Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Mirxes
Cover Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Mirxes

Forward-looking doctors and executives play a crucial role in the fight against the global cancer epidemic

According to the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage, with 69 per cent of women having little to no awareness of the disease prior to their diagnosis—a fact that can be addressed with more education, support and symptom awareness. Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the eighth most common cause of death from cancer in women around the world. Global projections estimate that over 300,000 women will succumb to the disease each year and more than four million women will be lost to ovarian cancer by 2040.

On World Ovarian Cancer Day, we highlight the forward-looking leaders on Asia’s Most Influential and Gen.T lists who advocate for better treatment for those affected by all types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. Through the lens of scientific research, cutting-edge technology, applied mathematics, or even social media, these doctors, scientists, tech leaders and executives advance our understanding of cancer and help find novel solutions for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 

Also read: These award-winning media practitioners champion freedom of expression

Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, clinical research fellow, Department of Surgery and Cancer of Imperial College London (Malaysia)

Tatler Asia
Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, clinical research fellow, Department of Surgery and Cancer of Imperial College London
Above Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri, clinical research fellow, Department of Surgery and Cancer of Imperial College London

As a clinical research fellow at the Department of Surgery and Cancer of Imperial College London, Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri undertakes research and experimental projects for breast cancer surgery. The surgeon has published several journal studies, including assessments of upper limb functionality after breast cancer treatments, as part of her PhD. 

The doctor is also known for harnessing the power of social media to promote medical knowledge. On Instagram, for example, she posted a reminder about cervical smear tests, sharing her experience as a new mother who accomplished her screening during her baby’s 12-week checkup. Another post shared with her 854,000 followers debunked ovarian cancer myths, including the notion that hormonal contraception increases the risk of the cancer. The doctor added how it “can actually reduce your lifetime risk of ovarian cancer, as well as endometrial [and] colorectal cancer…”

Of social media, she said to Tatler: “Over the years, I've become an outspoken advocate for accurate and reliable healthcare information. As a doctor, I want to use my knowledge to help others. I'm a very opinionated person, so if [a piece of information] has been wrongly put across, I will call it out regardless of who said it.” 

Read Dr Nur Amalina Che Bakri’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Mirxes (Singapore)

Tatler Asia
Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Mirxes
Above Zhou Lihan, co-founder and CEO, Mirxes

A champion of preventative care for illnesses, Zhou Lihan established Mirxes, the biotech firm that focuses on RNA-powered early detection tests for rare diseases such as cancer. Among its triumphs are GastroClear, the world’s first gastric cancer blood test, and the Apex Tissue Panel, which detects genetic alterations for the personalised treatment of patients with breast, colorectal and lung cancer. 

More promising is its ongoing CADENCE study, which, through the investigation of microRNA from 10,000 participants, aims to develop a blood-based multi-cancer screening test to detect nine of the most prevalent cancers in Singapore, including ovarian cancer. “Mirxes’ goal has always been to save lives. We have to make a product that’s actually accessible and affordable to patients, physicians and to the healthcare system,” the CEO said to Tatler.

Recent news reports have also indicated that Mirxes has taken its first steps to go public on the Singapore bourse, with an initial public offering of up to US$200 million—a move that may raise the value of the cancer screening firm to US$700 million.

Read Zhou Lihan’s full profile on Gen.T

Pan Jia Wern, postdoctoral scientist, Cancer Research Malaysia (Malaysia)

Tatler Asia
Pan Jia Wern, postdoctoral scientist, Cancer Research Malaysia (Malaysia)
Above Pan Jia Wern, postdoctoral scientist, Cancer Research Malaysia (Malaysia)

“One key lesson I learnt is the importance of inclusivity and diversity in science... To avoid biases and reduce disparities in health outcomes, it is critical that we try to include as many types of people in our research process [as possible],” said Dr Pan Jia Wern to Tatler. Through his work at Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM), the scientist has helped build the largest genetic and genomic database of Asian breast cancer, whose findings can lead to the development of treatments for the most common cancer in women. Surveying the genomic sequences of 560 cancer tumour samples, the study found that Asians are at higher risk of the aggressive HER2 breast cancer and more susceptible to the mutation of the TP53 gene, “the guardian of the genome”. 

