General research interests:

• Cardiovascular pharmacology and natural products research
• Molecular mechanisms of ischemic diseases (myocardial infarction and stroke)
• Regulation of fear/anxiety
  

Grants awarded & on-going research projects and as Principle Investigator:

• Investigation of molecular mechanisms in renin-angiotensin system after myocardial infarction and stroke (Academic Research Fund, NUS 1998)
• Understanding regulation of fear (Ministry of Defence, Singapore1999)
• Investigating the mechanisms of the protective effects of Dan Shen, an extract from the root of Salvia Miltiorrhizae, on myocardial infarction and stroke in experimental animals (National Mediclal Resaerch Council [NMRC], Singapore2000)
• Investigation of genetic differences between rat strains displaying distinct behaviour in animal model of anxiety/fear (Academic Research Fund, NUS 2000)
• Effects of Urotensin-II on heart (Aventis Pharma AG, Germany2000)
• Molecular and pharmacological mechanisms of traumatic brain injury- a sub-project of Neuroprotective agents for traumatic brain injury (Ministry of Defence, Singapore 2002)
• Understanding regulation of fear in primates (Ministry of Defence, Singapore and NUS joint-supported project 2003)
• Effects of Chinese herbal compounds, Rhizoma Ligustici (RL), Herba Leonuri (HL) and Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (RAB) on ischemic heart disease. (NMRC 2003)
• Effects of Angino on ischemic heart (CMM Pharma, 2003).
• Effects of NO-donors after myocardial infarction. (NUS Cardiovascular Biology Research Group OLS funding, 2003).
• Cerebral protective effects of TCM extracts in ischemic stroke (Hong Kong Health Care Association, 2004)
• Is hydrogen sulfide cardioprotective or destructive in ischemic heart disease? (NMRC, 2004)
• Cross talk between two neuromodulators: the anxiogenic action of CCK requires CRF1 receptor (BMRC-NMRC, 2005).
• Studies on purified Chinese herbal compounds from Salvia miltiorrhizae (SM) and Herba leonuri (HL): antioxidant therapeutic effects in ischemic heart disease. (NMRC 2005)
• Co-PI: Molecular mechanisms of the CCK2 receptor in the regulation of fear and anxiety: generation and analysis of an inducible CCK2 gene deletion in mouse (NMRC: 2003).

Research group:

• Postdoctoral Research Fellows: Dr. Wang Hong, Dr. Wang Zhong Jing, Dr. Zhang Jian Ge, Dr. Gao Ge
• Research Assistants: Miss Ning Li, Ms. Tessi Sherrin, Wong Wan hui
• Postgraduate students: Wang Hong (Ph.D. degree awarded in 2004), Ji Xin Yan (Master degree awarded in 2003), Sun Jian (Master degree awarded in 2004), Lu Qing (Ph.D. awarded in 2005) and Wang Zhong Jing (Ph.D. awarded in 2007).
• Current postgraduate students: Mr. Fu Yilong, Miss Chuah Sin Chet, Miss Loh Kok Poh, Miss Loke Yoke Yun