KAREN CRASTA
Principal Investigator
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program
Department of Physiology
NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity
Dr. KAREN CRASTA is Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine with affiliations to the Department of Physiology and Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, and the Centre of Healthy Longevity where she leads the Genome Instability and Stress Response Laboratory. After BSc Honours in Microbiology at NUS, Karen completed her PhD at A*STAR IMCB in the lab of Prof. Uttam Surana where she uncovered fundamental mechanisms regulating centrosome separation and mitotic spindle formation using budding yeast as a model system. Wanting to further her interests in the role of chromosome missegregation underlying cancers, she undertook postdoctoral training with the eminent Prof. David Pellman at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston (USA), where her groundbreaking work revealed a mechanistic link between mitotic errors and chromosomal breaks via micronuclei. Following short stints upon her return home to Singapore at A*STAR and NTU LKCMedicine, she then set up her research group at her alma mater NUS in 2020. Together with her team, Karen seeks to understand the impact of genomic instability-related stress response and adaptation in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, while investigating the translational potential of improving mitotic fidelity for healthy longevity.
Dr. Karen Crasta is a recipient of the prestigious Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship, the A*STAR International Fellowship (AIF) and the HHMI Research Associate Fellowship (USA). She is also an alumnus of the highly-selective AACR Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists Workshop (2012 cohort). She is currently Associate Editor for the journal Frontiers in Aging (Aging and Cancer) and serves on the Editorial Board of NPG Scientific Reports (Cell Biology Division).
Always seeking to make a meaningful difference as a scientist and educator, Karen has been appointed as Deputy Director (Academic Outreach) at NUS YLL School of Medicine. She is also a strong advocate for diversity in science and has served as ExCo Member on the NUHS Women in Science and Healthcare (WISH) Committee and is a Career Mentor for SINDA's "Let Her Shine" Program. A sucker for good books, organised spaces, chocolate and the thrill of discovery. Believes smiling and dancing are key to healthy longevity!
Principal Investigator
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program
Department of Physiology
NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity
Dr. KAREN CRASTA is Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine with affiliations to the Department of Physiology and Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, and the Centre of Healthy Longevity where she leads the Genome Instability and Stress Response Laboratory. After BSc Honours in Microbiology at NUS, Karen completed her PhD at A*STAR IMCB in the lab of Prof. Uttam Surana where she uncovered fundamental mechanisms regulating centrosome separation and mitotic spindle formation using budding yeast as a model system. Wanting to further her interests in the role of chromosome missegregation underlying cancers, she undertook postdoctoral training with the eminent Prof. David Pellman at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston (USA), where her groundbreaking work revealed a mechanistic link between mitotic errors and chromosomal breaks via micronuclei. Following short stints upon her return home to Singapore at A*STAR and NTU LKCMedicine, she then set up her research group at her alma mater NUS in 2020. Together with her team, Karen seeks to understand the impact of genomic instability-related stress response and adaptation in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance, while investigating the translational potential of improving mitotic fidelity for healthy longevity.
Dr. Karen Crasta is a recipient of the prestigious Singapore National Research Foundation (NRF) Fellowship, the A*STAR International Fellowship (AIF) and the HHMI Research Associate Fellowship (USA). She is also an alumnus of the highly-selective AACR Translational Cancer Research for Basic Scientists Workshop (2012 cohort). She is currently Associate Editor for the journal Frontiers in Aging (Aging and Cancer) and serves on the Editorial Board of NPG Scientific Reports (Cell Biology Division).
Always seeking to make a meaningful difference as a scientist and educator, Karen has been appointed as Deputy Director (Academic Outreach) at NUS YLL School of Medicine. She is also a strong advocate for diversity in science and has served as ExCo Member on the NUHS Women in Science and Healthcare (WISH) Committee and is a Career Mentor for SINDA's "Let Her Shine" Program. A sucker for good books, organised spaces, chocolate and the thrill of discovery. Believes smiling and dancing are key to healthy longevity!