“We’ve also observed that Asian breast cancers are more likely to have immune cells present, and this suggests that if we can find some way to lift the invisibility cloak that cancers have to evade detection by the immune system, we may be able to improve survival for Asian breast cancer patients,” added the doctor. To accelerate the discovery of treatments and close the care gap among Asians, CRM has recently launched Empower Cancer Research, the crowdfunding project that will be a sustainable source of funding for cancer studies.

Read Pan Jia Wern’s full profile on Gen.T

Jin Ge, founder and CEO, GloriousMed (China)

Tatler Asia
Jin Ge, founder and CEO, GloriousMed (China)
Above Jin Ge, founder and CEO, GloriousMed (China)

Committed to prolonging life through precision medicine, Jin Ge founded GloriousMed, the medtech company that boasts an advanced detection technology platform, as well as research and clinical development capabilities. The firm, which is headquartered in Suzhou and has medical laboratories in Suzhou and Shanghai, offers genomic testing for specific cancers, including prostate, kidney, urothelial, lung, colorectal, breast, and head and neck cancers. For prostate cancer, in particular, it jointly develops speciality products with clinicians. 

In 2021, the firm, in cooperation with medical institutions, helped map the late-stage metastasis of prostate cancer patients, as well as release the findings of China’s largest colorectal cancer liver metastasis cohort. It also completed over US$14M in financing, which accelerated its diagnosis and treatment programs. The tech company also runs the GloriousMed Research Institute, which is dedicated to biomedical research and supporting clinical decision-making. 

Read Jin Ge’s full profile on Gen.T

Jeffrey Lu, CEO, Engine Biosciences (Singapore)

Tatler Asia
Jeffrey Lu, CEO and co-founder, Engine Biosciences
Above Jeffrey Lu, CEO, Engine Biosciences

In 2021, Engine Biosciences announced the completion of its $43-million Series A funding round. The biotechnology company led by CEO and co-founder Jeffrey Lu explores the biological architecture of gene networks through its computational platform to speedily discover solutions for diseases. The company says that “Engine has been operating at the intersection of data science, machine learning, high-throughput biology experimentation, combinatorial genetics, chemistry, and drug discovery” by enabling scientists to “uncover the gene interactions and biological networks underlying diseases”.

Said Lu in a statement following the Series A funding, “Many breakthrough tools to edit, program and modulate biology have emerged and matured in recent years. The fundamental question continues to be whether we know the disease-driving errors in the genetic code of biology to direct these tools, including therapeutics.” The funding will help the company scale its work—which has shown promise in treating liver, ovarian, colorectal, and breast cancers—and expand its tech platform and oncology therapeutics, as well as prepare for its first clinical programs. 

Read Jeffrey Lu’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

 

Gene Lay, CEO, BioLegend (Taiwan)

Tatler Asia
Gene Lay, CEO, BioLegend
Above Gene Lay, CEO, BioLegend

Gene Lay founded BioLegend, which provides cutting-edge antibodies and reagents for biomedical research. The company, which had an estimated revenue of US$380 million in 2022, supports discoveries with products that can be used in scientific research, including cancer. In 2021, BioLegend was acquired by science solutions company PerkinElmer, as Lay expressed his commitment to “work together… to accelerate the discovery and development of novel therapeutics”. 

In 2022, Lay gifted the bioengineering department of the University of California San Diego (UCSD) with a US$25 million endowment to support its teaching facilities, faculty and research work. The commitment is also dedicated to Lay’s mentor, Shu Chien, the founder of UCSD’s bioengineering department and one of the leaders in the field. The university has planned to rename the department the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering in recognition of the two men and their role in the advancement of medicine. 

More recently, in May 2023, the biotechnology entrepreneur donated US$100 million to Brigham and Women’s Hospital to establish The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation. The new institute will gather experts and scientists to develop new immunotherapies and conduct research on immune-mediated diseases, ageing and cancer.

Read Gene Lay’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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