Duke-NUS PhD in IBM 5 Specialty Tracks

PhD in Integrated Biology and Medicine

Information brochure on the curriculum requirements for each of our 5 signature research programs

2011 IBM Program Cancer & Stem Cell Biology (CSCB) Cancer affects one in three people during their lifetime and is a leading cause of death worldwide. Our rapidly growing CSCB program takes both basic and clinical-translational approaches to understand key signaling pathways of cancer and highlight innovation in developing and advancing cancer therapeutics.

Our groups are conducting world-class science in many different fields in cancer research including stem cell research to fight against cancer. Our program benefits from close interactions with collaborative networks with the existing cancer research community in Singapore, including the National Cancer Center (NCC), Singapore General Hospital, NUS, and the A*STAR Research Institutes.

Curriculum Requirement: 60 modular credits (MC) 40 MC from research at the mentor’s laboratory (3.5 yrs), 6 MC from two rotations, 4 MC from IBM core course (1st year), and 4 MC from CDN5101 Fundamentals of Cancer Biology Course, 6MC from other courses (your mentor and you will decide together).

IBM mentors list at CSCB NAME David M. VIRSHUP (Prof., Program Director) Patrick J CASEY (Prof., Senior ViceDean for Research) Alexandra PIETERSEN ( Asst. Prof.)

RESEARCH TOPIC Cancer Biology, Signal Transduction, protein phosphorylation, Wnt signaling

LAB DukeNUS

G protein signal transduction impacting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

DukeNUS

Mammary stem cells and breast cancer, mouse models, flow cytometry

Caroline LEE (Assoc. Prof.)

Functional Genomics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Pharmaco‐genetics/genomics, Population Genetics, Polymorphisms Pathways regulating carcinogenesis and chemosensitivity (c-Jun/JNK and p53/p73), mouse models for cancer and cancer therapeutic agents ARF‐Mdm2‐p53 tumor suppressor pathway, apoptosis, cancer metabolism, targeting mitochondria for cancer therapy Cancer Biology, tumor suppressors in the p53 pathway, oncogenic microRNAs, ultra-conserved noncoding RNAs Cancer Biology, experimental cancer therapeutics, protein prenylation and its impact on signaling, autophagy and cell death pathways

DukeNUS/NC C NCC

Kanaga SABAPATHY (Assoc. Prof.)

Koji ITAHANA ( Asst. Prof.)

Mathijs VOORHOEVE ( Asst. Prof.)

Mei WANG ( Asst. Prof.)

NCC

DukeNUS DukeNUS DukeNUS

EMAIL david.virshup @dukenus.edu.sg patrick.casey @dukenus.edu.sg alexandra.piet ersen@duke‐n us.edu.sg caroline.lee@ duke‐nus.edu. sg cmrksb@nccs. com.sg

TEL 65167881

koji.itahana@d uke‐nus.edu.s g mathijs.voorho eve@duke‐nu s.edu.sg mei.wang@du ke‐nus.edu.sg

65162554

65167251 62237241 65163251 64368349

65162503 65168608

Patrick TAN (Assoc. Prof.)

Stomach cancer, cancer genomics, translational medicine

DukeNUS/GI S/NCC

gmstanp@duk e-nus.edu.sg

65161783

Sang Hyun LEE ( Asst. Prof.)

Cancer Biology, Mitotic checkpoint, chromosomal instability, aneuploidy, anti-mitotic therapy

DukeNUS

sanghyun.lee @dukenus.edu.sg

66011406

Shang LI ( Asst. Prof.)

Telomerase regulation, cancer and aging

DukeNUS

shang.li@duke ‐nus.edu.sg

66011259

Shazib PERVAIZ (Prof.)

Cell death and survival signaling. Redox regulation of cell fate, Bcl‐2 family and mitochondrial physiology, drug discovery

NUS

Shazib_Pervai z@nuhs.edu.s g

65166602

Sin Tiong ONG (Assoc. Prof.)