LAURA GONZALEZ-TRUEBA
Research Associate (Oct 2024-current)
Laura originally from Spain moved here from the UK where she had done a PhD investigating the role of collagen mutations in cardiovascular disease at the University of Glasgow. Her current research focuses on exosomal profiling of cancer-related ischemic stroke (in collaboration with Dr. Leonard Yeo, neurologist at NUH), as well as study senescence-extracellular matrix-cellular architecture crosstalk. Outside of the lab, she enjoys being out in nature, hiking and rock climbing.
Research Associate (Oct 2024-current)
Laura originally from Spain moved here from the UK where she had done a PhD investigating the role of collagen mutations in cardiovascular disease at the University of Glasgow. Her current research focuses on exosomal profiling of cancer-related ischemic stroke (in collaboration with Dr. Leonard Yeo, neurologist at NUH), as well as study senescence-extracellular matrix-cellular architecture crosstalk. Outside of the lab, she enjoys being out in nature, hiking and rock climbing.
MATIUS ROBERT
Research Assistant (Sept 2021- current)
Mat moved here from Indonesia for undergraduate studies and obtained his Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from NUS. His current research interests in the lab include dissecting cellular and clinical consequences of therapy-induced senescence, as well as the role of extrachromosomal circular DNA in cancers. Apart from research, Matius likes to read thought-provoking books and enjoys a casual game of chess.
Research Assistant (Sept 2021- current)
Mat moved here from Indonesia for undergraduate studies and obtained his Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from NUS. His current research interests in the lab include dissecting cellular and clinical consequences of therapy-induced senescence, as well as the role of extrachromosomal circular DNA in cancers. Apart from research, Matius likes to read thought-provoking books and enjoys a casual game of chess.
REKHA JAKHAR
Research Fellow (2016-2019 (NTU); Feb 2020- current (NUS)
Originally from India, Rekha received her PhD in Biotechnology from Daegu University, South Korea where she explored ER stress and UPR in cell death pathways in breast cancers. She is characterizing novel senotherapeutics as well as senescent cell-derived extracellular vesicles. Since 2022, she has been working on a study exploring novel players in chromosomal instability in collaboration with Ajay Mathuru's lab, NUS Institute of Digital Medicine. Rekha is an excellent mentor to students. In her free time, she enjoys painting landscapes.
Research Fellow (2016-2019 (NTU); Feb 2020- current (NUS)
Originally from India, Rekha received her PhD in Biotechnology from Daegu University, South Korea where she explored ER stress and UPR in cell death pathways in breast cancers. She is characterizing novel senotherapeutics as well as senescent cell-derived extracellular vesicles. Since 2022, she has been working on a study exploring novel players in chromosomal instability in collaboration with Ajay Mathuru's lab, NUS Institute of Digital Medicine. Rekha is an excellent mentor to students. In her free time, she enjoys painting landscapes.
Christopher Bong
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Christopher is a second-year undergraduate majoring in Life-Sciences and is working on projects in the lab as part of his Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. Outside the lab, he enjoys running.
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Christopher is a second-year undergraduate majoring in Life-Sciences and is working on projects in the lab as part of his Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. Outside the lab, he enjoys running.
Tan Sze Chie
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Sze Chie is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at NUS and is working on projects in the lab as part of her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. She is an avid dancer and loves to dance in her free time.
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Sze Chie is a second-year Life Sciences undergraduate at NUS and is working on projects in the lab as part of her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. She is an avid dancer and loves to dance in her free time.
Aw Yeting
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Yeting is a second-year student majoring in Food Science and Technology and is working on projects in the lab as part of her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting.
SPS Student (Jan 2025- current)
Yeting is a second-year student majoring in Food Science and Technology and is working on projects in the lab as part of her Integrated Science Project under the Special Programme in Science. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting.
NUS KC LAB ALUMNI
Alethea Ong Linhui
UROPS Project Student (Aug 2024-Nov 2024)
Alethea is a final-year undergraduate majoring in Life Sciences with a minor in Public Health. She is curious about the heterogeneity of the senescence secretome and its implications for tumour recurrence. Passionate about health promotion, she contributes to Healthy Campus Initiatives under the NUS Public Health Club. In her free time, Alethea enjoys dancing and immersing herself in nature.
