Chih Hung Lo, Ph.D.

Team Leader

Chih Hung obtained his Ph.D. from University of Minnesota where he investigated the molecular mechanisms of inflammation (TNF receptor signaling) and neurodegeneration (IDP aggregation). He also performed small molecule drug discovery by combining fluorescent biosensor engineering, FRET high-throughput screening, and medicinal chemistry. He went on to do a postdoctoral training at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School where he used mouse genetics to study age-dependent neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Before joining NTU, Chih Hung received another postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine where he focused on using highly multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging for single-cell spatial analysis to study multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology and applying iPSC technology to investigate the contribution of glial cells to MS pathogenesis. Chih Hung's research interest focuses on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, specifically related to the role of TNF receptors in AD and MS.

Education and Experiences
B.Eng. (Biomedical Engineering), National University of Singapore, NUS, Singapore (2010-2014)
B.B.A. (Operation Management), National University of Singapore, NUS, Singapore (2010-2014)
Ph.D. (Biomedical Engineering), Minor in Management of Technology, University of Minnesota, USA (2014-2019)
Postdoc (Neurology), Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA (2019-2020)
Postdoc (Neurology), Yale University, School of Medicine, USA (2020-2021)
Dean's Postdoctoral Fellow (Neuroscience), LKC School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore (2021-Present)

Honors and Awards
2024 (Mar) Early-Career Scientist Research Excellence Award, NTU, Singapore
2024 BBA Rising Star in Biochemistry & Biophysics
2023 (Nov) Trainee Professional Development Award, Society for Neuroscience (SfN), USA
2023 (Mar) Selected participant by National Research Foundation as Singapore representative,
72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Physiology and Medicine), Germany
2023 (Mar) Travel Award, Keystone Symposia on Autophagy & Neurodegeneration, USA
2022-2023 Mistletoe Research Fellowship (Unfettered Research Grant), Momental Foundation, USA
2022 (Sep)    Silver Award - Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Competition (Open Category)
2022 (Jun)    Selected for Emerging Editor Program & Reviewing Editor of the journal Immunology, USA
2022 (May) Best Poster Award, 1st Singapore Structural Biology Symposium (SSBS), Singapore
2021–2024 NTU LKC School of Medicine Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship
2020–2021 NUS Development Grant (Named Young NUS Fellow)
2020 (Jun) UMN Best Dissertation Award (Ph.D.), Honorable Mention, University-Wide Competition
2020 (May) BME Department Best Dissertation Award (Ph.D.), University of Minnesota, USA
2020 (Apr) Featured for Mentor-Graduate Student Spotlight, Journal of Life Sciences
2019 (Oct) Trainee Professional Development Award, Society for Neuroscience (SfN), USA
2018–2019 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, University of Minnesota, USA
2018 (Nov) Travel Grant, Council of Graduate Students, University of Minnesota, USA
2018 (Aug) Travel Grant for National Meeting, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, American Chemical Society (ACS), USA
2018 (Feb) Travel Award for Annual Meeting, Biophysical Society (BPS), USA
2017 (Apr) Travel Award for Annual Meeting, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), USA
2017 (Jan) Travel Fellowship, Invitation to the Global Young Scientists Summit, Singapore
2015 (Apr) Culture Corps Award, ISSS, University of Minnesota, USA
2014 (Apr) Best Presentation Award (Senior Thesis), 1st place, Biomedical Engineering Showcase, NUS, Singapore
2013 (Jan) Awards for Study Abroad Exchange Scholarship to University of California, San Diego (UCSD), NUS, Singapore
2012 (May) Best Poster Award, Biomedical Engineering Society (Singapore) 6th Scientific Meeting, Singapore

Link to Publication List for Chih Hung Lo

Patents
1. Lo CH, Zeng J, Perez-Aguilar JM, Baizabal-Aguirre VM. Peptide-based therapeutics with anti-inflammatory properties. Singapore Provisional Patent Application No. 10202400831U.
2. Sachs JN & Lo CH. Methods to identify modulator of tau protein structure. US Patent No. 11/726,081.
3. Wood DK, Sachs JN, Vunnam N, Lo CH. Non-fibrillar hemoglobin oligomers and methods to identify modulators of hemoglobin S polymerization. US Patent Application No. 17/953,981.
4. Tan JKS, Song SW, Goh AJY, Lo CH, Zeng J. Palm sticker as a personal protection equipment and as a surface swab. US Provisional Patent Application No. 63/176,444.

Grants
1. Open Fund - Young Individual Research Grant, National Medical Research Council, Singapore (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Therapeutic and biomarker discovery for lysosomal acidification dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
Timeline: 2024 – 2025 (In Progress)
2. LKC School of Medicine Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Role of TNFR1 in the pathogenic mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia
Timeline: 2021 – 2024 (In Progress)
3. Early-Career Researcher Pilot Grant, NISTH, NTU, Singapore (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Rational design and engineering of novel peptide inhibitor targeting TNFR1 signaling to attenuate inflammation.
Timeline: July 2023 - Dec 2023 (Completed)
4. Early-Career Researcher Pilot Grant, NISTH, NTU, Singapore (Co-PI: Lo)
Project Title: Engineering of lysosome-targeted nanoparticles with enhanced brain penetration and neuroprotection
Timeline: July 2023 - Dec 2023 (Completed)
5. Mistletoe Research Fellowship, Momental Foundation, USA (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Role of lysosomal dysfunction in TNFR1 mediated neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration
Timeline: 2022 – 2023 (Completed)
6. Innovation Challenge Grant, National University of Singapore (Co-PI: Lo)
Project Title: Design of a novel hand-targeted personal protection equipment (PPE) against fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus
Timeline: 2021 – 2022 (Completed)
7. Development Grant, National University of Singapore (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Computational approach to discover novel peptide inhibitors targeting TNFR1 signaling
Timeline: 2019 – 2020 (Completed)
8. Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, University of Minnesota (PI: Lo)
Project Title: Discovery of small-molecule modulators of protein-protein interactions and conformational dynamics of TNFR1 and IDPs by FRET-based high-throughput screening and structure-based drug design
Timeline: 2018 – 2019 (Completed)