Therapeutic targeting of cancer stem cells, mechanisms of drug resistance, haematologic malignancies

DukeNUS

sintiong.ong@ duke‐nus.edu. sg

65167763

* Please look at details of research projects and publications by faculty members in the following website. Some faculty have links to their additional laboratory websites. http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/signature-research-programs/cancer-stem-cell-biology

2011 IBM Program Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Infections contribute importantly to the overall disease burden and mortality worldwide. The Signature Research Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases integrates the surveillance of new and emerging pathogens with the development of new treatment, prevention, and control strategies. Our program closely interfaces with diverse academic, government, and industry partners on the national and international level, and it is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the infectious diseases research community in South East Asia.

Researchers in our program investigate different aspects of dengue and other arboviruses, influenza, and Rickettsia biology, ranging from epidemiological surveys in humans and animals, mechanistic studies of entry, replication and egress, immune response to infection, to drug and vaccine development and efficacy assessment, thus providing opportunities for research projects with basic and translational research and public health focus. Students can work with any of the mentors listed below.

Curriculum Requirement: 60 modular credits (MC) 40 MC from research at the mentor’s laboratory (3.5 yrs), 6 MC from two rotations, 4 MC from IBM core course (1st year), and 4 MC from GMS 6904 Principles of Infectious Diseases Course, 2 MC from GMS 6905 Developments in Infectious Diseases, and 4MC from other courses (your mentor and you will decide together).

Mentor list at EID NAME

RESEARCH TOPIC

LAB

EMAIL

TEL

Duane Gubler (Professor, ProgramDirector)

Dengue and other vector-borne disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and control; Pathogen discovery

DukeNUS

duane.gubler@dukenus.edu.sg

65168397

Ooi Eng Eong (Associate Professor)

Pathogenesis of dengue; the interactions of dengue immune complexes with monocytes

DukeNUS

engeong.ooi@dukenus.edu.sg

65168594

Subhash Vasudevan (Associate Professor)

Viral therapeutics, drug discovery, pathogenesis mechanism studies for dengue and other vector-borne viruses.

DukeNUS

subhash.vasudevan@du ke-nus.edu.sg

65166718

Veronika von Messling (Associate Professor)

Pathogenesis of respiratory viruses, host response assessment, animal models

DukeNUS

veronika.vonmessling@d uke-nus.edu.sg

66011372

Gavin J Smith (Associate Professor)

Ecology, evolution, population dynamics, molecular epidemiology, interspecies transmission of emerging infectious diseases

DukeNUS

gavin.smith@dukenus.edu.sg

66011109

Manoj Krishnan (Assistant Professor)

Cell biology of viral infection; antiviral innate immune mechanisms

DukeNUS

manoj.krishnan@dukenus.edu.sg

65162666

Lok Shee Mei (Assistant Professor)

Structural changes of dengue virus during infection.

DukeNUS

sheemei.lok@dukenus.edu.sg

65165840

* Please look at details of research projects and publications by faculty members in the following website. Some faculties have links to their additional laboratory websites. http://research.duke-nus.edu.sg/emerginginfectiousdiseases

Specialty Track in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders PhD Program in Integrated Biology and Medicine, Duke-NUS

About the Program

IBM Mentors in CVMD

The increased prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (e.g. hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, diabetes, etc.) poses an enormous risk for the inhabitants of Singapore and the world. With an aging and increasingly sedentary population, the unabated rise in these diseases is unlikely to slow in the near future, and their treatment accounts for a disproportionate percentage of health care costs. To combat this burgeoning epidemic, Duke-NUS launched a signature research program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders (CVMD) that will train graduate students in this important discipline.

Shirish SHENOLIKAR, Professor Protein phosphatases; transduction of signals by metabolic and environmental stress

The CVMD program houses state-of-the-art research capabilities, including core facilities for profiling mitochondrial function (e.g. oxygen consumption, ATP production, etc.) and metabolic adaptations (e.g. indirect calorimetry, euglycemic clamps, etc.) in human patients and other model organisms.

