{"id":12759,"date":"2026-01-01T00:04:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/?p=12759"},"modified":"2026-01-01T08:54:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T00:54:52","slug":"bridging-worlds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2026\/01\/01\/bridging-worlds\/","title":{"rendered":"Bridging Worlds"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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WHO HE IS:<\/strong> Scientist, innovator, mentor \u2014 Prof Lim Chwee Teck (Engineering \u201990) exemplifies excellence in discovery and its application. His breakthroughs and leadership continue to shape science and improve lives.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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It\u2019s fitting that Professor Lim Chwee Teck (Engineering \u201990), NUSS Chair Professor in Biomedical Engineering, holds the rare distinction of having received both the President\u2019s Science Award (2025) and the President\u2019s Technology Award (2011) \u2014 Singapore\u2019s top honours for scientists and engineers. Few embody the spirit of both awards as completely as Prof Lim, who is committed to both pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and translating those discoveries into real-world solutions.<\/p>

That problem-solving ethos can be traced back to his childhood, when he saw how science could be used to improve people\u2019s lives. Though now associated with advanced technologies, Prof Lim\u2019s early fascination lay with simple household appliances such as washing machines. Their ability to ease daily life sparked a conviction that continues to drive his research, even as it has taken an interdisciplinary turn. <\/p>

One pivotal moment came over a casual coffee with a fellow scientist researching malaria. \u201cHe was describing a challenge he faced, and I realised that mechanics might offer a solution,\u201d recalled Prof Lim.<\/p>

In malaria, infected red blood cells become stiffer and stickier, but clinicians previously lacked a way to measure these changes quantitatively. To tackle this, Prof Lim used advanced mechanical tools, such as laser tweezers and microfluidic devices, to gauge how they changed. This biomechanical profiling not only deepened understanding of malaria but also marked Prof Lim\u2019s entry into mechanobiology, showing how mechanics could illuminate medicine. It would underpin his later innovations, such as liquid biopsy technology, which enables the detection and analysis of cancer cells through a simple blood test.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The ClearCell\u00ae System, together with the CTChip\u00ae, was developed as an advanced liquid biopsy platform to detect and isolate circulating tumour cells directly from patient blood samples.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today, such cross-pollination across disciplines feels natural. Two decades ago, it was rare. <\/p>

\u201cAt that point, people weren\u2019t really into interdisciplinary research, because they didn\u2019t quite understand the possibilities,\u201d explained Prof Lim, who had to knock on clinicians\u2019 doors and entice them to collaborate. That involved learning their jargon and painstakingly understanding the problems they were trying to solve \u2014 and then developing a solution rooted in his own forte, mechanics. Such interdisciplinary research is now commonplace, due in part to bodies like iHealthtech, the institute that Prof Lim heads as Director. Sited at NUS, it aims to bridge the gap from the laboratory to the clinic and market. Among the many projects in its pipeline, these are three that excite him:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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  • MAKING SENSE:<\/strong> This project experiments with sensors that can be printed and implanted directly inside the body without the need for surgery. These laser-printed devices can monitor signals such as heart rate or bladder movement and, if placed near a tumour, even measure its stiffness and track the effectiveness of cancer therapy. The prototypes already work in animal models and degrade naturally after about 50 days. \u201cWe\u2019ve shown that it works \u2014 we can print the sensor, and now we\u2019re looking at how to further improve its performance and capabilities,\u201d said Prof Lim.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • SEE & TOUCH:<\/strong> One drawback of teleconsultations is the inability for a doctor to physically examine their patient. Prof Lim and his team hope to change that with a haptic glove that allows doctors to \u201cphysically\u201d examine patients during digital consultations. \u201cImagine entering a virtual reality consultation where you can see the doctor and the doctor can examine you through, say, palpation, as if in person,\u201d he explained. The glove is already being tested for medical training and was recently trialled by Health Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      The haptic glove developed by Prof Lim and his team of researchers can be used by doctors in virtual examinations of their patients. Here it is trialled by Health Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      • FEEL THE DIFFERENCE:<\/strong> Beyond diagnostics, technology can also help empower patients. Using MRI or CT scans, the team can create a 3D model of a patient\u2019s organ and let them feel the difference between a healthy organ and one that is diseased. A patient with hypertensive heart disease, for instance, can compare the strong beat of a healthy heart with the weaker rhythm of their own. Someone with fatty liver disease can feel the contrast between supple, elastic tissue and their own, stiffer organ. \u201cHopefully, it will motivate them to adopt a healthier lifestyle,\u201d Prof Lim noted.

