Stem Cells and Diabetes

​Adrian Teo Laboratory

Dr. Teo KEE KEONG adrian


Adrian Teo, Ph.D., is currently a Senior Principal Investigator at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR, an Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Department of Medicine, NUS Medicine, Singapore, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Adrian obtained his B.Sc. (1st Class Honours) from the National University of Singapore in February 2007. He then started to work on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) with Ray Dunn, Ph.D., and Alan Colman, Ph.D., at ES Cell International Pte. Ltd., before joining the Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), A*STAR, Singapore, for an internship as a Research Officer in the laboratory of Ray Dunn, Ph.D.. ​In April 2008, he joined the laboratory of Ludovic Vallier, Ph.D., at the University of Cambridge to pursue his Ph.D. under the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (Overseas). Concurrently, he was also an Honorary Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar. His thesis described how pluripotency factors regulate endoderm specification via key regulator EOMESODERMIN.  He completed his Ph.D. in July 2010 and joined the laboratory of Ray Dunn, Ph.D., at IMB as a postdoctoral fellow before heading to the laboratory of Rohit Kulkarni, M.D. Ph.D., at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School in September 2011. During his fellowship at Joslin, he obtained two Harvard Stem Cell Institute seed grants and a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) fellowship to pursue his research interests in using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for in vitro disease modelling of diabetes.  ​He is a member of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of Singapore, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and Stem Cell Society Singapore. ​




DR. LAU HWEE HUI

I have a strong interest in Research since young. After graduation, I sought for a position in a research lab so as to be closer to my aspiration. In the vast research field, I soon realized that I am particularly attracted to human metabolism translational research.

​Diabetes is one of the major human metabolic diseases that has heavy impact on mankind and it will soon be the most common medical problem in Singapore. To make the matter worse, it has no cure. Diabetes research is therefore critical to be able to counter the issue with the design of new rational therapies. As such, Dr. Adrian Teo’s lab will be a place for me to learn and grow where I wish to apply my skills and knowledge in a more meaningful way.  



DR. DANIEL ARON ANG


Daniel graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences (with a specialisation in Biomedical Science). During that period, he had a short stint at AT Lab for his FYP where he worked on understanding how naturally occurring PAX4 mutants potentially contribute to type II diabetes. This piqued his interest in investigating the impact of genetic and epigenetic abnormalities on disease development. He further delved into this field of research during his Masters and Ph.D. in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) where he investigated how aberrant NF-kB signalling contributes to multiple myeloma progression. He hopes to draw from these experiences to value-add to current strategies used to manage diabetes.

Apart from research, Daniel spends the bulk of his time with family, partaking in functional fitness classes and cooking. He is also a huge fan of pop-punk/punk rock music.




HENG SI RONG


Si Rong is a Research Officer in the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory in IMCB. She graduated from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences (with a specialisation in Biomedical Science) and a minor in Psychology.


During her undergraduate studies, she had the opportunity to embark on an internship with Cargene Therapeutics (now Lerna Biopharma), optimising siRNA delivery and screening for Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). She completed her final year project and undergraduate thesis in Dr. Adrian Teo's lab, investigating the effects of the tumour suppressor protein menin on NFκB targets in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PNETs). Moving forward, Si Rong hopes to explore the field of diabetes and uncover more about its mechanisms and development.


In her spare time, Si Rong is fond of her void deck cat, drawing, writing, and occasionally running with her friends.



PIMONWAN SRISOOK

Pim is a Research Officer in the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory (AT Lab) in IMCB. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Burapha University in 2014 and later completed her Master of Science in Biochemistry at Kasetsart University in 2017.

Following her graduation, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Siriraj Center of Excellence for Stem Cell Research (SiSCR), Siriraj Medical Research Institute, Thailand. She worked on an independent project about the role of YAP and LATS1/2 signaling in hematopoietic differentiation using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). She has developed a strong passion for stem cell research with experience in tissue culture, molecular biology and genetics. Pim is enthusiastic about learning new techniques as well as apply herself to advance the field of stem cells in diabetes research.

Apart from scientific research, Pim enjoys a variety of activities. She loves cooking, exploring new cafes, trying different cuisines, hiking, and spending time with her friends and family.




​​CHING CARMEN

Carmen is now a Ph.D. student in the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Adrian Teo. She graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Life Sciences (Specialization in Biomedical Science) and a minor in Medical Physics.

