Jeff Tan

CANCER RESEARCH INVESTIGATOR WITH INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE A results-oriented and successful cancer research investigator who has contributed significantly to scientific discoveries, including cloning and identification of novel molecules involved in cancer biology, cancer therapeutics, and apoptosis signaling. Strong track records of innovation excellence, resourcefulness, and diligence which led to the cloning of the largest known muscle protein (Titin, MW~3800 kDa), the discovery of a novel human tumor suppressor protein, Modulator of Apoptosis 1 (MOAP-1), identification of new skin bio-actives for management of human skin pigmentation, generation of gene expression constructs for development of enterovirus-71 vaccines and gene therapy treatment of cancer, the discovery of novel anti-cancer drugs derived from phenylquinazolines as well as the contributions to establish new academic programs, academic labs, and corporate R&D Center in the US and the Asia Pacific. Excellent communicator with the innate ability to manage multiple projects with competing for due dates. To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.

• First to clone and characterize the largest known protein, Titin (3800 KDa) from the avian heart muscle and published research findings in Tier 1 ISI-indexed journal (Journal Impact Factor >7)
• First to discover and clone the novel Tumor Suppressor, MOAP-1 (Modulator of Apoptosis), and published research findings in Tier 1, ISI-indexed journal (Journal Impact Factor >7)
• First to discover the tumor suppressor activity of MOAP-1 in mouse Xenograft models using gene therapy approaches, including the generation of tricistronic gene therapy expression construct in research collaboration with Harvard Medical School (USA)
• Discovered the anti-pigmentation properties of Lily flower and incorporated the plant extract in commercial skincare lines marketed under Neutrogena Skincare (patents filed in Europe and Asia)
• Awarded three research grants from FRGS (Ministry of Higher Education) as principal investigator to conduct research focusing on cancer biology and gene therapy
• Awarded research grants as co-investigators to develop an anti-viral vaccine for Enterovirus 71
• Awarded collaborative research grant and travel grant for research collaboration with Harvard Medical School
• Established research collaborations with leading institutions, including the National University of Singapore (ranked 23rd worldwide, 2019), and Harvard University (ranked 6th worldwide, 2019)
• Founding member of multi-million Cancer Research labs (Cancer and Apoptosis Research lab of ASTAR, Singapore) and Research Center of a multi-national company, SRC (Singapore Research Center of Johnson and Johnson)
• More than 10 years of experience building start-ups from scratch to fully functional and successful entities as evidenced by publications in top-ranked scientific journals and commercialization of skincare products
• 15 years of experience managing research facilities, including management and sourcing of funds for new equipment and labs to support the new research facilities
• Trained and personally supervised >50 scientists, technical specialists, polytechnic, and university students
• Contributed to the development of new university programs (BSc in Medical Biotechnology, Biomedicine) in collaboration with Lancaster University (UK top 10 University) and actively taught undergraduate and graduate courses, including Molecular Biology (Year 2 subject), Molecular Diagnostics (Year 2 subject), and Pharmaceutical Technology (Year 3 subject), and Research Methodologies (Post-graduate)
• Contributed to the development of new university programs (MSc, Life Science, MSc Biomedical Science with Business Management, Ph.D In Biology).

• Member of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB)
• Member of the American Association for The Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Professional member of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)