Moreover, its new Metabolomics Facility allows one to obtain both targeted and non-targeted profiles of nutrient metabolites (e.g. fatty acids, amino acids, citric acid cycle intermediates, etc.) using mass spectroscopy. Application of these technologies allows one to gain a strong appreciation of the metabolic dysregulation that serves as an underpinning for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

As part of the training regimen, CVMD students will conduct independent research under the tutelage of one of our world-class research scientists. Moreover, they will take advanced coursework on molecular cardiovascular biology and integrated metabolism. Students trained in this program will be on a path to become independent investigators running independent research programs in industry or academia.

Shigeki SUGII, Assistant Professor Adipose stem and iPS cells; fat metabolism; diabetes; nuclear receptors; regenerative therapeutics Scott A. SUMMERS, Associate Professor Lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity; diabetes Paul M. YEN, Associate Professor Thyroid function; nuclear hormone receptor; hepatic steatosis; PI3-kinase and cancer

Recent Publications Holland, WL, Bikman, BT, Wang, L.-P, Sargent, KM, Knotts, TA, Shui, G, Wenk, MR, Pagliassotti, MJ, and Summers, SA (2011) Lipid-induced insulin resistance mediated by the proinflammatory receptor TLR4 requires saturated fatty acid-induced ceramide biosynthesis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation 121(5), 1858-70 Bikman, BT and Summers, SA. (2011) Ceramides as regulators of cellular and whole-body metabolism. Journal of Clinical Investigation (in press) Zhou, W., Brush, M.H., Choy, M.S. and Shenolikar, S. (2011) Association with Endoplasmic Reticulum Enhances Proteasomal Degradation of GADD34 Protein. Journal of Biological Chemistry 286: 21687-21696.

Fullwood, M.J, Lee, J., Lin, L., Li,G., Huss, M., Patrick Ng,P., Sung,W.K. and Shenolikar, S. (2011) Next-Generation Sequencing of Apoptotic DNA Breakpoints Reveals Association with Actively Transcribed Genes and Gene Translocations. PLoS ONE. In press.

Sugii, S and Evans, RM (2011) Epigenetic Codes of PPARÎł in Metabolic Disease. FEBS Lett.

585, 2121-2128 Sugii, S, Kida, Y, Berggren, WT, and Evans, RM (2011) Feeder-Dependent and FeederIndependent iPS Cell Derivation from Human and Mouse Adipose Stem Cells. Nature Protoc. 6, 346-358 Voss TC, Schiltz RL, Sung MH, Yen PM, Stamatoyannopoulos JA, Biddie SC, Johnson TA, Miranda TB, John S, Hager GL (2011) Dynamic exchange at regulatory elements during chromatin remodeling underlies assisted loading mechanism. Cell 146(4), 544-54.

Wang D, Xia X, Weiss RE, Refetoff S, Yen PM (2010) Distinct and histone-specific modifications mediate positive versus negative transcriptional regulation of TSHalpha promoter. PLoS One 24;5(3):e9853.

Curriculum Requirements 60 MODULAR CREDITS TOTAL (MCs): 40 MC from research in the mentor’s laboratory (3.5 yrs), 6 MC from two laboratory rotations, 4 MC from the IBM core course (Molecules to Medicines), and 10 MC from CVMD electives decided upon by you and your mentor (e.g. Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Metabolism, etc.).

2011 IBM Program Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders (NBD) The Signature Research Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders comprises research groups that investigate molecular, developmental, systems and cognitive neuroscience. The program is also part of an integrated Neuroscience Research Partnership under the aegis of the Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR) that seeks to advance neuroscience research nationally. The A*STAR-Duke-NUS Neurosciences Research Partnership has forged a strong link between the Neuroscience and Behavioral Disorders program and the researchers, resources and infrastructure at the nearby Biopolis research campus.

The aim of much of the work in the Program is translating discoveries in basic science into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the domains of cognitive, developmental, eye and psychiatric disease. In collaboration with the Singapore Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Duke-NUS operates a Translational and Clinical Research Flagship Program on the early diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. Members of the Program also work the close association with the Institute of Mental Health and the National Neuroscience Institute, which provide unique opportunities to study psychiatric and neurological disorders on many different levels. Students can work with any of the mentors listed below.

