Academic Profile : Faculty
Prof Kanaga Sabapathy
Chair, School of Biological Sciences
Professor, School of Biological Sciences
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Professor Sabapathy is the Chair of the School of Biological Sciences (SBS). He is also the President’s Chair in Biological Sciences.
Prof Sabapathy recently joined NTU from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), where he headed the Division of Cellular & Molecular Research.
He obtained his B.Sc.(Hons) degree in Zoology from the National University of Singapore, and his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Immunology from the Institute for Molecular & Cellular Biology, Singapore, in 1995. His post-doctoral work was conducted at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (Vienna, Austria), studying cellular signaling using genetically modified mice. He moved to the NCCS in late 1999 as the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, and since 2013, was the overall Head of the Research Division. Dr Sabapathy was concurrently also a Professor and Deputy Program Director of the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program at Duke-NUS, and the Research Director of the Academic Clinical Program in Oncology at SingHealth/Duke-NUS. In May 2023, Prof Sabapathy joined NTU to become the President’s Chair Professor and Chair of the School of Biological Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), and a recipient of the inaugural National Research Foundation Investigatorship award.
Prof Sabapathy is an accomplished cancer researcher with more than 32 years of experience in the healthcare, scientific and tertiary education sectors. Recognised as an opinion leader in his field, he has a strong track record of securing large competitive grants from major sources such as the National Medical Research Council and National Research Foundation Singapore. He has published over 95 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals, filed seven patents and applications, and received honours for his outstanding research contributions. He is a member of the scientific advisory boards of the National Foundation for Cancer Research in the United States and the Hong Kong-based Asian Fund for Cancer Research.
Prof Sabapathy recently joined NTU from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), where he headed the Division of Cellular & Molecular Research.
He obtained his B.Sc.(Hons) degree in Zoology from the National University of Singapore, and his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cellular Immunology from the Institute for Molecular & Cellular Biology, Singapore, in 1995. His post-doctoral work was conducted at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (Vienna, Austria), studying cellular signaling using genetically modified mice. He moved to the NCCS in late 1999 as the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, and since 2013, was the overall Head of the Research Division. Dr Sabapathy was concurrently also a Professor and Deputy Program Director of the Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program at Duke-NUS, and the Research Director of the Academic Clinical Program in Oncology at SingHealth/Duke-NUS. In May 2023, Prof Sabapathy joined NTU to become the President’s Chair Professor and Chair of the School of Biological Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK), and a recipient of the inaugural National Research Foundation Investigatorship award.
Prof Sabapathy is an accomplished cancer researcher with more than 32 years of experience in the healthcare, scientific and tertiary education sectors. Recognised as an opinion leader in his field, he has a strong track record of securing large competitive grants from major sources such as the National Medical Research Council and National Research Foundation Singapore. He has published over 95 articles and book chapters in peer-reviewed journals, filed seven patents and applications, and received honours for his outstanding research contributions. He is a member of the scientific advisory boards of the National Foundation for Cancer Research in the United States and the Hong Kong-based Asian Fund for Cancer Research.
Prof Sabapathy’s research focus is on investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in cancer development and response to therapy. His research is aimed at both understanding the molecular nature of cancer and designing effective targeted-therapies against the disease.
Key research areas in the laboratory are: role and regulation of p53 and p73 tumor-suppressors; development of mouse models for cancer, liver diseases and obesity; regulation of cell fate by the proto-oncogene c-JUN and JNKs; developmental of novel therapeutics for targeting mutant p53 and cancer-relevant targets; understanding Antizyme-mediated protein turnover.
Key research areas in the laboratory are: role and regulation of p53 and p73 tumor-suppressors; development of mouse models for cancer, liver diseases and obesity; regulation of cell fate by the proto-oncogene c-JUN and JNKs; developmental of novel therapeutics for targeting mutant p53 and cancer-relevant targets; understanding Antizyme-mediated protein turnover.
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Convergence Science Centre/NTU Singapore Collaboration Strategy
- Development of lung-targeting mutation p53-specific siRNAs
- Understanding the mechanistic basis of cellular growth control and drug resistance
Awards
(i) Elected Member, Virtual Research Institute of Aging (VRIA), 2001, Japan
(ii) Singhealth Research Excellence Award, 2004, Singapore
(iii) Singhealth Research Excellence Award – Distinguished Researcher, 2012, Singapore
(iv) National Research Foundation Investigatorship Award - September 2014
(v) Public Service Medal – Singapore’s National Day Medal – 2020 – Bronze, Singapore
(ii) Singhealth Research Excellence Award, 2004, Singapore
(iii) Singhealth Research Excellence Award – Distinguished Researcher, 2012, Singapore
(iv) National Research Foundation Investigatorship Award - September 2014
(v) Public Service Medal – Singapore’s National Day Medal – 2020 – Bronze, Singapore