• AWARDS :
• Recipient of Jeffrey Cheah Institute Travel Grant for South-East Asia Studies at Harvard University (USA),
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award (A STAR Institute of Molecular & Cell Biology, Singapore),
• Gamma Sigma Delta (Honor Society)
• Asia Pacific Nonstock Award (Johnson & Johnson, Asia Pacific)
• ASCB Travel Grant
• RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED :
• Anti-cancer therapeutics mediated by MBR and Nanoparticles. FRGS (Principal Investigator): FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia): $163,000 (National Level), Funding Period, 2020-2024,
• Development of Gene Therapy for Cancer Treatment (Principal Investigator): Research Collaboration with Harvard Medical School, USA): $500,000, Funding Period: 2018-2021
• Characterization of MBR Gene Expression Construct for Cancer treatment FRGS (Principal Investigator): FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia): $126,000 (National Level) Funding Period: 2017-2019
• Characterization of MOAP-1 mediated signaling mechanisms (Principal Investigator): FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia): $130,000 (National Level) Funding period: 2014-2016
• Characterization of Enterovirus 71 virulence and development of antiviral peptide (Co-Investigator): FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia): $140,000 (National Level) Funding Period: 2014-2016
• Characterization of human stem cells derived neuro-stem cells and mature neurons as experimental models for testing of neuro-toxin and infection by Enterovirus 71(Co-investigator): FRGS (Fundamental Research Grant Scheme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia): $131,000 (National Level), Funding Period: 2014-2016
• Natural Product Screening and characterization (Principal Investigator), Internal Research Grant, Sunway University: $55,000
• Apoptosis Signaling mediated by MOAP-1 associated proteins (Principal Investigator), Internal Research Grant, Sunway University: $60,000
• Roles of Paraneoplastic antigens and oncogenic transformation of human cells (Principal Investigator), Internal Research Grant, Sunway University: $78,000
• Characterization of Bio-actives that confer UV protective benefits (Principal Investigator), Internal Research Grant, Sunway University: $40,000
• INVENTIONS & PATENTS:
• Lilium Candidum Extracts and Uses Thereof (Patents filed, European and USA patents)
• Novel antioxidants, Apoptosis Inhibitors, and Bio-actives for skin whitening (5 invention disclosures)
• Tricistronic Expression of MOAP-1, RASSF1A, AND BAX for CancerTherapy and Treatment of Chemo-drug Resistant Cancer Cells (MyPO: PI 2017701540)

