam PY, Sia KC, Khong JH, De Geest B, Lim KS, Ho IA, Wang GY, Miao LV, Huynh H, Hui KM. Mol Ther 2007. 15(6):1129-1136.
• Engineering of an improved cell cycle regulatable HSV-1 amplicon vector with enhanced transgene expression in proliferating cells yet attenuated activities in resting cells. Wang GY, Ho IA, Sia KC, Miao L, Hui KM, Lam PY. Hum Gene Ther 2007. 18:222-231.