Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynaecological Oncology (National University of Singapore)

Unit Code

02021

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Level 2, National University Hospital
5 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119074

web: www.obgyn.nus.edu.sg/

Unit Points

Research Points: 87.5

Coursework Points: 12.5

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:

Dr Mahesh Choolani
MBBS MMED (O&G) MRCOG (UK) FRACOG (Australia) FAMS (O&G) PhD (London)
Consultant and Assistant Professor
Division of Fetal and Maternal Medicine
Head, Diagnostic Biomarker Discovery Laboratory
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Level 2, National University Hospital
10 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119074

tel: +65 6772 4261
fax: +65 6779 4753
email: obgmac@nus.edu.sg

Alternative Contact:

Dr.Kothandaraman Narasimhan MSc, PhD
Diagnostic Biomarker Discovery Laboratory
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
National University Hospital
MD11, #04-13, Clinical Research Centre,
10 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119074

tel: +65 874 1625
fax: +65 6779 4753
email: obgv2@nus.edu.sg

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Overall Objectives

Within the discipline of Women’s Health, there are a number of subspecialties including Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecological Ultrasound, and Gynaecological Oncology which our department is actively pursuing. Maternal-Fetal Medicine, as the name suggests, is concerned with safe management of human pregnancy from the time of conception till delivery. This process includes diagnosing fetal abnormalities at a very early stage to take appropriate decisions regarding carrying on with the pregnancy. Nowhere else in medicine is there the opportunity to make such an impact on the health of an individual. An adverse chromosomal makeup of the foetus may have far-reaching consequences with the possibility of intra-uterine death, or long-term neurological handicap, and increased rate of cardiovascular and endocrine ill health in adult life as well as mental retardation.
The Gynaecological Oncology program focuses on developing methods for reducing mortality from ovarian cancer. Research in our translational research laboratory is primarily aimed at developing proteomic markers and studying their efficacy under real time clinical setting. This process is routinely carried out to develop new diagnostic kits for early detection of this deadly disease.

• Provide an insight on new technologies available and currently pursued in our laboratory to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities using amniocentesis, fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), karyotype studies and AF-PCR,
• Provide an appreciation of the uniqueness of the intra-uterine environment and the physiological relationships of the mother and her unborn child
• Use of proteomic approaches to develop biomarkers for early detection of chromosomal abnormalities.
• Provide an in-depth understanding of the different molecular techniques to separate and characterize onco proteins.
• Develop proteomics based biomarkers for early detection of ovarian cancer and studying their efficacy under real time clinical settings.
• Understand the basics of diagnostic kit development.
• Encourage critical review of the medical literature and importance of research in determining best obstetric clinical practice particularly as it pertains to maternal-fetal medicine
• Develop skills in research design, and appreciation of research methodology and to provide experience in oral and written presentation of research data.

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Content

Coursework: Students will undertake one of the following subjects:
Techniques in Biomedical Research
Biostatistics for Basic Research
Graduate Research Seminar Module
Advanced Cell Biology
Students will also be expected to attend weekly clinical and research seminars presented by University and Hospital staff throughout semesters 6 and 7.

Research: An original, supervised research project.

1. Prenatal Diagnosis
2. Gynaecological Oncology

Sample Research Topics:

Clinical Research

• Rapid diagnosis of common aneuploidies (chromosome x, y, 13,18 and 21) using quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction
• Rapid diagnostic testing to check benign/malignant condition of ovarian cancer using proteomics based diagnostic kit under real time clinical settings.

Project Supervisor: Dr Mahesh Choolani
email: obgmac@nus.edu.sg

Laboratory-based Research

• Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using fetal erythroblasts derived from first trimester maternal blood
• Enrichment strategy for fetal DNA from maternal blood
• Amniotic fluid protein profiling for diagnosing fetal health status
• Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis using proteomic approach
• Identification of novel biomarkers for different trisomy conditions using proteomic approach
• Impact of invasive procedure on feto-maternal cellular and DNA trafficking-A biological model of feto-maternal haemorrhage
• Studies on single gene disorders (e.g. Thalassemia) using real time PCR.
• Development of serum based proteomic markers for early detection of ovarian cancer.
• Development of diagnostic kits for early detection of ovarian cancer.

Project Supervisor: Dr Mahesh Choolani
email: obgmac@nus.edu.sg

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 87.5 points
Research Report (up to 9,000 words): 85%
Oral presentation: 15%

Coursework Component: 12.5 points
Assessment will be based on performance during the course work and regular assignments (literature review of the concerned subject: maximum length 2,500 words).

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
3

Prospective students please note: to be eligible for any overseas AMS unit, you must have attained an aggregate of at least 70% in the University of Melbourne medical course.