• Abd El-Aal AAA, Jayakumar FA, Lahiri C, Tan KO, Reginald K. Novel cationic cryptides in Penaeus vannamei demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-cancer activities. Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 6;13(1):14673. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-41581-9. PMID: 37673929; PMCID: PMC10482825.
• Heng WZ, Poh CL, Tan KO. Nanoparticle mediated delivery of anti-viral peptides against EV71 virus. 2023 Pharmaceutical Research (Accepted)
• Tan EW, Abd-Aziz N, Poh CL, Tan KO. Engineered Oncolytic Adenoviruses: An Emerging Approach for Cancer Therapy. Pathogens. 2022 Oct 4;11(10):1146. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11101146
• Lim HS, Samson SE, Rahman S, Yow YY, Tan, KO . Photoprotective Activities of Lignosus Rhinocerus in UV-irradiated Human Keratinocyte 2022 J., Ethnopharmacology. volume 299,2022,115621 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2022.115621
• Simon SE, Ahmed U, Saad SM, Anwar A,Khan KM, Tan EW, Tan KO. New synthetic phenylquinazoline derivatives induce apoptosis by targeting the pro-survival members of the BCL-2 family, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 67, 2022,128731 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2022.128731
• Ahmed U, Ho K-Y, Simon SE, Saad SM, Ong S-K, Anwar A, Tan KO, Sridewi N, Khan KM, Khan NA, Anwar A Potential anti-acanthamoebic effects through inhibition of CYP51 by novel quinazolinones, Acta Tropica, 231, 2022,106440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106440
• Simon SE, Lim HS, Jayakumar FA, Tan EW, Tan KO, "Alpha-Mangostin Activates MOAP-1 Tumor Suppressor and Mitochondrial Signaling in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells", Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2022, Article ID 7548191, 12 pages, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/754819
• Tan, E.W.; Abd-Aziz, N.; Poh, C.L.; Tan, K.O. Pathogenicity and Immunogenicity of Adenovirus. Encyclopedia. 2022 Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31125 .
• Veerasamy T, Eugin Simon S, Tan KO. Emerging strategies for sensitization of therapy-resistant tumors toward cancer therapeutics by targeting the Bcl-2 family, TGF-β, Wnt/β-Catenin, RASSF and miRNA regulated signaling pathways. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2021.106016
• Simon SE, Numan, A, Jayakumar, FA, Khalid, M, Tan, KO. Investigating the impact of UV irradiated graphene oxide on human breast cancer cells. Materials Today Communications, 2021, 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102830
• Lalani S, Tan SH, Tan KO, Lim HX, Ong KC, Wong KT, Poh CL. Molecular mechanism of L-SP40 peptide and in vivo efficacy against EV-A71 in neonatal mice. Life Sci. 2021 Oct 26:120097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120097.
• Lee Y.H, Pang S.W, Revai Lechtich E, Shah K, Simon S.E, Ponnusamy S, Narayanan R, Poh C.L, Tan K.O. (2020) Tricistronic expression of MOAP-1, Bax and RASSF1A in cancer cells enhances chemo-sensitization that requires BH3L domain of MOAP-1 J. Can. Res. Clin. Oncology, Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 146(7), 1751-1764 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-020-03231-9
• Poh C.L. Yee P.T.I, Tan S.H, Ong K.C, Tan K.O, Wong K.T, Hassan S.S (2019) Development of live attenuated Enterovirus 71 vaccine strains that confer protection against lethal challenge in mice. Scientific Report 9, 4805 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41285-z
• Yeo Y, Tan J.B.L, Lim L.W, Tan K.O, Heng B.C, Lim W.L. Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Lineages as In Vitro Models for Screening the Neuroprotective Properties of Lignosus rhinocerus (Cooke) Ryvarden. BioMed Research International 2019, 1-19 https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3126376
• Pang S.W, Lahiri C, Poh C.L, Tan K.O. PNMA family: Protein interaction network and cell signalling pathways implicated in cancer and apoptosis. Cell Signal. (2018) 45,54-62 (Review Paper, I.F=4.12) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2018.01.022
• Yee P.T.I, Mohamed R.A.H, Ong S.K, Tan K.O, Poh C.L. Characterization of significant molecular determinants of virulence of Enterovirus 71 sub-genotype B4 in Rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Virus Res. (2017) 238:243-252 (Research Paper, I. F. 2.67) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2017.07.01
• Lee Y.H., Pang S.W., Poh C. L., Tan K. O. Distinct Functional Domains of PNMA5 Mediate Protein-Protein Interaction, Nuclear Localization, and Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology (2016), 142, 1967-1977 (Research Paper I. F. (2016) 3.5) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-016-2205-5
• Lee Y.H., Pang S.W., Tan K.O PNMA2 Mediates Heterodimeric Interactions and Antagonizes Chemo-sensitizing Activities Mediated by Members of PNMA Family. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (2016) 473,224-229 (Research Paper *I.F. [2016] 2.30) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.03.083
• Yap, M.S., Tang Y.Q., Yeo Y., Lim W. L, Lim L.W., Tan K.O, Richards, M, Iekhsan Othman, I., Poh C.L., Heng BC. 2016 Pluripotent Human embryonic stem cell derived neural lineages for in vitro modelling of enterovirus 71 infection and therapy Virol J. (BMC) 2016; 13: 5. (Research Paper: I.F.* [2016] 2.181) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-015-0454-6
