MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

The Genome Institute of Singapore enjoys international recognition as a quality organisation with a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to improve public health and public prosperity. The GIS continues to accumulate new discoveries in genomics, and publish high-level research papers in top scientific journals. In recent years, we have expanded our focus to include direct industrial applications for these findings. The critical challenge facing academic centres like our institute is translating basic research and new technology towards clinical utility.

The Translational Research group promotes the smooth transition from basic research to advances in science and technology, and hence to innovation. Our main focus is on molecular diagnostics, which plays a central role in translational research.

We are able to develop diagnostics for all assay formats and disease areas. Translational research can provide strong evidence that newly discovered biomarkers can be a significant tool for personalised patient care. Our support to the various GIS research groups by assay development, optimisation and validation significantly shortens the distance to commercial applications.

Leveraging on GIS’ experience in collaborative interdisciplinary research activities, the Translational Research group facilitates interactions between investigators from different fields such as biotechnology companies, pharmacology companies and hospitals.

The GIS is equipped with the most advanced technology platforms necessary for research and development in genomics, and application of genomic techniques to biological and medical questions. These technologies, such as the Next Generation Sequencing platforms, are accessible to members of the research community. Additionally, in order to adhere to industrial standards, our newly designed and constructed molecular diagnostics lab follows regulatory obligations and compliances.