As an undergraduate, she has had the opportunity of working in Dr. Christoph Winkler's lab for a year, focusing on the characterisation of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1) in zebrafish. Additionally, Carmen also completed her final year project in Dr. Soh Boon Seng's lab, working on the modeling of cardiac hypertrophy using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. These opportunities further encouraged her to pursue a career in science. Currently in Dr. Adrian Teo's lab, Carmen is eager to further her skills, with hopes of contributing to the existing knowledge in the field of diabetes.

Apart from scientific research, Carmen enjoys socialising, singing, listening to music and spending time with her family.



TEO KAI SOON ALOYSIUS

Aloysius is a Ph.D. student in the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory in IMCB, A*STAR. He graduated from Nanyang Technological University with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biological Sciences.

During his undergraduate studies, he was a Research Experience and URECA student in Asst. Prof Li Yinghui's laboratory, investigating the role of lncRNA in Multiple Myeloma.

For his internship and undergraduate thesis, he was working on evaluating the role of novel mutations in metabolic diseases in Dr. Adrian’s lab. Through his research journey, Aloysius found interest in the Stem Cells and Diabetes field, and hope to continue to uncover more about gene mutations through his research in Dr. Adrian Teo’s lab.

Apart from research, Aloysius enjoys badminton, different adventurous activities, and writing poems.




LIM XI HUI EUODIA

Euodia is a Ph.D. student at the AT lab. She graduated from NUS with a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences (BioMedical Specialisation). Prior to becoming an RO, she was a UROPS and FYP student in Adrian's lab, where she worked on investigating the role of GPCRs in beta cell differentiation and insulin secretion. She also embarked on a research project through the UROPS program as a Year 2 student, working on isolating muscle stem cells from crustaceans in the Department of Biological Sciences in NUS. Euodia hopes that she will be able to harness stem cells to model beta cell differentiation and understand the roles of certain receptors in enhancing insulin secretion. 

Outside of research, her hobbies include taking care of pets, which include her bunny and (ever increasing) aquatic children. 




LOO YI HANG RYAN

Ryan is a Ph.D. student in the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory in IMCB, A*STAR. He graduated from Nanyang Technological University in 2023 with a Bachelor’s of Science (Honours) in Biological Sciences.

During his undergraduate studies, he was a URECA student in Prof Koh Cheng Gee’s laboratory, investigating the role of focal adhesions in stem cell differentiation. His internship was in Bauerfeind Singapore, as a management trainee in the field of orthopaedic products. He was also an FYP student in Prof Gao Yonggui’s laboratory, characterising and elucidating the structure of PATROL1, a protein involved in cellulose synthesis and regulation. He has since found interest in the field of Diabetes, where he hopes to unveil more regarding the potential causes and links to diabetes.

Outside of the laboratory, he enjoys spending time with his loved ones as well as maintaining an active lifestyle.




ZHANG XINYI


Xinyi is a Ph.D. student in Dr. Adrian Teo’s Stem Cells and Diabetes lab, supervised by Prof Wang Yibin and co-supervised by Associate Prof Adrian Teo. Xinyi finished her Bachelor of Clinical Medicine at West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University in 2021. She also finished her Master of Internal Medicine at West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University in 2024. She was then awarded the NUS Research Scholarship to pursue her Ph.D. at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. 

Xinyi has a great interest and passion in the field of endocrinology and metabolism, especially diabetes, which is a huge health burden all over the world. Xinyi’s research mainly focuses on branched-chain amino acids, glucose metabolism and pancreatic islet cell function. She hopes to find more methods to treat diabetes and protect islet cell function in diabetes patients.

Besides doing research, Xinyi also enjoys classical music and Chinese traditional music. She can play two Chinese traditional musical instruments (guzheng and zhongruan).




QIN SHIRU


Shiru joined the Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory as a Ph.D. student in 2025 under the A*STAR Graduate Scholarship, after earning her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Biobusiness from Nanyang Technological University. During her undergraduate years, she immersed herself in three distinct research projects: a year-long study in stem cell biology, another in neuroscience, and a final year project in cancer research. Of the three, it was the stem cell project that truly captivated her. There, she conducted multi-omics analyses on H1 human pluripotent stem cells, progenitor cells, and cardiomyocytes, and explored the use of a novel fluorescent AIE dye for cardiomyocyte labelling. This experience not only strengthened her technical foundation in stem cell differentiation but also sparked a keen interest in how stem cell biology could be applied to understand and address complex metabolic diseases. Eager to delve deeper into this intersection, she joined the lab to contribute to advancing stem cell-based approaches in diabetes research.


