Academic Qualifications
| Qualification | Institution | Year of Completion |
|---|---|---|
| PhD in Medical Science | Griffith University, Australia | 2019 |
| BSc in Biomedical Science | University of Dundee, United Kingdom | 2013 |
Industry Experience
| Position | Organisation/Institution | Date of Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | Program of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore | August 2020 – September 2022 |
Selected Publications – industry/IP specific
| Publications |
|---|
| Yousefi M, Lee WS, Chan WOY, et al. (2023) Betacoronaviruses SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-OC43 infections in IGROV-1 cell line require aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Emerg Microbes Infect. 12(2):2256416. |
| Yousefi M, Lee WS, Yan B, et al. (2022) TMEM41B and VMP1 modulate cellular lipid and energy metabolism for facilitating dengue virus infection. PLoS Pathog. 18(8):e1010763. |
| Lee WS, Yousefi M, Yan B, Yong CL, Ooi YS (2021). Know your enemy and know yourself - the case of SARS-CoV-2 host factors. Curr Opin Virol. 50:159-170. |
| Chen W, Foo SS, Hong E., Wu C, Lee WS, et al. (2021). Zika virus NS3 protease induces bone morphogenetic protein-dependent brain calcification in human fetuses. Nature microbiology. 6(4), 455–466. |
| Lee WS, Webster JA, et al. (2019). Mosquito antiviral defense mechanisms: a delicate balance between innate immunity and persistent viral infection. Parasit Vectors. 12(1):165. |
| Foo SS, Chen W, Chan Y, Lee WS, et al. (2018). Biomarkers and immunoprofiles associated with fetal abnormalities of ZIKV-positive pregnancies. JCI insight. 3(21), e124152. |
| Lim EXY, Supramaniam A, Lui H, Coles P, Lee WS, et al (2018). Chondrocytes Contribute to Alphaviral Disease Pathogenesis as a Source of Virus Replication and Soluble Factor Production. Viruses. 10(2), 86. |
| Lim EXY, Lee WS, et al (2018). Mosquitoes as Suitable Vectors for Alphaviruses. Viruses. 10(2), 84. |
| Lee WS, et al (2017). Alphaviral targeted antivirals: evaluating the old, planning the future. Future Virology. 12:2, 49-54 |
| Ong HB, Lee WS, et al (2015). Homoserine and quorum-sensing acyl homoserine lactones as alternative sources of threonine: a potential role for homoserine kinase in insect-stage Trypanosoma brucei. Mol Microbiol. 95(1):143-156. |
Experience and Technical Background
Experienced in the following areas of patent practice:
- Prosecution of patents
- Drafting of patents
Primary patent practice areas by technology:
- Virology
- Cloning and Gene editing
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Vaccines and Antibodies
Research/industry background:
A. General technical areas:
- Molecular virology
- CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology
- Glycobiology
- Molecular Biology
- Vaccines and Antibodies
B. Honours research:
- Characterisation of a putative homoserine kinase in Trypanosoma brucei, which is an attractive druggable target to treat Human African Trypanosomiasis.
C. PhD research:
- Discovery of host factors involved in viral entry and replication of mosquito-transmitted viruses including Zika virus, Ross River virus, and dengue virus.
D. Industry experience:
- Discovery of host factors co-opted by human respiratory viruses for replication and pathogenesis using one of the most advanced function genomic approaches, CRISPR/Cas genome editing technology.