        <\/li><\/ul>

        TAKING FAILURE IN HIS STRIDE<\/strong><\/p>

        But for every project that makes a splash, there are also some that end up failing.<\/p>

        \u201cFailure doesn\u2019t really bother me, because I\u2019ve had many along the way,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s part of the process.\u201d Accepting this is often something that comes with age and experience, but that does not stop Prof Lim from motivating younger colleagues when their projects come up short. \u201cMy words to them are often \u2018Failure is really a step closer to success.\u2019 If something can\u2019t be done, let\u2019s maybe find a new way or pivot to another approach,\u201d he shared. Those words may sound familiar to the over 90 postgraduate students whom Prof Lim has mentored over the years. It\u2019s a role that he values immensely, as it allows him to inspire the next generation of scientists and researchers, while also satisfying his own lifelong passion for innovation. <\/p>

        \u201cI always encourage my students to pursue research they truly enjoy, as they will be immersed in that problem for the next two to four years,\u201d he said, adding that his role as a mentor is to give them space to explore, then help them match their strengths and passions with meaningful projects. \u201cBeyond that, I support them as they face challenges, pursue their ambitions, and even as they move on to become academics, industrial leaders or even entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Prof Lim Chwee Teck receives the Distinguished Alumni Award from NUS President Prof Tan Eng Chye at the NUS Alumni Awards 2025. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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        \u201cNOT ABOUT CHASING ACCOLADES\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

        Prof Lim\u2019s commitment to nurturing future scientists, coupled with his ceaseless drive to uncover \u2018what\u2019s next\u2019, has earned him a respected place in the scientific community. He and his team have been conferred more than 120 research awards and honours, among them the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nature Awards for Mentoring in Science, Asia\u2019s Most Influential Scientist Award by Fortune Times <\/em>and the ASEAN Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award. In November 2025, he was also awarded the University\u2019s Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognises alumni who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their chosen field. He calls the recognition \u201chumbling and gratifying\u201d, but stresses that he is still driven by a passion for discovery and the desire to make a positive impact. \u201cIt\u2019s about pursuing meaningful research that truly makes a difference; the recognition will come naturally.”<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        A CLASS LIKE NO OTHER<\/strong><\/p>

        Prof Lim cannot help but smile when he recalls his NUS days in the late 1980s. \u201cIt was a close-knit batch,\u201d he says of his Engineering \u201990 classmates. Their bond was so remarkable that then-Dean Prof Andrew Nee quipped at their 35th<\/sup> anniversary that such a class comes along only once in 50 years. \u201cWe were very special,\u201d Prof Lim said, remembering how they organised barbecues and National Day events, and even invited professors to join in the fun.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        WINNING TOGETHER:
        <\/strong><\/p>

        Notable breakthroughs from Prof Lim\u2019s interdisciplinary research include:<\/p>

        • Liquid Biopsy <\/strong><\/li><\/ul>

          Blending mechanics with medicine, Prof Lim designed a microfluidic chip that separates softer cancer cells from blood. The innovation gave rise to the \u2018liquid biopsy\u2019 \u2014 a simple blood draw that replaces invasive tumour sampling and allows doctors to track cancer more easily.<\/p>

          • Smart Insole<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>

            Marrying engineering with workplace safety, his team and NUS startup FlexoSense built a sensor-equipped insole that detects slips and falls in real time. Trialled in Singapore\u2019s maritime sector, it shows how cross-disciplinary research can prevent accidents before they happen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            How NUS Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Prof Lim Chwee Teck (Engineering \u201990) is helping power interdisciplinary research in Singapore. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":12760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12759"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12973,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12759\/revisions\/12973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}