Outside the lab, Shiru enjoys capturing moments through photography, tackling puzzles and role-playing games, and getting lost in a good book.



ALUMNI

  • Postdoctoral fellows - Joanita Jasmen

                                           - Wei Qiang SEOW 

                                           - Lillian Yu Xian LIM

                                           - Beatrice Xuan HO

                                           - Natasha Hui Jin NG 

                                           - Elhadi IICH

                                           - Wei Xuan TAN 

                                           - Claire Wen Ying NEO  


  • Research officers - Chang Siang LIM

                                       - Chek Mei BOK

                                       - Dominique Shan Jie MAH

                                       - Shirley Suet Lee DING

                                       - Resilind Su Ern CHEW

                                       - Zhining LIM

                                       - Xue Li WONG

                                       - Abraham LAU

                                       - Nesha AFSHA

                                       - Ricardo Grady WIJAYA

                                       - Kally TAN

                                       - Jet Yee NG

                                       - Isabelle TAY 


  • ​Ph.D. students - Larry Sai Weng LOO (now Postdoc)

                                   - Thi Ha Linh NGUYEN (now Consultancy)

                                   - Shabrina AMIRRUDDIN (now Postdoc)

                                   - Blaise Su Jun LOW (now Regulatory Affairs)

                                   - Hwee Hui LAU (now Lab manager)

                                   - Claire Wen Ying NEO (now Postdoc)

                                   - Wei Xuan TAN (now Senior Scientist)

                                   - Alvin SOETEDJO 

                                   - Dewei KONG (now Scientist)

                                   - Juin Ting CHEN (now Postdoc)


  • NUS FYP students - Nicole Min Qian PEK (now Ph.D. student)

                                         - Daniel Aron ANG (now Postdoc)

                                         - Haja Shareef Mahina Azeem

                                           (now Medical student)

                                         - Jeryl Kar Loke TEO

                                         - Yixin LAI (now Research officer)

                                         - Euodia Xi Hui LIM (now Ph.D. student)

                                         - Choon Tat NG (now Ph.D. student)

                                         - Si Rong HENG (now Research officer)

                                         - Michell Yinfei YAOCHAI (now Ph.D. student)

                                         - Yijie LUO (now Ph.D. student)

                                         - Nikki Pek Suan NGOH 

                                         - T David Matthew


    • NTU FYP students - Munirah SANTOSA (now Postdoc)

                                             - Gaytri GUPTA (now Medical student)

                                             - Jun Wei CHAN (now Ph.D. student)

                                             - Juin Ting CHEN (now Postdoc)

                                             - Gloria Mei En CHAN (now Ph.D. student)

                                             - Aloysius Kai Soon TEO (now Ph.D. student)  


    • Medical students - Stephanie Fen Li LER

                                           - Elizabeth PHAN


    • NUS attachment students - Ronnie YEE                                                                                        - Nicole Si En LIM

                                                        - Christy ANG

                                                        - Gabriel Jing Xiang ONG

                                                        - Yi Bo WANG

                                                        - Xinpeng HUANG

                                                        - Marcia Qiao Yan ZHANG

                                                        - Yu Qi TAY


    • NTU attachment students - Ahmad Suhaimi Bin Ahmad Ishak

                                                        - Balakumaran S/O Nadarajan

                                                        - Calvin Qing Wei HO

                                                        - Hilary MOK

                                                        - Liang Hui LOO

                                                        - Huy Tien Quang DUONG 

                                                        - Dong Yeul LEE

                                                        - Rahim M K

                                                     

    • A*STAR students - Ryan LEE 

                                           - Megan Ying Xun TAN

                                           - Clarissa Joanna LIM


    • NYP FYP student - Ching Man LAM
    • RP attachment student - Lian Kwang TANG

    The Stem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory of Dr. Adrian Teo focuses on

    the use of stem cell technology to model human pancreas development and

    to study diabetes disease mechanisms.

    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5901-7075

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