Dr Anand Andiappan
Dr Anand Adndiappan
Principal Investigator
Email: anand_andiappan@a-star.edu.sg
Biography
Dr. Andiappan obtained his undergraduate degree from St. Peters Engineering College, Anna University in 2006 where he studied Industrial Biotechnology. He started his research career in the department of Biological Sciences in NUS, specialising in genetics of atopy and allergies in Singapore. He then moved to A*STAR in 2012 where he started as a post-doc at Olaf Rotzschke laboratory where he published the comprehensive study on atopic sensitisation and allergies in Singapore. He then started his laboratory in SIgN in July 2018 on receiving the NMRC Young Investigator award (OF-YIRG) focusing on molecular profiling of biomarkers for allergies, infection and respiratory disorders (AIR biomarkers). He was also awarded a career development award (CDA) from A*STAR for “Novel Treatment Directions for Atopic Dermatitis in Asia: From Clinical Phenotypes to Molecular Endotypes”.
Research Interests
Recently he also joined A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL) focusing on understanding how tissue-immune interactions lead to pathogenesis of inflammatory skin disorders and skin ageing. Using multi-omics and systems immunology, his group defines molecular endotypes and actionable targets to advance precision therapies, aiming to transform patient care and guide mechanism-driven interventions in Asian populations. The cohorts he is currently involved in leading the molecular phenotyping efforts are shown below.
National cohorts for molecular phenotyping of health & disease
Beyond science, he is also passionate about nurturing the next generation of scientists. As a member of the A*STAR SIgN and A* SRL Mentoring Committees and a former member of SIgNAPs (SIgN Association of Postdocs), he actively mentors PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, both within and beyond his group—to nurture the next generation of translational immunologists. Together with clinical partners, his group works toward science-informed treatment strategies and the discovery of biomarkers and molecular signatures that can guide precision medicine in allergic and inflammatory skin diseases. He also engages in public science outreach, giving talks at schools, junior colleges, and community events to inspire young minds and foster a greater appreciation for research.
Selected Publications
Wee S, de Beer A, Koh HW, Ong J, Low JH, Lim YT, Wang SM, Sobota RM, Goleva E, Leung DYM, Chiang WC, Chua MC, Andiappan AK. Atopic dermatitis in children: Untargeted proteomics highlights the interaction between barrier dysfunction and immune dysregulation as key pathways. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2025 Jul;36(7):e70142. doi: 10.1111/pai.70142. PMID: 40616285.
Serhan N, Abdullah NS, Gheziel N, Loste A, Ekren R, Labit E, Gonzalez AA, Oliva G, Tarot P, Petitfils C, Payros G, D'Avino P, Voisin A, Tinsley HFG, Gentek R, Brosseau C, Bodinier M, Reber L, Val P, Akdis CA, Mitamura Y, Andiappan AK, Chan JKY, Ginhoux F, François A, Cénac N, Basso L, Gaudenzio N. Maternal stress triggers early-life eczema through fetal mast cell programming. Nature. 2025 Oct;646(8083):161-170. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09419-8. Epub 2025 Aug 27. PMID: 40866704; PMCID: PMC12488486.
Lee WWL, Puan KJ, Lee B, Chua C, Koh SM, Yusof N, Tan KP, Luis BS, Ong J, Merid SK, Ang R, Chan XY, Hui LJ, Terenzani E, Lum J, Foo S, Zolezzi F, Yan ATS, Melen E, Yi SJ, Rotzschke O, Andiappan AK. Eosinophilic allergic rhinitis is strongly associated with the CD45RBlo subset of CD161+ Th2 cells that secretes IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. Allergy. 2023 Oct;78(10):2794-2798. doi: 10.1111/all.15846. Epub 2023 Aug 7. PMID: 37551093.
Peng Y, Zi XX, Tian TF, Lee B, Lum J, Tang SA, Tan KS, Qiu QH, Ye J, Shi L, Guan WJ, Andiappan AK, Wang Y. Whole-transcriptome sequencing reveals heightened inflammation and defective host defence responses in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Eur Respir J. 2019 Nov 14;54(5):1900732. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00732-2019. PMID: 31439685.
Puan KJ, Andiappan AK, Lee B, Kumar D, Lai TS, Yeo G, Bercin D, Starke M, Haase D, Lum J, Chew FT, Connolly J, Wong SC, Zolezzi F, Poidinger M, Wang Y, Rötzschke O. Systematic characterization of basophil anergy. Allergy. 2017 Mar;72(3):373-384. doi: 10.1111/all.12952. Epub 2016 Aug 8. PMID: 27271846.
Andiappan AK, Puan KJ, Lee B, Nardin A, Poidinger M, Connolly J, Chew FT, Wang DY, Rotzschke O. Allergic airway diseases in a tropical urban environment are driven by dominant mono-specific sensitization against house dust mites. Allergy. 2014 Apr;69(4):501-9. doi: 10.1111/all.12364. Epub 2014 Jan 24. PMID: 24456108; PMCID: PMC4240470.