Chee Kai Chan, Ph.D.

B.Sc. (Pure and Applied Chemistry)
National University of Singapore

M. Education
National University of Singapore

Ph.D. Medical Sciences (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Australian National University, Canberra

John Curtin School of Medical Research

General Biology (with Laboratory)

Biochemistry (with Laboratory)

Research Methodology

Special Topics in Biology – Medical Genetics in Health and Disease

Prof. Chan earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the National University of Singapore. He completed his Ph.D. at the Australian National University and his post-doctoral Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. He has carried out research as Principal Investigator for more than 15 years and has taught in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia and Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan. He has been awarded for excellence in Teaching from both La Trobe university in Melbourne as well as the Nazarbayev University in Nursultan and recently nominated for the Republic of Kazakhstan Online teaching award.

His research interest includes cellular nuclear import and its application to gene therapy, nutrigenomics research in metabolic disease and mental health as well as HPV genetic epidemiology and cervical cancer.  It has also involved big data analysis of genetics of metabolic and neurological disease including Autism Spectrum Disorder, TB and metabolic syndrome and clinical data impacting HPV. His work was published in the Journal of Oncology, Human Gene Therapy, Gene Therapy, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Gastroenterology and Journal of Virology.

• Sadykov, M., Azizan, A., Kozhamkulov, U. Akilzhanova, A. Yerezhepov D,. Salfinger M, Chee Kai Chan (2020). Association of genetic variations in the vitamin D pathway with susceptibility to tuberculosis in Kazakhstan. Mol Biol Rep (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-020-05255-3
• Aimagambetova G, Chee Kai Chan, Ukybassova T, Imankulova B, Balykov A, KongrtayK, Azizan A. (2020) Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. J Med Screen. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969141320902482
• Sofiya An, Akbota Kanderzhanova, Assel Akhmetova, Faye Foster, Chee Kai Chan (2020) “Chasing hope”: Parents’ perspectives on complementary and alternative interventions for children with autism in Kazakhstan. Autism J. Accepted for publication.
• Chee Kai Chan, Gulzhanat Aimagambetova, Talshyn Ukybassova, Kuralay Kongrtay, Azliyati Azizan (2019).Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Cancer: Epidemiology, Screening and Vaccination- Review of Current Perspectives Journal of Oncology Volume 2019 Article ID 3257939, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3257939
• S Zhetkenev, A Khassan, A Khamzina, A Issanov, B Crape, A Akilzhanova, U Kozhamkulov, D Yerezhepov, Chee Kai Chan. (2019) Association of rs12722 COL5A1 with Pulmonary Tuberculosis infection: a preliminary case-control study in a Kazakhstani population. MedRxiv, 19008995
• Sofiya An, Botagoz Kaukenova and Chee Kai Chan (2018). Families in transition: Parental perspectives of support and services for children with autism in Kazakhstan. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education. IF:0.576
• Daniel Torrano, Syed Ali and Chee Kai Chan. (2017) 1^st year Medical students’ learning style preference and their correlation with performance in different subjects within the medical course. BMC Medical Education. 17(1) 131.IF:1.93
• Chee Kai Chan, Paul Beaver, Ayana Arystan, Kathryn Goozee, Ralph Martins. Application of nutrigenomics for personalized intervention of Alzheimer’s disease and metabolic syndrome. The Herald of the Medical Center of President’s affairs administration of the republic of Kazakhstan 2015; 1(58): 58-60.
• C McDermott, S Diepstraten, J Vadolas, B McColl, CK Chan, A Hart. 2015. Reactivation of gamma-globin using CRISPR-CAS9 as a potential gene therapy for beta-thalassemia. Journal of Gene Medicine 17 (8-9), 214-214
• S Diepstraten, J Vadolas, B McColl, CK Chan, A Hart 2015. A Novel system for analysis and manipulation of Human Globin gene switching in vitro. Journal of Gene Medicine 17 (8-9), 206-206
• Stephen R Doyle, Ph.D.; Naga R.P. Kasinadhuni; Chee Kai Chan; Warwick N Grant (2013) Evidence of evolutionary constraints that influences the sequence composition and diversity of mitochondrial matrix targeting signals. PLoS ONE 8(6). e67938.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067938.
