Department of Pharmacology NUS Medicine

Meet Associate Professor Wang Lingzhi from the Department of Pharmacology.
Here is a closer look at what he is doing.

Chronic diseases remain a predominant cause of mortality worldwide despite existing therapies, which often have side effects and high costs. Natural compounds, such as kavain from Piper methysticum, have attracted attention for their therapeutic potential and safety, showing diverse biological activities useful in treating various health conditions.

This study aimed to assess the potential role of kavain in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, with a particular focus on its anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antithrombotic, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties.

A comprehensive literature search on kavain was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science direct and Web of Science databases, considering both preclinical and clinical studies. The term “kavain” was used, and all titles, abstracts, and keywords were screened for relevant information.

Findings from various experimental models suggest that kavain exhibits significant biological and pharmacological activities across various pathological conditions, including inflammation, anxiety, neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Pharmacokinetic studies reveal its rapid absorption, moderate oral bioavailability, and efficient systemic clearance. Mechanistically, kavain regulates various molecular pathways including nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, modulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor activity, and inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. Toxicity studies indicate that kavain is well-tolerated at physiologically relevant concentrations. Clinical reports show its anxiolytic potential with favorable safety profile.

Kavain has demonstrated considerable therapeutic potential in the prevention and management of various chronic diseases, with relatively few adverse effects. Consequently, further clinical investigations will be beneficial to validate its efficacy and safety in human populations.

Full Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711326002540?via%3Dihub

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐨𝐰!

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://lnkd.in/gffbtKts
This webinar is brought to you by the NUS Biomedical Sciences Interdisciplinary Industry Academy and hosted by Dr Seok (Soga) Kwon, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, NUS.

Say hello to Assistant Professor Alan Prem Kumar from the Department of Pharmacology.
From the classroom to the lab, here's a closer look at the work behind the title.

NUS Department of Pharmacology warmly welcomes 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐀𝐎 𝐖𝐞𝐢 to the department and congratulates him on his prestigious appointment as Philip Yeo Chair Professor in Medicine.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐀𝐎 joins the department with an outstanding record of research and academic contributions in the biomedical sciences. His appointment as Philip Yeo Chair Professor in Medicine is a distinguished recognition of his achievements and expertise.

We are delighted to have 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐀𝐎 join our department and look forward to his contributions to research, education and the continued advancement of pharmacology and biomedical science.

Say Hello to Professor Alan Prem Kumar from the Department of Pharmacology.
From the classroom to the lab, here's a closer look at the work behind the title.

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway is a pivotal orchestrator of inflammation, tumour progression, immune modulation, and metabolic reprogramming within the dynamic landscape of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Aberrant and sustained activation of NF-κB is frequently associated with tumour proliferation, resistance to therapy, and poor clinical outcomes. However, conventional NF-κB inhibitors face significant limitations, including systemic toxicity, poor bioavailability, and lack of tumour specificity. Nanomedicine offers a transformative approach to overcome these barriers by enabling the targeted delivery of NF-κB modulators, such as small molecules, RNA interference agents, and gene-editing systems, directly to tumour sites. Recent advances in nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, exosomes, and dendrimers, have demonstrated improved therapeutic indices, enhanced stability, and reduced off-target effects. This review highlights the convergence of nanotechnology, inflammatory signalling, and cancer metabolism, with a focus on how nanomedicine can precisely modulate NF-κB signalling to reprogramme tumour-associated macrophages and remodel the TME. It also discusses preclinical evidence supporting NF-κB-targeted nanomedicine, innovative delivery strategies, and the translational challenges that impede clinical adoption. Collectively, these insights highlight the potential of nanomedicine in advancing NF-κB-targeted cancer therapy by enhancing drug specificity, safety, and therapeutic responsiveness. Future developments integrating artificial intelligence, theranostic design, and personalised nanomedicine are expected to accelerate clinical translation and establish NF-κB-targeted nanotherapeutics as a cornerstone of next-generation precision oncology.

Full Article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12964-025-02554-9

The Department Safety & Health Committee and Culture Ambassador Team are pleased to share the success of Majulah Walk 2026, which brought together 55 participants for a refreshing morning of nature, camaraderie and wellbeing.

This year’s walk marked our highest turnout for a nature walk to date, reflecting the strong enthusiasm and support from our department community.

Participants enjoyed a scenic walk through Labrador Nature Park and the Bukit Chermin Boardwalk, taking in the lush greenery, coastal views and waterfront scenery along the way. Beyond enjoying the outdoors, the walk also provided a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to connect, unwind and spend time together away from the workplace.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to making Majulah Walk 2026 such a memorable event!

The Department is pleased to share that A/P Gavin DAWE, Head of Department, has been conferred The Long Service Medal at the Singapore National Day Awards 2026.

The National Day Awards serve as a national recognition of individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service and commitment to Singapore across public service, education, and community development. The Long Service Medal specifically commends individuals of irreproachable character who have rendered at least 25 years of continuous service.

This prestigious honor underscores A/P Dawe’s steadfast leadership, professional integrity, and dedicated service. His ongoing efforts have significantly shaped the department’s growth and furthered our commitment to excellence in NUS education and research.

On behalf of the department, we offer our heartiest congratulations to A/P Gavin DAWE on this well-deserved recognition.

Therapeutic efficacy against solid tumors is limited by physical barriers and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME). Herein, we propose a peroxynitrite (ONOO−) overproduction-based strategy to simultaneously disrupt tumor barriers and activate antitumor immunity. A spatiotemporally controllable ONOO− nanogenerator (PNO-Y@M) was constructed by co-encapsulating hypericin within nitric oxide (NO)-donor polymeric nanoparticles coated with homologous tumor cell membranes. Upon laser irradiation, PNO-Y@M enables in-situ ONOO− generation via the coupling of photodynamically generated superoxide anions and photothermally triggered NO release. The resulting ONOO− effectively degrades extracellular matrix components and normalizes tumor vasculature, thereby enhancing nanoparticle pe*******on. Meanwhile, it induces immunogenic cell death, promoting dendritic cell maturation and M1 macrophage polarization, and ultimately activating robust adaptive immunity. This strategy significantly increased cytotoxic and helper T cell infiltration and induced strong immune memory in-vivo, leading to effective tumor suppression and metastasis inhibition. Overall, this work provides a promising strategy for overcoming the dual barriers of solid tumors through coordinated physical disruption and immune activation.
Full Article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1385894726063540?via%3Dihub