Karen Crasta, PhD
Principal Investigator | Assistant Professor
Dr. Karen Crasta is a Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with affiliations to the Department of Physiology, the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, and the Centre for Healthy Longevity. She leads the Genome Instability and Stress Response Laboratory, where her research is driven by a strong passion for fundamental science and a commitment to translating biological insight into clinical relevance. Her work focuses on how genomic instability–induced stress responses and cellular adaptation shape cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and biological ageing, with particular emphasis on close collaboration with clinicians to bridge discovery and patient care.
Karen received her BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from NUS and completed her PhD at the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology under Prof. Uttam Surana. She subsequently undertook postdoctoral training with Prof. David Pellman at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, where her work uncovered a mechanistic link between mitotic errors and chromosomal breakage through micronuclei formation. After returning to Singapore, she held research appointments at A*STAR and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine before establishing her independent laboratory at NUS in 2020.
Dr. Crasta is a recipient of the Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship, the A*STAR International Fellowship, and the HHMI Research Associate Fellowship (USA). She currently serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Aging (Aging and Cancer), Section Editor for Discover Aging (Nature Portfolio), and is on the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports.
Beyond research, Karen is actively engaged in academic leadership, education, and advocacy. She serves as a Council Member of the NUSMedSci Alliance and holds mentoring and leadership roles with NUHS Women in Science and Healthcare (WISH), UN Women in Science (Girls2Pioneers Programme), and SINDA’s Let Her Shine initiative. Outside the lab, she enjoys good books, chocolate, and dancing—and firmly believes that curiosity, creativity, and joy are essential ingredients for healthy longevity.
Principal Investigator | Assistant Professor
Dr. Karen Crasta is a Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with affiliations to the Department of Physiology, the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Programme, and the Centre for Healthy Longevity. She leads the Genome Instability and Stress Response Laboratory, where her research is driven by a strong passion for fundamental science and a commitment to translating biological insight into clinical relevance. Her work focuses on how genomic instability–induced stress responses and cellular adaptation shape cancer progression, therapeutic resistance, and biological ageing, with particular emphasis on close collaboration with clinicians to bridge discovery and patient care.
Karen received her BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from NUS and completed her PhD at the A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology under Prof. Uttam Surana. She subsequently undertook postdoctoral training with Prof. David Pellman at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, where her work uncovered a mechanistic link between mitotic errors and chromosomal breakage through micronuclei formation. After returning to Singapore, she held research appointments at A*STAR and NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine before establishing her independent laboratory at NUS in 2020.
Dr. Crasta is a recipient of the Singapore National Research Foundation Fellowship, the A*STAR International Fellowship, and the HHMI Research Associate Fellowship (USA). She currently serves as Associate Editor for Frontiers in Aging (Aging and Cancer), Section Editor for Discover Aging (Nature Portfolio), and is on the Editorial Board of Scientific Reports.
Beyond research, Karen is actively engaged in academic leadership, education, and advocacy. She serves as a Council Member of the NUSMedSci Alliance and holds mentoring and leadership roles with NUHS Women in Science and Healthcare (WISH), UN Women in Science (Girls2Pioneers Programme), and SINDA’s Let Her Shine initiative. Outside the lab, she enjoys good books, chocolate, and dancing—and firmly believes that curiosity, creativity, and joy are essential ingredients for healthy longevity.
Laura Gonzalex-Trueba, PhD
Research Fellow
(Research Fellow: Sept 2025–Present; Research Associate: Oct 2024–Aug 2025)
Originally from Spain, Laura moved to Singapore from the UK, where she completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, studying the role of collagen mutations in cardiovascular disease with an emphasis on extracellular matrix dysfunction. Her current research bridges cancer biology, senescence, and vascular pathology. She leads projects on exosomal profiling in cancer-associated ischaemic stroke, in collaboration with Dr. Leonard Yeo, Neurologist at the National University Hospital, and investigates senescence–extracellular matrix–cellular architecture crosstalk underlying stress-induced tissue remodelling. Outside the lab, Laura enjoys nature, hiking and rock climbing.
Research Fellow
(Research Fellow: Sept 2025–Present; Research Associate: Oct 2024–Aug 2025)
Originally from Spain, Laura moved to Singapore from the UK, where she completed her PhD at the University of Glasgow, studying the role of collagen mutations in cardiovascular disease with an emphasis on extracellular matrix dysfunction. Her current research bridges cancer biology, senescence, and vascular pathology. She leads projects on exosomal profiling in cancer-associated ischaemic stroke, in collaboration with Dr. Leonard Yeo, Neurologist at the National University Hospital, and investigates senescence–extracellular matrix–cellular architecture crosstalk underlying stress-induced tissue remodelling. Outside the lab, Laura enjoys nature, hiking and rock climbing.
