Education

1978-1982 Zhejiang Medical University

1995-1999 Showa University

 

Academic Experience

1983.01-1995.03 Doctor Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital

2000.01-2008.04 Dentist National University Hospital

2007.01-2022.06 Associate Professor with Tenure National University of Singapore

2010.01-2019.06 Vice President of the Dental HospitalNational University of Singapore 

2011.08-2022.06 Associate Professor of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department National University of Singapore

2011.10-2019.12 Chair of the Department of Oral Science National University of Singapore

2016.07-2019.12 Chair of the Research Policy Committee of the Dental Hospital National University of Singapore

2022.02-present Dean of Academic Affairs Stomatological Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University

 

Overview of Academic Research

1. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into precursor cells, mature somatic cells, single tissues, and composite tissues, which are applied in cellular therapy and transplantation therapy, as well as in research on human normal development, function, repair, disease prevention, and treatment.

2. Development of prevention and evaluation tools from human embryonic stem cells, which are used to detect and assess the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and therapeutic methods.

3. Establishment of cost-effective human-like models from human embryonic stem cells, which are applied to investigate the impacts of natural and man-made products on human health and safety.

4. Immune properties of stem cells and their differentiated progeny cells.

5. Design and research and development of scaffolds and prostheses with highly macroporous structures suitable for systemic and oral implantation, for the repair of tissues and organs.

 

Major Honor and Awards

Editor-in-Chief of Journal of World Stem Cells

Chair of the Singapore Section of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR)

Ad Hoc Reviewer for the Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Ad Hoc Reviewer for the Medical Research Council (MRC) UK

Ad Hoc Reviewer for the Wellcome Trust (UK)

Ad Hoc Reviewer for the European Science Foundation (ESF) and Times Higher Education (THE)

Ad Hoc Reviewer for World University Rankings

 

Representative Research Achievements

1. Heng BC, Haider HKh, Sim EK, Cao T, Ng SC. Strategies for directing the differentiation of stem cells into the cardiomyogenic lineage in vitro. Cardiovasc Res. 2004 Apr 1;62(1):34-42.

2. Toh WS, Lee EH, Guo XM, Chan JK, Yeow CH, Choo AB, Cao T. Cartilage repair using hyaluronan hydrogel-encapsulated human embryonic stem cell-derived chondrogenic cells. Biomaterials. 2010 Sep;31(27):6968-80.

3. Li M, Zou Y, Lu Q, Tang N, Heng A, Islam I, Tong HJ, Dawe GS, Cao T. Efficient derivation of dopaminergic neurons from SOX1⁻ floor plate cells under defined culture conditions. J Biomed Sci. 2016 Mar 8;23:34.

4. Heng BC, Ye CP, Liu H, Toh WS, Rufaihah AJ, Yang Z, Bay BH, Ge Z, Ouyang HW, Lee EH, Cao T. Loss of viability during freeze-thaw of intact and adherent human embryonic stem cells with conventional slow-cooling protocols is predominantly due to apoptosis rather than cellular necrosis. J Biomed Sci. 2006 May;13(3):433-45.

5. Lu Q, Li M, Zou Y, Cao T. Delivery of basic fibroblast growth factors from heparinized decellularized adipose tissue stimulates potent de novo adipogenesis. J Control Release. 2014 Jan 28;174:43-50.