Marine Sciences in Singapore to launch new Centre of Excellence! SCELSE PIs have been involved in the previous marine sciences programs MSRDP and MCCS where they collaborate across universities and centres. Read Straits Times for more.
www.straitstimes.com/singapore/en...
Join us for this seminar which is hosted by (@cwhitch.bsky.social) Prof Cynthia Whitchurch
Research Director, SCELSE Biofilm Biology cluster, and
Joint Director, L’Oréal-SCELSE joint laboratory. See details below.
Join us for the upcoming SCELSE Seminar on 16 April 2026. More - scelse.sg/event/toward...
SCELSE clinched triple championships at the CReW Sports Lunch 2026, closing the NTU Staff Sports & Games 2025 on a high.
🏆 Road Race (+IDMxS) — James Ho
🏆 Bowling (+NTU mates) — Linda Choo, Wen Jia Phung, Allen Chow
🏆 Soccer (+NBS & SBS) — Eze Santillan
Superb teamwork! @fillouxlab.bsky.social
From lab innovation to aquaculture transformation — LoopForBio (a spinoff from SCELSE) takes the stage at the launch of the UOB Innovation Hub at Wee Cho Yaw Plaza at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Yesterday, Dr Eze Santillán(CEO & Co-Founder) and Dr Soheil Neshat (CTO & Co-Founder) showcased LoopforBio’s solution — converting nutrient-rich food byproducts into microbial protein that supports aquaculture performance while reducing environmental impact. Real-world impact: • 80% improved survival in shrimp trials (vs fishmeal) • Up to 8x cost efficiency compared to conventional alternatives per ton • Reduced carbon emissions and protection of marine resources Said Dr Santillan: “We’re rethinking how the world produces protein — transforming waste into a sustainable resource that supports healthier shrimp and a greener planet.” The UOB Innovation Hub maps the full innovation journey — from Stage 0 (ideas) to Stage 4 (global scale) — creating a clear pathway for ventures like LoopForBio to move from research to real-world deployment. Pix below, L–R: Dr Neshat and Dr Santillan at the LoopforBio booth — advancing sustainable protein with measurable impact: higher shrimp survival, lower costs, and a greener aquaculture future - on 25 March 2026. Explore more: https://www.loopforbio.com/about LoopforBio is looking for collaborators to scale impact.
At the UOB Innovation Hub launch yesterday, Dr Ezequiel Santillan & Dr Soheil Neshat showcased LoopforBio — turning food byproducts into microbial protein for healthier shrimp, lower costs, and reduced emissions. Explore: www.loopforbio.com
#Aquaculture #FoodSecurity #ClimateTech
How do SCELSE's discoveries become real-world impact? It often starts with a visit. On 19 Mar 2026, SCELSE hosted NTU Prof Ernst Kuipers and the UMC Utrecht delegation, opening discussions on biofilms & microbiomes & their role in health & disease. @fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social
Struggling with asthma or allergies at home? The trigger may be invisible. AirBiomics (a SCELSE startup, powered by SMART Innovation 2.0) uses DNA tech to detect hidden allergens. Join our study — selected homes get a free test: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
3️⃣ Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a global problem?
When antibiotics are used, susceptible bacteria are killed while resistant ones survive & multiply. Over time, this makes infections harder to treat, increasing the need for new therapies and better strategies to manage microbial resistance.
2️⃣ Does SCELSE handle COVID pathogens?
SCELSE operates Category 2 laboratories, which means we do not work with high-risk pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Our research focuses on microbial communities, biofilms, and microbiomes relevant to health, environment, and biotechnology.
1️⃣ What wows SCELSE visitors most?
The breadth and depth of SCELSE’s multidisciplinary expertise. Scientists here work across microbiology, engineering, physics, and computational sciences to understand how microbial communities function in health, industry, and the environment.
What is the one thing that wows SCELSE visitors? Do we handle COVID pathogens? And why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) considered one of the biggest global health threats today? These questions and more were raised when 30 delegates from the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle Singapore (S&TDC), representing embassies and high commissions from across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, visited SCELSE on 13 Mar 2026. The visit opened with an introduction by Prof Alain Filloux, SCELSE Centre Director, followed by a tour of SCELSE's facilities by scientists Drs Yong Hwee FOO, Elena Gusareva and Angel Anika Cokro. Led by Wanda Preiser, Head of the Nanyang Technological University Singapore Office of International Engagement, and her team, the visit underscored the importance of international partnerships in advancing science and innovation. Curious about the answers? See the comments below. Thank you to the S&TDC delegates for the engaging discussions and thoughtful questions during your visit to SCELSE.
What wows SCELSE visitors? Do we handle COVID pathogens? Why is AMR a top global health threat? Thirty S&TDC delegates visited SCELSE on 13 Mar -touring labs and sparking discussions on science and global impact. See comments for answers. @fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social
Why do some wounds refuse to heal - even with treatment?
Scientists from SCELSE-NTU, SMART and University of Geneva found that Enterococcus faecalis suppresses immune defences by releasing lactic acid, helping infections persist. Study is published in Cell Host & Microbe.
scelse.sg/smart-resear...
Congrats to the SCELSE Safety Team on receiving the Silver Award at the NTU Safety & Health Awards Ceremony 2025 on 3 Mar 2026. This recognition reflects the dedication of SCELSE’s Safety Team (see pix), and of everyone at SCELSE who practises safety every single day. Their consistent, often unseen work keeps our laboratories and shared spaces safe for research, learning, and collaboration. Prof Alain Filloux, SCELSE Centre Director, shared:“Good science depends on good safety. This award recognises the commitment of our Safety Team and colleagues who take responsibility for one another every day. A strong safety culture is built through people, ownership, and continuous care.” Thanks to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for the recognition, and to everyone at SCELSE who contributes to making safety an integral part of our work.
