RESEARCH IMPACT & COLLABORATIONS
CDE Research Newsletter Issue 04 2025
The field of robotics is vast, and covers highly diverse topical domains and we’re excited to feature our colleagues’ amazing work in robotics. Read more in the latest edition of the CDE Research Newsletter here: CDE Quarterly Research Newsletter - Jan 2025 - College of Design and Engineering.
DNA-barcoded gold nanoparticles for precision cancer therapy
Exciting advancements in cancer treatment at CDE! A team of researchers led by Assistant Professor Andy Tay has developed a game-changing method using gold nanoparticles tagged with DNA barcodes to enhance precision in cancer therapy. This innovative technique not only optimises drug delivery but also reduces screening costs, paving the way for personalised and safer treatments. Beyond cancer, it offers broader therapeutic applications, including RNA delivery and targeting organ-specific diseases.
Discover how this breakthrough could redefine the future of precision medicine here: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/dna-barcoded-gold-nanoparticles-for-precision-cancer-therapy/
Squeezed cells offer new insights for future treatments
A discovery by researchers at CDE has revealed how cells travelling through the human body adapt to the physical stresses of squeezing through tight spaces, shedding light on critical processes that impact how cancers spread, immune system responses, and stem cell therapies.
Using a rapid imaging technique, the team led by Assistant Prof Andrew Holle (Biomedical Engineering and Principal Investigator at the NUS Mechanobiology Institute) captured how cells reshape their nuclei, offering unprecedented insights into cellular behaviour with major implications for:
- Cancer treatments: Targeting tumour cells as they invade tissues.
- Immune therapies: Boosting the mobility of immune cells to fight infections.
- Regenerative medicine: Enhancing stem cell differentiation for tissue repair.
“Our work highlights the physical limits cells impose to protect themselves,” said Asst Prof Holle. “These insights could inspire new therapies and tools for studying cell mechanics.”
Read more here: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/squeezed-cells-offer-new-insights-for-future-treatments/
Musim Mas Professorship in Sustainability Workshop - Professor Tong Yen Wah
“Biomass is a huge and sustainable resource, especially in the Asian region around Singapore. It is our great pleasure to invite experts from the region to share their insights into using these biomass resources to enhance sustainability in various ways,” said Professor Tong Yen Wah.
Prof Tong was speaking in his welcome address at the inaugural Musim Mas Professorship in Sustainability Workshop in Biomass and Sustainability held on 17 January 2025. An integrated palm oil conglomerate, the Musim Mas Group, had recently accorded the Musim Mas Professorship to Prof Tong to help boost sustainability research in the palm oil industry.
The workshop brought together CDE experts and overseas collaborators from the ASEAN and Asian regions, where they presented their research on biomass for sustainability. A renewable resource that can be used to generate energy, manage waste and improve soil fertility, biomass energy is set to be a key component of sustainable development in Asia.
Dr Sheetal Parakh, a research fellow on Prof Tong’s team, presented their team’s waste-to-resources project at the workshop. She has been working with Prof Tong to solve waste challenges in urban areas since she was a PhD student.
“I have been working with Prof Tong for 10 years, first as a PhD student and now as a research fellow," said Dr Parakh. “He is a great mentor to work with and has always encouraged me to pursue new research ideas and take intellectual risks. This approach has helped me to develop the skills and confidence needed to become an independent researcher.”
She is currently involved in the Carbon-Negative Synthetic Biology (CNSB) programme for Biomaterial Production from CO2, a collaborative initiative between NUS and Shanghai Jiao Yong University under the CREATE framework. Her research focuses on bioreactor design to help develop a highly efficient cyanobacterial platform to produce high-value biofuels while utilising CO2.
The team at Musim Mas hopes that Prof Tong’s work will help support sustainability in the palm oil industry. They added, "At Musim Mas, we harness the biomass by-products from milling palm fruits to power our mills sustainably. We are proud to support Professor Tong Yen Wah through the Musim Mas Professorship in Sustainability, with his research into biomass and other sustainability-focused innovations."
Superhero material could reshape future tech
Combining inspiration from nature and science-fiction, a ‘superhero’ material called MINE could have a transformative impact on future technology.
Developed by a research team led by Assistant Prof Yu Jun Tan (Mechanical Engineering), MINE brings together the properties of stretchability, self-healing, transparency, conductivity and magnetism in one material.
This could enable exciting applications, from wearable devices and self-repairing screens to soft robots that navigate tight spaces or perform delicate tasks, and advanced gloves that offer even more realistic VR experiences.
Read more here: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news-detail/superhero-material-could-reshape-future-tech/
Major Grants Awarded
The major grants (start date in January 2025) with total project value > $1M.
| Hosting Unit | Project Title | Funding Programme (Source of Funding) |
Principal Investigator |
| CEE | Characterisation Of Vehicular Emissions In Singapore | NEA Air Quality Monitoring And Control (Aqmc) Funding Initiative – 2024
(NEA) |
Balasubramanian, Rajasekhar |
| CHBE | Technology Development Of High-Efficiency, Spin-Coated, Two-Terminal Monolithic Perovskite/Heterojunction Silicon Tandem Solar Cells With A Size Of 1cm2 | Trina Solar Energy Development PTE LTD | Hou Yi |
| ECE | The Project On Precise And Autonomous Formation Flying Satellites | DSO National Laboratories | Sheral Crescent Tissera; Abhishek Rai |
| MSE | Operando Imaging-Guided Catalyst Design Toward Oxygen Evolution Reaction | ACRF Tier 2 Grant – 2024
(MOE) |
Zhao Ming |
| ECE | Semiconductor Research And Innovation: Leveraging Basic Science To Develop New Competitive Edge In Technology Beyond Silicon | NRF Returning Singaporean Scientists Scheme (NRF-RSSS) – 2024
(NRF) |
Yeo Yee Chia |
| MSE | Electrification Of Spent Battery Materials Recycling For Circular Economy | A*STAR Manufacturing, Trade And Connectivity (MTC) Programmatic Fund – 2024
(A*STAR) |
Wang Qing; Wang, John |