Christopher Chen

Dr Christopher Chen Li-Hsian studied for the Medical and Natural Science Tripos at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, and graduated with a Second Upper in Physiology & Psychology in 1982. His clinical training was at the University of Oxford where he obtained his BMBCh in 1985. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Director of the Memory Aging and Cognition Centre, National University Health System.

Since returning to Singapore in 1995, Dr Chen has developed a comprehensive multi-disciplinary dementia programme and encouraged collaborative research in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. His current focus is on developing a regional network for innovative trials into conditions prevalent and pertinent to Asia. In addition, he has developed a Trials Unit focusing on stroke and dementia with wide international collaborations.

His major research and clinical interests are in neurochemistry, molecular biology and treatment of stroke and dementia. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, served on several editorial boards (Stroke, Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry), trial steering committees and data safety monitoring boards. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the CHIMES trials, which has extensive international collaborations.

Dr Chen has also developed an international reputation for participation in academically driven as well as industry sponsored clinical trials. His aim is to develop synergies with basic neuroscience research and to translate novel scientific findings into therapeutic possibilities as well as to provide clinical insights for disease specific laboratory research.

Apart from international collaborative research programmes, Dr Chen works very closely with scientists from A STAR and NUS. They have been studying biochemical and genetic markers underlying the pathophysiology of stroke. Longitudinal studies are also in progress to study the natural history, risk factors for and treatment to prevent cognitive impairment and dementia after stroke.

Clinical Focus

• Cognitive Impairment
• Dementia
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Neurodegenerative Disease
• Translational research and Clinical trials in Stroke and Dementia

Academic Appointments

• Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS
• Senior Clinician-Scientist, National Medical Research Council, Singapore

Administrative Appointments

• Director, Memory Aging and Cognition Centre, National University Health System

Honors & Awards

Janssen Junior Research Fellow Award, Worcester College, Oxford University (1990) Clinician Scientist Investigator Award, Biomedical Research Council & National Medical Research Council (2006) Academic Centre of Excellence Research Awards, GlaxoSmithKline (2010) Senior Clinician Scientist Award, National Medical Research Council (2011) Clinician Scientist Award – Senior Investigator, National Medical Research Council (2012) Faculty Research Excellence Award, NUS (2015) Special Recognition Award, Singapore Clinical Research Institute (2016) Clinician Scientist Award – Senior Investigator, National Medical Research Council (2017)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

• Chairman, Chapter of Neurologists, College of Physicians, Singapore (2005 – 2009)
• President, Asian Society Against Dementia
• Member (Internal Medicine), Royal College of Psychiatrists, United Kingdom
• Fellow (Neurology), Academy of Medicine, Singapore
• Fellow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Professional Education

• BA (Honours), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• BMBCh, University of Oxford, United Kingdom