Congrats to the SCELSE Safety Team on receiving the Silver Award at the NTU Safety & Health Awards Ceremony 2025 on 3 Mar 2026. The award recognises the dedication of the Safety Team and all at SCELSE who uphold strong safety practices every day. @fillouxlab.bsky.social
Congratulations to SCELSE PI and NTU Prof Joachim Loo and his team on the progress of their functional feed project for Asian sea bass — a story just covered by Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报. Using encapsulation technology to deliver probiotics and nutrients directly to fish, the team developed a functional feed that helps sea bass grow up to 25% faster, reaching market size in about nine months instead of a year, while improving overall health and survival. Joachim Loo, NTU’s Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, said: “By designing encapsulation systems that deliver probiotics and nutrients more effectively, we can improve fish health, growth and resilience. Such innovations can help support a more sustainable aquaculture. We aim to launch our startup soon in the hope of further strengthening Singapore’s food security.” The project was supported by The Singapore Food Story R&D Programme, which received S$144 million in government funding and supported 66 research projects in its first phase, completed by mid-2023. Read the full story in Zaobao https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260221-8142240 Pix below (L-R): Lewis Martin, Prof Joachim Loo and Kaarunya Sampathkumar measuring and weighing the Asian seabass fingerlings that are fed with control and functional feeds at the research facility at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.
Congrats SCELSE PI Prof Joachim Loo and team on progress in functional feeds for Asian sea bass, featured in Zaobao. Using encapsulation to deliver probiotics & nutrients, the feed helps fish grow up to 25% faster & strengthens aquaculture resilience. www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapo... #SCELSEImpact
NanoMuG, a spin-off from University of Turin, visited SCELSE on 6 Mar 2026, to explore collaboration on protein-based nanoparticle delivery systems targeting biofilm infections. Discussions focused on validating the platform and advancing pathways to real-world applications through joint research.
Catch the talk by Prof Stephan C. Schuster, SCELSE Deputy Centre Director at the Urban Bioaerosols and Planetary Health in the Carbon-Neutral Era workshop hosted by Hiroshima University. Join the hybrid event on 12 Mar 2026:
Online (Teams): x.gd/W4QYo
Onsite: MIRAI CREA 1F, Hiroshima University
Catch Prof Alain Filloux, SCELSE Centre Director at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, as an invited speaker at the Cold Spring Harbor Asia conference on Bacterial Infection & Host Defense, 11–15 May 2026 in Suzhou, China. Register - www.csh-asia.org?content/2975 @fillouxlab.bsky.social
SCELSE-NTU’s Dr Haris Antypas and Prof Kimberly Kline (UNIGE) show that silencing bacterial communication may worsen infectious endocarditis. Published in Nature Communications, the study finds that when Enterococcus faecalis loses quorum sensing, it forms larger biofilms linked to poorer outcomes.
Science works best when more voices are at the table. At SCELSE, 56% of our researchers are women — above the global average of 33.3%. Kudos to all the women researchers at SCELSE driving scientific excellence & impact!
@cwhitch.bsky.social #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM #SCELSEImpact
SCELSE welcomed Prof Carlo Ratti and Dr Fabio Duarte (MIT Senseable City Lab) to our labs on 26 Jan 2026. Discussions focused on rethinking air quality in the urban environment - moving beyond conventional pollution metrics. @fillouxlab.bsky.social
SCELSE welcomed a delegation from the Embassy of France in Singapore, reaffirming a shared One Health approach and the central role of partnerships in the France–Singapore relationship. The visit included lab tours and talks on lab-to-market translation. @fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social
SCELSE hosted CNRS@CREATE delegates to explore translating science into impact: from biofilms & microbiomes to human-centric, trustworthy AI. The visit included tours of sequencing, imaging and bioreactor facilities, with discussions on the DesCartes Hybrid AI programme. @fillouxlab.bsky.social
See - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/spore-study-finds-new-way-to-disarm-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-speed-up-healing-of-chronic-wounds
SCELSE research, featured in the Straits Times, shows a new way to potentially help chronic wounds heal by disarming E. faecalis with catalase — reducing infection risk and potential amputations without antibiotics. L–R: Prof Kimberly Kline, Dr Aaron Tan Ming Zhi, Assoc Prof Guillaume Thibault
Discover how SCELSE advanced biofilm & microbiome research in FY2024. From top-ranked publications to education, industry engagement, and real-world impact. Scan to read the SCELSE Year in Review flipbook now.
@fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social @drlauranolan.bsky.social
Check out this 2-minute video on the SCELSE-Haleon-PC Biome MOU signing ceremony which underscores how microbiome science moves from lab to translation-ready health solutions. Explore partnerships with SCELSE today! #SCELSEImpact @fillouxlab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Qz...
From generous spreads to laughter-filled games, the SCELSE year-end party reminded us that taking time to celebrate together matters. Wishing all a refreshing break and a strong 2026 ahead. Happy New Year! @fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social @drlauranolan.bsky.social
SCELSE is in the news! Check out the story - Haleon taps into tripartite partnership to drive microbiome R&D in Singapore- by Koe T. in NutraIngredients: www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2025...
Registration is open for the SJINML Public Lecture with Dr Margaret McFall-Ngai: The Power of Symbiosis in Shaping Our Biosphere. If you’ve wondered about sustainability or if probiotics really work, this talk may have the answer.
3 Dec, SMU. Light refreshments available.
Prof Cynthia Whitchurch @cwhitch.bsky.social, SCELSE Research Director, is a keynote speaker at the Asia-Pacific Biofilm Conference 2026, presenting “When death becomes a biofilm”. Registration and abstract submissions are now open — join the region’s biofilm community in Melbourne.
