Bala Vellayappan

Dr Bala graduated from NUS in 2005 with Dean’s List and was conferred the prestigious Wong Poi Kwong Gold Medal for excellence in Clinical Medicine. He then went on to complete his training in Radiation Oncology with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) and was awarded the C.E. Eddy medal for being the most outstanding candidate (in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore). He has been a RANZCR fellow since 2014 and obtained his Specialist Accreditation in the same year.

Dr Bala worked as a fellow (HMDP) at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia under the tutelage of Dr Dion Forstner (Dean of RANZCR college). In addition, he was awarded a competitive funded fellowship by University of Ottawa in 2015. He has received formal training in stereotactic radiotherapy, completing a fellowship at The Ottawa Hospital Cyberknife Centre, which is one of the busiest Cyberknife Centres in North America. He has developed a keen interest in neuro-oncology (in particular spine), haematological and gastro-intestinal cancers, but continues to treat a wide range of cancers in his practice.

Dr Bala strongly believes research and education are integral parts of clinical improvement. He is appointed as an undergraduate examiner by NUS and a postgraduate examiner by RANZCR. He was awarded a scholarship by Ministry of Health and has since completed his Master of Clinical Investigation. His research interests include the use of radiosurgery/SBRT and the interaction between radiation, the immune system and the vasculature.. He has won several competitive grants and is currently conducting a prospective clinical trial in Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for spinal metastases.

Specialties:

• Radiation Oncology

Special Interests:

• Lymphoma (Haematological conditions), Neuro-oncologt (Spine, Brain) , Gastrointestinal Cancer , Stereotactic Radiosurgery / SBRT

Education

• Masters of Clinical Investigation National University of Singapore (2015 — 2017)
• GDFM National University of Singapore
• MBBS National University of Singapore (2000 — 2005)
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) National University of Singapore (2000 — 2005)
• FRANZCR Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (2009)

Awards

• Wong Poi Kwong Gold Medal
• Dean’s List, School of Medicine, NUS
• GDFM Book Prize, NUS
• C.E Eddy Medal (RANZCR)
• MOH-MCI scholarship

Journals & Publications

1. Accuracy of (18)F-flurodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography in the staging of newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis : Vellayappan B, Soon YY, Lee KM et al. Radiol Oncol 2014.

2. Utility of CT-cisternogram for radiosurgery in trigeminal neuralgia: A not-to-be forgotten technique. Vellayappan B, Sinclair J, Malone S et al. JMIRO 2016.

3. Perioperative blood transfusion: does it influence survival and cancer progression in metastatic spine tumor surgery? Zaw AS, Vellayappan B, Kumar N et al. Transfusion 2017.

4. Evolution in treatment strategy for metastatic spine disease: Presently evolving modalities. Kumar N, Vellayappan B. EJSO 2017 .

5. Brain metastases : Vellayappan B, Sahgal A, Lo SS. Medical Radiology (Springer) 2017.

6. Chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy plus surgery for esophageal cancer. Vellayappan B, Soon YY, Tey J. Cochrance Database Sys Rev 2017

7. Combined-modality hypofractionated radiotherapy for elderly patients with glioblastoma: setting a new standard: Vellayappan B, Halasz L, Knisely J, Chang E, Lo SS. Future Science OA 2017.

8. Impact of epidermal growth factor receptor sensitizing mutations on outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with definitive thoracic radiation therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Soon YY, Vellayappan B et al Oncotarget 2017

9. Comparison of four techniques for spine stereotactic body radiotherapy: Dosimetric and efficiency analysis. Aljabab S, Vellayappan B, Malone S. JACMP 2018

10. Pre-operative versus post-operative radiosurgery for brain metastasis: Effects on treatment volume and inter-observer variability. Vellayappan B, Doody J, Malone S. J Radiosurg SBRT 2018

11. Novel multidisciplinary approaches in the management of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. Vellayappan B, Kumar N, Sahgal A, Lo SS, Future Oncol 2018

12. The evolution and rise of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases. Vellayappan B, Chao S, Foote M, Guckenberger M, Redmond K, Chang E, Mayr N, Sahgal A, Lo SS. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2018

13. Factors influencing extended hospital stay in patients undergoing metastatic spine tumour surgery and its impact on survival. Kumar N, Vellayappan B. J Clin Neurosci 2018

14. The Role of Liver-Directed Therapy in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Tan HL, Lee M, Neo WT, Vellayappan B, Yong WP. Curr Colorectal Cancer Rep 2018

15. Diagnosis and Management of Radiation Necrosis in Patients With Brain Metastases. Vellayappan B, Tan CL, Yong C, Khor LK, Koh WY, Yeo TT, Detsky J, Sahgal A, Lo SS. Front Oncol 2018.

16. Re-irradiation for recurrent glioblastoma (GBM): a systematic review and meta-analysis. Kazmi F, Soon YY, Vellayappan B. J Neurooncol 2019

17. ROS and the DNA damage response in cancer. Srinivas US, Tan BWQ, Vellayappan B, Jeyashekaran. Redox Bio 2018