Featured Publications

• Chee CB, Gan SH, Ong RT, Sng LH, Wong CW, Cutter J, Gong M, Seah HM, Hsu LY, Solhan S, Ooi PL, Xia E, Lim JT, Koh CK, Lim SK, Lim HK, Wang YT. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis outbreak in gaming centers, singapore, 2012. Emerg Infect Dis 2015 ; 21(1) : 179-80
• Anderson ST, Kaforou M, Brent AJ, Wright VJ, Banwell CM, Chagaluka G, Crampin AC, Dockrell HM, French N, Hamilton MS, Hibberd ML, Kern F, Langford PR, Ling L, Mlotha R, Ottenhoff TH, Pienaar S, Pillay V, Scott JA, Twahir H, Wilkinson RJ, Coin LJ, Heyderman RS, Levin M, Eley B. Diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis and host RNA expression in Africa. N Engl J Med 2014 May 1 ; 370(18) : 1712-23
• Aw PP, de Sessions PF, Wilm A, Hoang LT, Nagarajan N, Sessions OM, Hibberd ML. Next-generation whole genome sequencing of dengue virus. Methods Mol Biol 2014 ; 1138 : 175-95
• Kaforou M, Wright VJ, Oni T, French N, Anderson ST, Bangani N, Banwell CM, Brent AJ, Crampin AC, Dockrell HM, Eley B, Heyderman RS, Hibberd ML, Kern F, Langford PR, Ling L, Mendelson M, Ottenhoff TH, Zgambo F, Wilkinson RJ, Coin LJ, Levin M. Detection of tuberculosis in HIV-infected and -uninfected African adults using whole blood RNA expression signatures: a case-control study. PLoS Med 2013 Oct ; 10(10) : e1001538 Epub 2013 Oct 22
• Simões EA, Patel C, Sung WK, Lee CW, Hon LK, Lucero M, Nohynek H, Nai G, Ling TP, Wee KC, Sun CY, Ma J, Maurer-Stroh S, Carosone-Link P, Hibberd ML, Wong CW. A Pathogen Chip for Respiratory Tract Infections. J Clin Microbiol 2013 Jan 9
• Ng KP, Hillmer AM, Chuah CT, Juan WC, Ko TK, Teo AS, Ariyaratne PN, Takahashi N, Sawada K, Fei Y, Soh S, Lee WH, Huang JW, Allen JC, Woo XY, Nagarajan N, Kumar V, Thalamuthu A, Poh WT, Ang AL, Mya HT, How GF, Yang LY, Koh LP, Chowbay B, Chang CT, Nadarajan VS, Chng WJ, Than H, Lim LC, Goh YT, Zhang S, Poh D, Tan P, Seet JE, Ang MK, Chau NM, Ng QS, Tan DS, Soda M, Isobe K, Nöthen MM, Wong TY, Shahab A, Ruan X, Cacheux-Rataboul V, Sung WK, Tan EH, Yatabe Y, Mano H, Soo RA, Chin TM, Lim WT, Ruan Y, Ong ST. A common BIM deletion polymorphism mediates intrinsic resistance and inferior responses to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cancer. Nat Med 2012 ; 18(4) : 521-8 Epub 2012 Mar 18
• Inoue M, Barkham T, Leo YS, Chan KP, Chow A, Wong CW, Tze Chuen Lee R, Maurer-Stroh S, Lin R, Lin C. Emergence of Oseltamivir-Resistant Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus within 48 Hours. Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Oct ; 16(10) : 1633-6
• Lee VJ, Yap J, Cook AR, Chen MI, Tay JK, Tan BH, Loh JP, Chew SW, Koh WH, Lin R, Cui L, Lee CW, Sung WK, Wong CW, Hibberd ML, Kang WL, Seet B, Tambyah PA. Oseltamivir Ring Prophylaxis for Containment of 2009 H1N1 Influenza Outbreaks. N Engl J Med 2010 Jun 10 ; 362(23) : 2166-2174
• Ooi PL, Lai FY, Low CL, Lin R, Wong C, Hibberd M, Tambyah PA. Clinical and molecular evidence for transmission of novel influenza A(H1N1/2009) on a commercial airplane. Arch Intern Med 2010 May 24 ; 170(10) : 913-5
• Lee KS, Lai YL, Lo S, Barkham T, Aw P, Ooi PL, Tai JC, Hibberd M, Johansson P, Khoo SP, Ng LC. Dengue virus surveillance for early warning, Singapore. Emerg Infect Dis 2010 May ; 16(5) : 847-9
• Wong Christopher W, Heng Charlie Lee Wah, Wan Yee Leong, Soh Shirlena W L, Kartasasmita Cissy B, Simoes Eric A F, Hibberd Martin L, Sung Wing-Kin, Miller Lance D. Optimization and clinical validation of a pathogen detection microarray. Genome Biol. 2007 ; 8(5) : R93
• Schreiber Mark J, Ong Swee Hoe, Holland Richard C G, Hibberd Martin L, Vasudevan Subhash G, Mitchell Wayne P, Holmes Edward C. DengueInfo: A web portal to dengue information resources. Infect. Genet. Evol. 2007 Jul ; 7(4) : 540-1
• Low Jenny G H, Ooi Eng-Eong, Tolfvenstam Thomas, Leo Yee-Sin, Hibberd Martin L, Ng Lee-Ching, Lai Yee-Ling, Yap Grace S L, Li Chenny S C, Vasudevan Subhash G, Ong Adrian. Early Dengue infection and outcome study (EDEN) - study design and preliminary findings. Ann. Acad. Med. Singap. 2006 Nov ; 35(11) : 783-9
• Hibberd Martin L, Ling Ling, Tolfvenstam Thomas, Mitchell Wayne, Wong Chris, Kuznetsov Vladimir A, George Joshy, Ong Swee-Hoe, Ruan Yijun, Wei Chia L, Gu Feng, Fink Joshua, Yip Andy, Liu Wei, Schreiber Mark, Vasudevan Subhash G. A genomics approach to understanding host response during dengue infection. Novartis Found. Symp. 2006 ; 277 : 206-14; discussion 214-7, 251-3
• Liu Jianjun, Lim Siew Lan, Ruan Yijun, Ling Ai Ee, Ng Lisa F P, Drosten Christian, Liu Edison T, Stanton Lawrence W, Hibberd Martin L. SARS transmission pattern in Singapore reassessed by viral sequence variation analysis. PLoS Med. 2005 Feb ; 2(2) : e43
• Ng Lisa F P, Wong Michelle, Koh Susie, Ooi Eng-Eong, Tang King-Fai, Leong Hoe-Nam, Ling Ai-Ee, Agathe Lora V, Tan Jenny, Liu Edison T, Ren Ee-Chee, Ng Lee-Ching, Hibberd Martin L. Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in blood of infected patients. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2004 Jan ; 42(1) : 347-50
• Wong CW, Albert TJ, Vega VB, Norton JE, Cutler DJ, Richmond TA, Stanton LW, Liu ET, Miller LD. Tracking the Evolution of the SARS Coronavirus using Rapid, High-throughput, High-density Resequencing Arrays. Genome Research 14(3) 398-405
• Lim PL, Kurup A, Gopalakrishna G, Chan KP, Christopher WONG, Ng LC, Se-Thoe SY, Oon L, Bai X, Lawrence STANTON, Yijun RUAN, Lance D MILLER, Vinsensius Berlian VEGA, James L, Ooi PL, Kai CS, Olsen SJ, Ang B, Leo YS (2004). Laboratory-acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med Apr 22;350(17) 1740-5