Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering

Hot off the press! Find out how NTU-SCELSE is helping Singapore boost its defences against animal-borne disease.

Straits Times excerpt:
"Another project will assess and quantify the risk of diseases spreading from local wild mammals to humans through shared environments.

Led by Janelle Thompson, an associate professor from NTU’s Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), the team will focus on otters, civets, plantain squirrels and fruit bats, as these are commonly found in urban spaces.

Thompson said the team will cast a wide net by measuring biomaterials shed in both nature reserves and high-traffic human-animal interfaces, such as housing estates and parks.

She added: “The point of our project is not to pick one pathogen and focus on it, but to use an approach that could handle any pathogen.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/singapore-to-boost-defences-against-animal-borne-diseases-with-six-new-research-projects?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawTg6bVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEetQwAAns38G21KRWCo6DE9cTxwqHZ2NxpsfHE1w1sQqx4xHEk6OC5D7U_ZVw_aem_N3wcqeM_SJCc1g2i4tTypQ

S'pore boosts defence against animal-borne disease Discover how six new research projects in Singapore are set to enhance defences against animal-borne diseases and protect public health. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Congrats SCELSE Principal Investigator & NTU School of Biological Sciences A/Prof Rebecca Case, and SCELSE Research Fellow Dr Joao Pereyra on this exciting breakthrough in coral microbiome research, covered in The Straits Times (ST).

Together with National Marine Laboratory, St John's Island (SJINML), the team identified a naturally occurring probiotic bacterium from the Roseobacteraceae family that helps improve coral resilience to heat stress.

This discovery highlights how microbiome science can contribute to protecting coral reefs in a warming world. See ST for story - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/good-bacteria-and-hiit-could-train-singapore-corals-to-withstand-hotter-seas

How can "good" bacteria help corals survive warmer seas?

SBS Associate Professor Rebecca Case and Principal Investigator at Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering is part of a team investigating how beneficial microbes can strengthen coral resilience against rising sea temperatures and reduce the impacts of coral bleaching.

Featured in The Straits Times, the study explores the use of naturally occurring bacteria and heat-conditioning techniques to help corals withstand marine heatwaves, an important step towards safeguarding Singapore's marine ecosystems in a changing climate.

Read more on the Straits Times: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/good-bacteria-and-hiit-could-train-singapore-corals-to-withstand-hotter-seas

Congratulations to SCELSE Principal Investigator Prof Joachim Loo on his appointment as Associate Vice Provost (Admissions), Undergraduate Education at NTU, with effect today, 1 Jul 2026.

An NTU alumnus and Professor at the NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering, Prof Loo is a recognised expert in biomaterials and nanotechnology. At SCELSE, he leads innovative research on sustainable aquaculture, including advanced functional fish feeds to improve fish health and resilience.

Prof Loo said: "I am honoured to take on this new role and contribute to NTU's mission of attracting and nurturing talented students from Singapore and around the world. NTU has played a defining role in my own journey, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the University to support the next generation of learners, innovators and leaders."

Please join us in congratulating Prof Loo!

📍Photo: Beyond his research and leadership roles, Prof Joachim Loo enjoys horse riding. Here he is in Margaret River, Perth, Australia.

A big thank you to the participants of the NTU Science Discovery Camp for visiting SCELSE, an interdisciplinary biofilm and microbiome research centre.

Kudos to SCELSE PI Assoc Prof Rebecca Case and SCELSE Research Fellow Dr Clarence Wei Hung Sim for introducing participants to SCELSE's research and inspiring the next generation of scientists. Participants also enjoyed playing Lockdown!, the COVID-19 educational card game developed by SCELSE PI Assoc Prof Yann Boucher.

Thank you for visiting us—we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists!

World Ocean Day (8 Jun) may have passed, but the challenge of producing sustainable seafood remains as urgent as ever.

As global demand for seafood continues to rise, aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in feeding the world. Yet disease outbreaks remain one of the biggest challenges facing fish farmers, affecting both productivity and sustainability.

Check out this documentary by the World Ocean Council where SCELSE Principal Investigator Prof Joachim Loo from NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering shares how his team is developing functional fish feeds to help juvenile Asian sea bass better resist infection and improve survivability.

By combining probiotics and nutrients within specially engineered feed formulations, the team aims to deliver these beneficial ingredients to targeted parts of the fish gut, improving bioavailability and strengthening immune health. The result could be healthier fish, more resilient aquaculture systems, and more sustainable seafood production.

Nutrition can unlock significant potential for the aquaculture industry — improving growth, enhancing disease resistance, and supporting long-term productivity.

Catch Prof Loo (from 6:30 onwards) and learn how science is helping to build a more sustainable future for aquaculture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrdES8MX6AM&t=390s