Dr. Tey Hong Liang was awarded the NMRC TA grant for his new research study on developing alternative treatments for keloids using drug-free microneedles containing hyaluronic acid. The project aims to create a safe, easy-to-administer, and cost-effective treatment that could benefit patients with limited access to standard treatments. A/Prof Mark Tang was interviewed about an ongoing drug trial for Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that could be an effective alternative to steroids for treating atopic dermatitis. The newsletter provides updates on research activities at the National Skin Centre including awards, grants, recruitment needs for studies, and a farewell dinner for a departing clinical research fellow.

1. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
RESEARCH @ NSC
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NATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL TRANSITION AWARD (NMRC TA)
We are pleased to announce that Dr Tey Hong Liang has been
awarded the NMRC TA for his new research study: Keloids: 
Therapy with Drug-free Solid and Steroid-laden Hyaluronic
Acid Dissolving Microneedles.
Dr Tey’s project aims to develop a new alternative and
adjunctive treatments for keloids  a relatively common skin
disorder which results in high morbidity, and poses a huge
unmet clinical need.
This project proposes a safe, easy-to-administer and cost-
effective treatment approach. In addition to decreasing the
burden to the healthcare system, it has the potential of
benefiting patients with limited access to standard treatments.
Our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Tey!
A/Prof Mark Tang was recently interviewed by local Chinese newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao, regarding the ongoing drug
trial for Atopic Dermatitis - Dupilumab.
Dupilumab, also known as SAR231893 or REGN668, is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against the
interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) subunit. The IL-4 receptors mediate the IL-4 signaling (both Type I and Type II)
and the IL 13 signaling (Type II), which are both thought to play key roles in the pathophysiology of inflammatory
allergic diseases.
Dupilumab could prove to be an effective and novel steroid-sparing alternative for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
This is an exciting breakthrough in the field of Dermatology!
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
THE FIGHT AGAINST ATOPIC DERMATITIS

2. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
RESEARCH @ NSC
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ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
AWARDS AND GRANTS
It also is our greatest honour to announce the following awards and grants clinched by NSC’s very own outstanding
clinicians and researchers:
AWARD / GRANT AWARDEE PROJECT / ABSTRACT TITLE
SHBC Singapore
Clinician Investigator
Award
A/Prof Steven Thng
First Prize  Bringing Therapy To The Patient. A Study
On The Efficacy, Compliance And Cost Effectiveness Of
Home Based Phototherapy As Opposed To Institution
Based Phototherapy For The Treatment Of Patients With
Focal Vitiligo
SHBC Singapore
Clinician Investigator
Award
Dr Tey Hong Liang
Fifth Prize  Three-Dimensional Automated
Segmentation Of Skin Layers In In-Vivo High-Definition
Coherence Tomography: Redefining The Pathology Of
Miliaria Profunda And Provision Of A Novel Treatment
NMRC Research
Training Fellowship
Dr Etienne Wang Epidermal Stem Cells' Response to Chronic Cell Loss
NHG Grant Call  Small
Innovative Grant (SIG)
Dr Chuah Sai Yee
A Left-right Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled
Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Platelet Rich Plasma
for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia
NHG Grant Call  Small
Innovative Grant (SIG)
Dr Tey Hong Liang
Genomic Profiling of Type III Hypersensitivity in
Cutaneous Vasculitis

3. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
RESEARCH @ NSC
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ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
AWARDS AND GRANTS
AWARD / GRANT AWARDEE PROJECT / ABSTRACT TITLE
NHG Grant Call  Small
Innovative Grant (SIG)
A/Prof Steven Thng
Double-blind Split Face Study to Evaluate the
Effectiveness of Topical Metformin as Compared to
Placebo for the Treatment of Melasma
NHG Small Innovative
Grant (SIG)
Dr Anjali Jhingan
Design and Development of an Algorithm that
Automatically Segment and Calculate the Area and
Severity of Vitiligo on the Trunk of Patients for
Assessment of Extent of Disease and Response to
Treatment in Patients with Vitiligo
NHG Clinician
Leadership in Research
(CLR) Programme
Dr Eugene Tan
Efficacy of Narrowband Ultraviolet B versus Combined
Ultraviolet A-narrowband UVB Phototherapy in the
Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomised Double-
blind Study
NHIC Innovation to
Protect (I2P) Grant
A/Prof Steven Thng
Targeting of Melanocytes for Delivering Therapeutics
Using Protein Nanocages Decorated with Multiple
Ligands
NHG Clinician-Scientist
Career Scheme (CSCS)
Dr Chuah Sai Yee
Development of Novel 3-Dimension Imaging System for
the Diagnosis and Delineation of Non-melanoma skin
cancer.
SHBC Best Poster
Award - Basic
Science/Translational
Research
Dr Dwi Pramono
Sarengat
First Prize  Specific Knockdown Of Long Thymic
Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) Variant Using Antisense
Oligonucleotide

4. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
RESEARCH @ NSC
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ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
AWARDS AND GRANTS
AWARD / GRANT AWARDEE PROJECT / ABSTRACT TITLE
SHBC Best Poster –
Clinical Research
Dr Lee Hwee Chyen
Third Prize  Clinical, Histopathological and Molecular
Analysis of a Retrospective Cohort of Cutaneous B-Cell
Lymphomas and B-Cell Pseudolymphomas in
Singapore: A Five-Year Study
NSC Dermatology
Update – Best Poster
Dr Wong Yisheng
Frequent Low Fluence, Large Spot Size QS Nd:YAG
Laser Treatment Induced Hypopigmentation
NSC Dermatology
Update  Best Clinical &
Research Papers
Dr Wang Dingyuan
Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Human Leucocyte Antigen
Gene Association Study In Singaporean Chinese
Patients
NSC Dermatology
Update  Best Clinical &
Research Papers
Ms Cao Ruoxi
Clinical And Histopathological Predictors Of Systemic
Disease In Adult Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
NHG Health Outcomes
and Medical Education
Research (HOMER)
Grant
Dr Mabel Leow
Counselling Needs of Patients with Atopic Dermatitis or
Psoriasis

5. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
RESEARCH @ NSC
QUARTERLY UPDATES
We need your help!
Research subjects are needed for the following studies:
 R14-15 Microbiome Analysis of Singapore
Patients with Skin Barrier Dysfunction and Atopic
Dermatitis (PI: A/PROF MARK TANG)
o Aged above 18 years old
o Healthy volunteers/ patients diagnosed
with Atopic Dermatitis
o 2 visits involving blood collection, skin
swab and culture, tape stripping,
photography, and skin physiology
measurements; all consultations waived
and additional reimbursement given
o Recruitment target: 120
 R15-10 Efficacy of narrowband ultraviolet B
versus combined ultraviolet A-narrowband
ultraviolet B phototherapy in the treatment of
atopic dermatitis: a randomized double-blind
study (PI: DR EUGENE TAN)
o Aged above 18 years old
o Diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis
o Have not been treated with systemic
immunosuppressants or phototherapy for
 3 months
o 3 visits involving questionnaire and twice
weekly visits for NBUVB; all consultations
waived for patients and additional
reimbursement given
o Recruitment target: 44
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
 R13-10 Pathophysiology of Chronic Itch in Atopic
Eczema and Psoriasis (PI: DR TEY HONG LIANG)
o Aged between 18 to 60 years old
o Healthy volunteers OR patients diagnosed with
Psoriasis/ Atopic Eczema
o 1 visit involving biopsy, blood collection, and
tape stripping; all consultations waived and
additional reimbursement given
o Recruitment target: 40
 R13-18 Left-right controlled study to evaluate the
efficacy of platelet rich plasma for the treatment of
Vitiligo (PI: A/PROF STEVEN THNG)
o Aged between 21 to 60 years old
o Diagnosed with vitiligo vulgaris for < 24 months
o On NBUVB treatment for  3 months
o 5 visits involving photography, questionnaire,
blood collection, and treatment (injection)
o Recruitment target: 20
*Please call Jolene/Pauline (ext. 553)/ Jie Si (ext. 505)/ Yan Qin (ext. 272) if there are any suitable subjects!
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272

6. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
RESEARCH @ NSC
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National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
This May, a farewell dinner was held for Dr Carina Gronhagen at Gardens by the Bay. Dr Carina first joined NSC in
2013 and it has been a huge privilege to have her as one of our very first Clinical Research Fellows. She has since
returned to Sweden and will continue her work in the field of Dermatology.
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT UPDATES
Dr Wong Yisheng, Clinical Research Fellow
We wish Dr Carina all the very best for her future endeavors!
Dr Wong Yisheng graduated from National University of Singapore, Yong
Loo Lin School of Medicine in 2013. He has served 8 months in National
Skin Centre as a Medical Officer in 2014 and is back as a Clinical
Research Fellow. He has a strong interest in dermatological research and
aspires to practice Dermatology as a specialty. Apart from work, he enjoys
hunting down good food around the island and travelling. Dr Wong will be
attached to the Research Department till June 2016.

7. ISSUE 6 – 10/2015
National Skin Centre Research Department | 1 Mandalay Road Singapore 308205 | phone 6350 8505 / 582 / 553 / 272
RESEARCH @ NSC
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