• Yee P.T, Tan K.O, Othman I, Poh C.L. Identification of molecular determinants of cell culture growth characteristics of Enterovirus 71. Virol J. (2016) 28;13(1):194.(Research Paper, I. F. 2.14) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-016-0645-9
• Tan,K.O., Fu N.Y., Sukumaran S.K., Chan S-L, Kang J.H., Poon K.L., Chen B.S., Yu VC. 2005. MAP-1 is a mitochondrial effector of Bax. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, 14623-14628. (Research Paper: 63 Citations, I.F. [2005]: 10.23) https://doi.o
• Chua B.T., Volbracht, C., Tan, K.O., Li, R., Yu, V.C., Li, P. 2003. Mitochondrial translocation of cofilin is an early step in apoptosis induction . Nature Cell Biol. 5, 1083-9 (Research Paper: 213 Citations, I.F. [2003]: 20.27) https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1070
• Chan, S-L, Lee, M.C, Tan, K.O, Yang, L.K, Lee, A.S, Flotow, H, Fu,N.Y, Butler, M.S, Soejarto, D.D, Buss, A.D, Yu, V.C. 2003 Identification of chelerythrine as an inhibitor of BclXL function J. Biol. Chem. 278, 20453-6 (Research Paper: 163 Citations, I. F. [2003]: 6.48) https://www.jbc.org/content/278/23/20453.short
• Tan, K. O., Chan, S-L, Fu, N., Yu, V. C. 2003. MAP-1 is a putative ligand for the multidomain domain proapoptotic protein BAX. Programmed Cell Death, eds: Y. Shi, J.A. Cidlowski, D. Scott and Y.B. Shi, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers Chapter 11 123-130 (Book Chapter) https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4757-5890-0_11
• Tan, K. O.,Tan, K. M., Chan, S-L, Yee, K. S. Y., Bévort, M., Ang K. C., Yu, V. C. 2001. MAP-1: a novel pro-apoptotic protein containing a BH3-like motif that associates with Bax through its Bcl-2 homology domains. J Biol Chem. 276, 2802-2807 (Research Paper: 106 Citations, I.F. [2001]: 7.26) https://www.jbc.org/content/276/4/2802.short
• Tan, K.M., Chan, S-L, Tan, K. O., Yu, V.C. 2001 The C. elegans sex- determining protein FEM-2 and its human homologue, hFEM-2, are Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphatases that promote apoptosis. J Biol Chem. 276, 44193-202 (Research Paper: 49 Citation, I.F. [2001]: 7.26) https://www.jbc.org/content/276/47/44193.short
• Tan, K. O., Tan, K. M, Yu, V.C. 1999. A Novel BH3-like Domain in BID is required for Intramolecular Interaction and Autoinhibition of Pro-apoptotic Activity. J Biol Chem. (communication) 274, 23687-90 (Research Paper: 59 Citations, I.F. [1999]: 7.67) https://www.jbc.org/content/274/34/23687.short
• Chan, S-L, Tan, K.O., Zhang, L., Yee, K.S.Y., Ronca, F., Chan, M-Y, Yu, V.C. 1999. F1Aα: a Death Receptor-Binding Protein Homologous to the Caenorhabditis elegans Sex-determining Protein, FEM-1, is a caspase Substrate that Mediate Apoptosis. J Biol Chem. 274, 32461-8 https://www.jbc.org/content/274/45/32461.short
• Tan, K. O., Sater, G. R., Myers, A. M., Robson, R. M., Huiatt, T. W. 1993 Molecular Characterization of Avian Muscle Titin J Biol Chem. 268, 22900-7 https://www.jbc.org/content/268/30/22900.short
• Tan K.O., Neo B.H, Govindarajan R., Saliou C. (Johnson & Johnson). 2008 Characterization of AES in UV-Induced Melanogenesis. Pigment Cell Melanoma Research 21 (2), 323-324 (Conference Paper)
• Loy C.J., Neo, B. H., Krisnawati, I.M., Tan, K.O., Govindarajan, R., Saliou, C. (Johnson & Johnson). 2008. Genome wide analysis of cellular response to ultraviolet light. Pigment Cell Melanoma Research 21 (2), 331-332 (Conference Paper)
• Tan, KO, Simon SE, Lim HS (2019) Characterization of Plant Extracts that Modulate Apoptosis Signaling of Human Breast Cancer Cells and UV-irradiated Keratinocytes Single Cell Proteomics, Boston, USA (Conference paper)
• Tan, K. O. LTR Retrotransposon Derived Genes and Their Roles In Cancer Biology (2017) Cancer Research Conference, UTAR, Malaysia
• Tan K.O, Pang S.W , Lee Y.H. (2016) Modulation of Pro-apoptotic Signalling in Cancer Cells by Tricistronic Expression of RASSF1 and Its Associated Molecules PepTalk, San Diego, USA
• Yee I.P T, POh C.L, Tan K. O. (2016) Identification of molecular determinants in Enterovirus 71 genome J Antivir Antiretrovir Conference
• Yap. K.M Tham S. Y.Tan. K. O. Characterization of Human Para-Neoplastic Ma Antigen Family Member, PNMA5: Subcellular Localization, and Function (2015) 7th Immunotherapeutics and Immunomonitoring, San Diego, USA
• Liu, X.M, Govindarajan., R. Tan, K.O. Characterization and synthesis of novel anti-oxidants. 2008. Submitted for patent application (Johnson & Johnson, 2008)
• Won, Y.M., Girish, A., Tan, K.O. Identification of actives that inhibit UV-induced pro- pigmentary signalling. 2008. Submitted for patent applications (Johnson & Johnson, 2008)
• Won, Y.K, Neo, B.H, Govindarajan, R., Tan, K.O. Identification of novel pro-pigmentary signalling mechanism in keratinocytes. Internal publication (Johnson & Johnson, 2008)

38. Neo, B.H, Govindarajan, R., Tan, K.O. Identification of cellular markers responsive to UV stimulation. Internal publication (Johnson & Johnson, 2008)

Basketball, Cycling, Aerobic and Taiji Exercises. My daily routine includes different types of exercise, particularly Aerobic and Taiji Exercises which are perfect combination for my health.