James Chih-Hsin Yang
Cover James Chih-Hsin Yang, cancer centre president, National Taiwan University Hospital

These renowned doctors, researchers and professors have dedicated their lives to ending the threat of critical illness

In celebration of World Health Day on April 7, we shine the spotlight on Asia’s Most Influential doctors, researchers and professors who have devoted their lives to improving global health and combatting diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. As the World Health Organisation calls on governments to safeguard the fundamental right to health, these great Asian minds are actively engaged in disease management, exploring novel therapies, identifying cancer genes and integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare systems. They also lead research and health institutions to provide knowledge, mobilise resources and advocate for the protection of the communities affected by critical diseases such as HIV and AIDS. With their important work, the dream of leading a life free from the threat of illnesses becomes more and more true.

Also read: Meet the visionary CEOs fuelling Asia’s sustainable energy ambitions

Dr Teo Soo-Hwang, chief scientific officer, Cancer Research Malaysia (Malaysia)

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Dr Teo Soo-Hwang, chief scientific officer, Cancer Research Malaysia (Malaysia)
Above Dr Teo Soo-Hwang, chief scientific officer, Cancer Research Malaysia

Dr Teo Soo-Hwang is the chief scientific officer of Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM), the non-profit organisation that ensures advances in cancer research includes Asians. Focusing on breast cancer, Dr Teo has made significant contributions to the understanding of the disease, including the completion of the largest genomic map of breast cancer in Asians, the identification of genetic markers associated with increased risk, and the development of the first Asian Genetic Risk Calculator, which helps patients determine their risk of being a breast cancer gene carrier. Building on its breakthroughs in breast cancer research, CRM is collaborating with the University of Cambridge to explore the use of genetic and imaging tools in cancer screening.

Read Dr Teo Soo-Hwang’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

John Eu-Li Wong, senior vice-president, health innovation and translation, National University of Singapore (Singapore)

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John Eu-Li Wong, senior vice-president, health innovation and translation, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Above John Eu-Li Wong, senior vice-president, health innovation and translation, National University of Singapore

Oncologist and haematologist John Eu-Li Wong helps improve global health through multiple organisations, including the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group, which he co-founded in 1997. The consortium, whose member institutions come from Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia, is involved in early-phase drug development and clinical trials (that also give patients in the region early access to novel chemotherapy regimens and treatments). Of the group’s work, Wong said, “Cancer is an enormous problem in this part of the world... Many of our patients either fail standard therapy or have cancers where there is no effective therapy if unresectable. We owe it to our patients to develop better treatment for them.”

Read John Wong’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Ed Deng, co-founder and CEO, Health2Sync (Taiwan)

Tatler Asia
Ed Deng, co-founder and CEO, Health2Sync
Above Ed Deng, co-founder and CEO, Health2Sync

Tech entrepreneur Ed Deng is behind Health2Sync, the smart healthcare platform that helps people (it has 1.2 million registered users worldwide) manage chronic diseases, mainly diabetes, through data analytics. For patients, its Health2Sync app tracks long-term data trends like blood glucose, blood pressure and weight, helping them adjust their lifestyles, as well as communicate with doctors more effectively. And for healthcare providers, its Patient Management Platform, which has been adopted by 280 medical institutions, offers a holistic view of an array of patient data, leading to better care. Deng’s company also collaborates with pharmaceutical firms, including AstraZeneca and Sanofi to help improve chronic kidney disease detection and insulin management, respectively. 

Read Ed Deng’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, infectious diseases expert (Malaysia)

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Adeeba Kamarulzaman
Above Adeeba Kamarulzaman, infectious diseases expert

Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman is a global leader in HIV and AIDS research and response. The infectious diseases expert established the Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS at the University of Malaya to address the health and social issues associated with the disease. In addition to serving as chair of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and the Rose Foundation, Dr Adeeba has also been appointed commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, becoming the first Malaysian to hold the post, and recently served as president of the International AIDS Society, the first woman of Asian descent to assume the role. In recognition of her contributions to the medical field, she received the National Academic Figure Award from Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education in 2023.

Read Adeeba Kamarulzaman’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Dean Ho, director, The Institute for Digital Medicine, National University of Singapore (Singapore)

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Dean Ho
Above Dean Ho, director, The Institute for Digital Medicine, National University of Singapore

Dean Ho is at the forefront of artificial intelligence applications for medicine. The thought leader champions Identif.AI, which can determine the optimal combination of drugs and dosages for infectious diseases, as well as Curate.AI, which optimises dosages for, say, different stages of chemotherapy. “By using our platform Curate.AI, instead of defaulting patients to solely receiving the highest drug doses, we place the individual on a regimen that is within a safe range to strategically sample a little bit of data,” Ho said to Tatler. “We then use AI on this data to dynamically guide their drug dosing and medical care.”

Read Dean Ho’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

James Chih-Hsin Yang, cancer centre president, National Taiwan University Hospital (Taiwan)

Tatler Asia
James Chih-Hsin Yang
Above James Chih-Hsin Yang, cancer centre president, National Taiwan University Hospital

For his scientific contributions to thoracic cancer research, Dr James Chih-Hsin Yang was honoured with the Paul A. Bunn, Jr. Scientific Award by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in 2022. Yang, who is the director of the Graduate Institute of Oncology at National Taiwan University, focuses his work on lung cancer treatments, including the development of new drug treatments. He has helped establish Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EGFR TKI) as the frontline treatment for lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation, and also led the approval of the second-generation afatinib and the development of the third-generation osimertinib, which are targeted treatment options for lung cancer.

Read James Chih-Hsin Yang's full profile on Asia’s Most Influential


Tatler Asia’s Most Influential is the definitive list of people shaping our world today. Asia’s Most Influential brings together the region's most innovative changemakers, industry titans and thought leaders who are driving positive impact in Asia and beyond. View the full list here.

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