Curriculum Requirement: 60 modular credits (MC) 40 MC from research at the mentor’s laboratory (3.5 yrs), 6 MC from two rotations, 4 MC from IBM core course (1st year), and 8 MC from SGPN core modules , 2MC from one elective course (your mentor and you will decide together).

IBM mentors list at NBD NAME Dale Purves (Prof., Program Director) George Augustine (Prof).

RESEARCH TOPIC Visual and auditory perception

LAB DukeNUS

EMAIL dale.purves@dukenus.edu.sg

TEL 6516 4386

Optogenetic mapping of brain circuitry; synaptic transmission

Biopolis

georgea@neuro.du ke.edu

6407 0750

Michael Chee (Prof)

Mechanisms underlying attention failure in sleep deprived persons; Decision making following sleep deprivation; Cognitive neuroscience of healthy aging Axon growth and regeneration, axonal transport, synapse assembly and plasticity

DukeNUS

michael.chee@duk e-nus.edu.sg

6516 4916

DUKENUS

Marc.fivaz@dukenus.edu.sg

6516 7748

Adult neurogenesis and regeneration of the adult CNS. Induced pluripotent stem cells for modeling and potential treatment for neurodevelopment and neurodegenerative diseases.

Chronobiology, human circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation

DukeNUS

Eyleen.goh@dukenus.edu.sg

6516 6701

DukeNUS

joshua.gooley@duk e-nus.edu.sg

6516 7430

DukeNUS

pojang.hsieh@duk e-nus.edu.sg

6601 2088

DukeNUS

Shawn.je@dukenus.edu.sg

6601 1260

Suresh Jesuthasan (Assoc Prof)

Human cognition, attention, visual awareness, object perception and recognition, decision making, human brain mapping with fMRI and diffusion imaging Developing circuit-based mouse models of neuropsychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia, autism, and depression. Understanding cell and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity.

Pheromone-induced fear in zebrafish; neural circuits regulating anxiety.

NRP

suresh.jesuthasan @nrp.a-star.edu.sg

6407 0390

Tih-Shih Lee (Assoc Prof)

Brain-computer interface, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

DukeNUS

tihshih.lee@dukenus.edu.sg

6516 7461

Marc Fivaz (Asst Prof) Eyleen Goh (Asst Prof)

Joshua Gooley (Asst Prof) Po-Jang (Brown) Hsieh (Asst Prof) Shawn Je (Asst Prof)

Kah Leong Lim (Assoc. Prof)

Molecular Mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease

NRP

Kahleong.lim@duk e-nus.edu.sg

6516 5413

Edward Manser (Prof)

Rho GTPase signaling in cell migration and neuronal differentiation

A-STAR

ed.manser@imb.astar.edu.sg

6586 9545

Steve Rozen (Assoc Prof)

Human genetics (especially behavioral) and cancer genomics and the genetics of cancer progression; bioinformatics

Duke NUS

steve.rozen@dukenus.edu.sg

9857 3213

Shirish Shenolikar (Prof and senior associate Dean for research) Eng King Tan (Assoc Prof)

Genetic and Pharmacological Targeting Translational Control Mechanisms to Protect Neurons against Huntinton’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders.

Genetic epidemiology, pathophysiologic studies of diseased genes and experimental therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases

DukeNUS

Shirish.Shenolikar @DukeNUS.edu.sg

6516 2588

DukeNUS

gnrtek@sgh.com.s g

6326 5003

Antonius VanDongen (Assoc Prof)

Epigenetics and systems biology of learning and memory

DUKENUS

antonius.vandonge n@dukenus.edu.sg

6516 7075

Hongyan Wang (Asst Prof)

Neural stem cell self-renewal, asymmetric cell division, neuronal degeneration

DukeNUS

hongyan.wang@du ke-nus.edu.sg

6516 7740

Xiaodong Zhang (Asst Prof)

