A*STAR IMCB Researcher Recognised at the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards
Developing a patient-centred treatment for stress urinary incontinence
A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (A*STAR IMCB) congratulates Senior Scientist Dr Maxine Lam on being recognised at the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (Singapore) Awards. She was recognised for her project, A Novel Patient-Centric Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence, which aims to address an important and often overlooked need in women’s health, by developing a new medical device to treat stress urinary incontinence.
Dr Maxine Lam (third from left) with fellow 2026 grantees and guests at the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science (Singapore) Awards ceremony on 4 November 2026. Photo credit: L’Oréal Malaysia – Singapore.
At Addressing an Unmet Need in Women’s Health
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary leakage of urine during everyday activities such as coughing, sneezing or exercising. It affects around 15% of women in Singapore and can significantly affect confidence, daily activities and quality of life. Yet it remains under-discussed, and many women live with it quietly.
Maxine’s research studies the biomechanics underlying SUI. She hopes her findings will guide the development of a safer, minimally invasive treatment that puts patients first, focusing on effectiveness, long-term safety and patients’ needs and lifestyles.
Her path to this work draws on more than a decade of research experience. After a PhD in developmental and stem cell biology at University College London, where she studied the role of mechanics in tissue biology, she did postdoctoral research at The Institute of Cancer Research in the United Kingdom. She then joined A*STAR IMCB, where she developed complex 3D models of brain cancer and the blood-brain barrier. As a Singapore Biodesign Innovation Fellow, she later worked with clinicians to identify unmet needs in obstetrics and gynaecology, where she and her team mates identified the treatment gap in SUI.
Recognising Women Driving Scientific Impact
Since 1998, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has supported women researchers worldwide. Now in its 17th year in Singapore, it has recognised 36 Singapore-based women scientists. This year’s three Singapore grantees each receive a S$10,000 research grant to support the next stage of their work.
“This award means a lot to me, as it recognises the importance of women’s health issues like urinary incontinence that so many women face but don’t discuss or seek treatment for it. I hope that my work keeps this issue in the spotlight, and we can all work towards more women getting the safe and effective treatments they deserve,” said Dr Lam.
Maxine’s recognition follows that of Dr Grace Lim in 2024 and Dr Beverly Mok in 2025, making this the third consecutive year an A*STAR IMCB scientist has been recognised by the programme.
A*STAR IMCB is proud to celebrate Dr Lam’s achievement and her dedication to advancing research that improves women’s health.