Tan Sze Chie
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) Student
(UROPS: Jan 2026–Present; Special Programme in Science (SPS): Jan 2025–Apr 2025)
Sze Chie is a Life Sciences major at NUS. She first joined teh lab through the Special Programme in Science (SPS). Her research interests focus on cell–cell communication in cellular stress adaptation. She was subsequently selected for the Summer Research Internship Programme 2025 at the KAIST Stem Cell Center and undertook an exchange programme at King’s College London, before rejoining the lab in her final year to pursue her UROPS project. Outside the lab, Sze Chie is an avid dancer.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme in Science (UROPS) Student
(UROPS: Jan 2026–Present; Special Programme in Science (SPS): Jan 2025–Apr 2025)
Sze Chie is a Life Sciences major at NUS. She first joined teh lab through the Special Programme in Science (SPS). Her research interests focus on cell–cell communication in cellular stress adaptation. She was subsequently selected for the Summer Research Internship Programme 2025 at the KAIST Stem Cell Center and undertook an exchange programme at King’s College London, before rejoining the lab in her final year to pursue her UROPS project. Outside the lab, Sze Chie is an avid dancer.
Asiyah Begam
Final Year Project (FYP) Student
(Aug 2025 - Present)
Asiyah is a Final Year Project (FYP) student studying the impact of therapy-resistant cancer cells on the stromal niche, with a focus on tumour–microenvironment interactions and stress adaptation. She has prior research experience in pathogenic disease and breast cancer biology. Outside the lab, she enjoys travelling.
Final Year Project (FYP) Student
(Aug 2025 - Present)
Asiyah is a Final Year Project (FYP) student studying the impact of therapy-resistant cancer cells on the stromal niche, with a focus on tumour–microenvironment interactions and stress adaptation. She has prior research experience in pathogenic disease and breast cancer biology. Outside the lab, she enjoys travelling.
Adrina Soh Wei Kean
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 - Present)
Adrina is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who joined the Crasta Lab through her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science where she is contributing to ongoing projects related to genome instability and stress response. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing badminton and board games.
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 - Present)
Adrina is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who joined the Crasta Lab through her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science where she is contributing to ongoing projects related to genome instability and stress response. Outside the lab, she enjoys playing badminton and board games.
Ng Wei Hao Winston
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 – Present)
Winston is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who joined the Crasta Lab through his Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science where he is contributing to ongoing projects related to genome instability and stress response. Outside the lab, he enjoys board games and kayaking.
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 – Present)
Winston is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who joined the Crasta Lab through his Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science where he is contributing to ongoing projects related to genome instability and stress response. Outside the lab, he enjoys board games and kayaking.
Yuyan Soh
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 – Present)
Yuyan is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate specializing in Biomedical Science who joined the Crasta Lab through the Special Programme in Science. She is driven by curiosity and a strong interest in scientific research, and enjoys learning new things and engaging with others. Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, spending time with friends, and exploring the outdoors.
Special Programme in Science (SPS) Student
(Jan 2026 – Present)
Yuyan is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate specializing in Biomedical Science who joined the Crasta Lab through the Special Programme in Science. She is driven by curiosity and a strong interest in scientific research, and enjoys learning new things and engaging with others. Outside the lab, she enjoys dancing, spending time with friends, and exploring the outdoors.
ALUMNI
|
RESEARCH FELLOWS
Rekha Jakhar Sixun Chen Monique Luijten Cheng Bing Guo Ke Durkeshwari Anbalagan RESEARCH ASSISTANTS/ASSOCIATES
Matius Robert Joycelyn Teo Mengqi Shi Jeannie Lee Xue Ting Bryan Lim Chum Chun Lok Amy Lim Seok WEi PhD STUDENTS Alex Wong He Qianqian Katharina Glaser Benny Yeo Ken Yee Atish Kizhakeyil |
UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Alesha Johanes Christopher Bong Aw Yeting Alethea Ong Linhui Rachel Ng Jean Hwee Amy Tian Xin Ren Silky Siqi Hou Nabilah Bte Abdul Rahman Aliya Yusaf Ansari Lee Wei Chen Frederick Tan Jia Chi Kenisha Tanadia Adrian Tan Chan Xian Qi Shamirah Azman Sharma Saumya Ang Jia Hui Lim Jing Heng Yap Keni Koh Hui Min Adeline Asha Chetan Mehta Charmayne Low Ying Marco Lizwan Vernon Yeo Ang Lee Fang Jeanne Ng Lih Wen Harrison Laurens Amanda Chen |