I am currently a Year 4 medical student with the Duke NUS GMS. I did my third year research project under the combined mentorship of Dr Sng Ban Leong, Deputy Head, Senior Consultant of KKH’s Department of Women’s Anaesthesia and Director of KK Research Centre, as well as Dr Tan Ene Choo, Principal Scientific Officer of KK Research Centre.
Prior to starting medical school, I had a brief stint working at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Singapore where I was involved in managing our trade relations with neighbouring countries.
I joined medicine wanting to impact the lives of people in a more personal and immediate fashion. During my clinical postings, I was drawn to the specialty of anaesthesia and subsequently did 2 months of anaesthesia electives at SGH as well as KKH. Even with the limited exposure, I was inspired by the rigor and multifaceted nature of the field. It was also during this time, that I witnessed many 'theoretical' principles learned in school applied to effect practical responses in the patient.
Naturally, I was interested in doing a research project in the field of anaesthesia. I met Dr Sng during my rotations in KKH. We discussed some of the projects that he had on hand and we both felt that it would be a good learning experience for me to embark on a translational research on genetics. It was again a move out of my comfort zone but that challenge was stimulating and supported by the mentorship of Dr Tan Ene Choo.
The project explored the role of genetic variants in the SCN9A gene which codes for a sodium channel that was known to be involved in nociception. We identified markers that were associated with chronic pain in post hysterectomy patients. We also discovered ethnic differences in pain perception that could not be completely accounted for by those genetic variants alone. This led us to also study the role of epigenetic mechanisms. In fact, we are now working on another project looking at the epigenetic mechanism of methylation on the OPRM1 gene that codes for the mu-opioid receptor.
This research experience was very fruitful and it gave me exposure to the demands of scientific research. It has certainly broadened my horizon and generated interest in translational research. I was also able to attend the 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists at Hong Kong where I presented a poster. It was an invaluable experience and I feel privileged to be able to present to esteemed anaesthesiologists from around the world as a medical student. I am truly grateful for this learning opportunity.”
“My name is Ching Yin Ying, I am currently a Year 4 student from Duke NUS medical school. I was under the mentorship of Dr Sng Ban Leong, Senior Consultant of Women's Anaesthesia and Director of the KK Research Centre, for my 3rd year research project. We worked on several projects that focused on identifying risk factors associated with chronic postsurgical pain. One particular project which I found to be particularly exciting involved the study of functional MRI changes in regions of the brain that are linked to chronic postsurgical pain.
These projects were very rewarding especially so because I have always been interested in understanding the neural mechanisms as well as functional and psychological aspects of chronic pain. It is my hope that with better understanding of the condition, more effective measures can be undertaken to relieve or even remove pain from patients who suffer from the various chronic pain conditions.
With Dr Sng's unceasing and tireless support, the project was awarded the AM ETHOS Duke NUS Medical Student Research Award as well as the Khoo Student Research Award. I was also very fortunate to be able to present my project at the 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists and also at the Singhealth Duke NUS Congress.
This past year that I have spent engaged in the various projects has deepened my understanding of chronic pain tremendously. Equally important, was the further strengthening of my confidence in pursuing a career as a clinician scientist in the field of anaesthesiology; perhaps with specialisation in chronic pain management too!”
Photo caption: rom left to right: Yeo Jun Jie, Prof Alex Sia, Ching Yin Ying, A/Prof Sng Ban Leong and Emma Du Wei
“I am a final year student from Duke-NUS Medical School. During my research year, I had the opportunity to work with Prof Alex Sia and Prof Sng Ban Leong in the department of women’s anaesthesia in KKH. My project was a spin-off of the pioneering work by my predecessors who designed an automated vasopressor pump for maintaining blood pressure during caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia. I studied the potential risk factors for the development of maternal hypotension and found that non-invasively obtained baseline hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate variability and stroke volume variation could be predictive of the risk of maternal hypotension after spinal anaesthesia during caesarean section.
Having been trained in engineering background, I have always had a passion for integrating innovative medical technology into clinical medicine to improve patient outcomes. This project is a starting point for my future career in clinical research. I hope to expand the application of closed-loop feedback system to wider clinical situations including other forms of anaesthesia and intensive care settings. In addition, this project also provided me with the opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary team consisting of clinicians, engineers and administrative staff, which helped pave the road for future career as a clinician scientist.
I am very fortunate to be mentored by two giants in women’s anaesthesia. It has been a very fruitful year which culminated in two poster presentations in 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists. It would not have been possible without their encouragement and support throughout the year. I am grateful to be part of the research team.”