• Duy Huynh; Dilara Akcora; Jordane Malaterre; Chee-Kai Chan; Xu-Ming Dai; Ivan Bertoncello; E. Richard Stanley; Robert George Ramsay (2013) CSF1 Receptor-Dependent colon development, homeostasis and inflammatory stress response. PLoS ONE 8 (2) e56951.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056951
• Stephen R Doyle, Chee Kai Chan and Warwick Grant (2011) Enhanced annealing of mismatched oligonucleotides using a novel melting curve assay allows efficient in vitro discrimination and restriction of a single nucleotide polymorphism. BMC Biotechnology, 11:83doi:10.1186/1472-6750-11-83
• Chee Kai Chan, Adam Hart, Anna Lister, Stephen Doyle (2011). Learning styles of 3^rd year Genetics Students and their Affection and Perception of effectiveness of a range of Instructional Modes. Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and mathematics Education.
• Michal Ugarenko, Chee-Kai Chan, Abraham Nudelman, Ada Rephaeli, Suzanne M Cutts, Don R Phillips (2009). Development of pluronic micelle-encapsulated doxorubicin and formaldehyde-releasing prodrugs for localized anticancer chemotherapy. Oncology Research. 17(7): 283-99
• Duy Huynh, Xu-Ming Dai, Sayan Nandi, Sally Lightowler, Melanie Trivett, Chee-Kai Chan, Ivan Bertoncello, Robert G Ramsay, E Richard Stanley. (2009) Colony stimulating factor-1 dependence of paneth cell development in the mouse small intestine.  137(1): 136-44, 144.
• Stephen R Doyle, Chee Kai Chan (2008). Mitochondrial gene therapy: an evaluation of strategies for the treatment of mitochondrial DNA disorders. Human Gene Therapy. Dec;19(12): 1335-48
• Stephen R Doyle, Chee Kai Chan (2007). Differential intracellular distribution of DNA complexed with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and PEI-polyarginine PTD influences exogenous gene expression within live COS-7 cells. Genetic Vaccines and Therapy.5: 11
• Duy D. Huynh, E. Vincan, T. Mantamadiotis, D. Purcell, CK Chan R. Ramsay (2007) Oncogenic properties of HIV-Tat in colorectal cancer cells. Current HIV Research, 5(4): 403-9.
• Tania Blanksby & Chee Kai Chan (2006) Feedback assessment of Science report writing for first year Genetics students . UNISERVE Symposium, Assessment in Science Teaching and Learning. 161.
• Loveland, A.N. Chee-Kai Chan, Edward J. Brignole and Wade Gibson (2005) Cleavage of human cytomegalovirus protease pUL80a at internal and cryptic sites is not essential but enhances infectivity. J Virol 79 (20), 12961-12968
• Duy K. Pham, Chee Kai Chan and E Ivanova. (2005) Impact of Polymeric Surfaces on Oligonucleotides Immobilization for Lab-On-A-Chip Applications, Trends in DNA Research (Nova Science Publishers) Edit: Corey Woods
• Chan, C.K. et al. (2002) Cytomegalovirus assemblin (pUL80a): cleavage at internal site not essential for virus growth; proteinase absent from virions. J Virol 76 (17), 8667-8674
• Chan, C.K. and Jans, D.A. (2002) Using nuclear targeting signals to enhance non-viral gene transfer. Immunol Cell Biol 80 (2), 119-130
• Chan, C.K. and Jans, D.A. (2001) Enhancement of MSH receptor- and GAL4-mediated gene transfer by switching the nuclear import pathway. Gene Ther 8 (2), 166-171
• Chan, C.K. et al. (2000) Supramolecular structure and nuclear targeting efficiency determine the enhancement of transfection by modified polylysines. Gene Ther 7 (19), 1690-1697
• Hubner, S. XM Dai, S Nandi, W HU, CK Cha, HP Rihs et al. (1999) Plant importin alpha binds nuclear localization sequences with high affinity and can mediate nuclear import independent of importin beta. J Biol Chem 274 (32), 22610-22617
• Chan, C.K. and Jans, D.A. (1999) Enhancement of polylysine-mediated transferrinfection by nuclear localization sequences: polylysine does not function as a nuclear localization sequence. Hum Gene Ther 10 (10), 1695-1702
• Chan, C.K. and Jans, D.A. (1999) Synergy of importin alpha recognition and DNA binding by the yeast transcriptional activator GAL4. FEBS Lett 462 (1-2), 221-224
• Jans, D.A. CK Chan and S Hubner. (1998) Signals mediating nuclear targeting and their regulation: application in drug delivery. Med Res Rev 18 (4), 189-223
• Chan, C.K. et al. (1998) Mutual exclusivity of DNA binding and nuclear localization signal recognition by the yeast transcription factor GAL4: implications for nonviral DNA delivery. Gene Ther 5 (9), 1204-1212
• Goh NK, Chan CK & Chia LS. (1995). A comparison of the differences of two teaching strategies in the modification of students’ misconceptions in science.  ACCESS , 13(2); 161-171.
• Goh NK, Chan CK & Chia LS. (1995). Gender differences, misconceptions and instruction in Science. Singapore J. Edu. 15: 33-41.