Serotonin-based neuropsychiatric disorders

DukeNUS

xiaodong.zhang@d uke-nus.edu.sg

6516 8809

Adam ClaridgeChang (Asst Prof)

Models of cognitive and emotional dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster

A-STAR

adamcc@gmail.co m

6407 0720

* Please look at details of research projects and publications by faculty members in the following website. Some faculty have links to their additional laboratory websites.

http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/signature-research-programs/neuroscience-behavioral-disorders

Introducing the Health Services and Systems Research (HSSR) Track of the Integrated Biology and Medicine (IBM) Program What is the Health Services and Systems Research Program?

HSSR is a center of academic excellence for research and education on the organization, financing, and delivery of health services. Our focus is on public health and clinical service innovation in an increasingly complex and connected world.

HSSR employs a systems perspective to address critical health issues.

Systems thinking cuts across all of our research priorities and recognizes the multiple leverage points and feedback loops involved.

This includes health, social, economic, political, biological and other systems. Our focus is to conduct clinical and public health research that benefits Singapore. However, we also undertake regional and international work that is consistent with Duke-NUS’s global health mission.

Primary Disciplines Health Services Research Health Systems Modelling Health Economics Health Policy

Curriculum Requirements 1) Integrated Biology and Medicine Program core course - full time semester 1 2) At least 36 additional modular credits where 16 must be 6000 level and the remainder will be 5000 level 3) Courses will be determined based on the discipline chosen with input from the PhD supervisor and committee

Faculty Members Director - Professor David Matchar http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/matchar-david -bruce Deputy Director - Associate Professor Eric Finkelstein http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/finkelstein-eric Associate Professor - Angelique Chan http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/angelique-chan Professor - Truls Østbye (20% Duke-NUS, 80% Duke, Durham) http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/ostbye-truls Assistant Professor - Young Kyung Do http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/do-young-kyung Senior Associate in Research - James Thompson http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/faculty/thompson-james -patrick

Recent Significant Publications Effect of Home Testing of International Normalized Ratio on Clinical Events. New England Journal of Medicine, 2010; 363(17), 1608-1620 Authors: Matchar D.B., Jacobson A., Dolor R.J., Edson R.G., Uyeda L., Phibbs C.S., Vertrees J.E., Shih M.C., Holodniy M., Lavori P. Impact of Targeted Beverage Taxes on Higher and Lower Income Households. Archives of Internal Medicine, Dec 13, 2010;170(22), 2028-2034 Authors: Finkelstein E.A., Zhen C., Nonnemaker J.M., Todd J.E. Cost effectiveness of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation testing and first line treatment with gefitinib for patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the lung. Cancer, 2011 Authors: Lopes G.L., Segel J.E., Tan S.W., Do Y.K., Mok T., Finkelstein E.A. The Impact of Mandatory Menu Labeling in One Fast Food Chain in King County, Washingon. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Feb 2011;40(2), 122-127 Authors: Finkelstein E.A., Strombotne K.L., Chan N.L., Krieger J. Self reported pain severity among multiethnic older Singaporeans: Does adjusting for reporting heterogeneity matter? European Journal of Pain, Published online Jun 8, 2011, DOI: 10.1016/ j.ejpain.2011.05.006 Authors: Chan A., Malhotra C., Do Y.K., Malhotra R., Østbye T. Living arrangements, social networks and depressive symptoms among older men and women in Singapore. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Jul 2010 Authors: Chan A., Malhotra C., Malhotra R., Østbye T. Correlates of Limitations in Activities of Daily Living and Mobility among Community Dwelling Older Singaporeans. Ageing & Society, Published online Dec 21, 2010 Authors: Chan A., Malhotra C., Østbye T.

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innovation in an increasingly complex and connected world

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Visit us: http://http://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/web/research/signature-research-programs/health-services-systems-research For more information contact A/Prof. Finkelstein at eric.finkelstein@duke-nus.edu.sg

HSSR