UROPS Project Student (Aug 2024-Nov 2024)
Alethea is a final-year undergraduate majoring in Life Sciences with a minor in Public Health. She is curious about the heterogeneity of the senescence secretome and its implications for tumour recurrence. Passionate about health promotion, she contributes to Healthy Campus Initiatives under the NUS Public Health Club. In her free time, Alethea enjoys dancing and immersing herself in nature.
Rachel Ng Jean Hwee
UROPS Project Student (Aug 2024-Nov 2024)
Rachel is a final-year undergraduate doing a double major in Life Sciences and Public Health at NUS. She is exploring mechanisms underlying therapy-induced senescence escape. She is also passionate about giving back to the community and is an active ExCo member of the NUS Students' Community Service Club.
UROPS Project Student (Aug 2024-Nov 2024)
Rachel is a final-year undergraduate doing a double major in Life Sciences and Public Health at NUS. She is exploring mechanisms underlying therapy-induced senescence escape. She is also passionate about giving back to the community and is an active ExCo member of the NUS Students' Community Service Club.
Amy Tian Xin Ren
URAPS Summer Project Student (May-July 2024)
Amy joined us as a third-year summer research exchange student from the University of Toronto, Canada interested in the role of therapy-induced senescence in chemoresistance. She is a dedicated moviegoer who also loves playing piano and doing artwork. Driven by curiosity, she speaks four languages: Chinese, English, French, and Japanese.
URAPS Summer Project Student (May-July 2024)
Amy joined us as a third-year summer research exchange student from the University of Toronto, Canada interested in the role of therapy-induced senescence in chemoresistance. She is a dedicated moviegoer who also loves playing piano and doing artwork. Driven by curiosity, she speaks four languages: Chinese, English, French, and Japanese.
Silky Siqi Hou
Capstone Project Student (Aug 2022-May 2023)
Silky joined us as a talented final-year student from YaleNUS interested in studying chromosomal instability and extrapolating it to other systems such as neural circuitry. She had previously carried out her Summer Research Project in our lab during April-July 2021 and is back from her exciting stint in the US.
She is currently a Lab Technician at the University of Virginia, USA.
Capstone Project Student (Aug 2022-May 2023)
Silky joined us as a talented final-year student from YaleNUS interested in studying chromosomal instability and extrapolating it to other systems such as neural circuitry. She had previously carried out her Summer Research Project in our lab during April-July 2021 and is back from her exciting stint in the US.
She is currently a Lab Technician at the University of Virginia, USA.
Nabilah Bte Abdul Rahman
Capstone Project (July 2021-May 2022)
Nabilah joined us a final-year student from YaleNUS elucidating a novel chromosome instability-associated replication stress pathway in cancer.
She is currently undertaking the Duke NUS MD Program (Class of 2027).
Capstone Project (July 2021-May 2022)
Nabilah joined us a final-year student from YaleNUS elucidating a novel chromosome instability-associated replication stress pathway in cancer.
She is currently undertaking the Duke NUS MD Program (Class of 2027).
Aliya Yusaf Ansari
Honours Yr Program LSM4199 (Aug 2021- May 2022)
Aliya joined us a final-year NUS Faculty of Science student studying therapy-induced senescence.
Honours Yr Program LSM4199 (Aug 2021- May 2022)
Aliya joined us a final-year NUS Faculty of Science student studying therapy-induced senescence.
Joycelyn Teo
Research Assistant/Lab Manager [2018-2019(NTU), 2020-2021 (NUS)]
Joycelyn joined the Crasta Lab after graduating from NTU. She was in charge of lab management and procurement, and was instrumental in arranging the move from NTU to NUS. She also assisted on various lab projects. She has an identical twin out there in the scientific world!
Currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at the National University Hospital, Singapore.
Research Assistant/Lab Manager [2018-2019(NTU), 2020-2021 (NUS)]
Joycelyn joined the Crasta Lab after graduating from NTU. She was in charge of lab management and procurement, and was instrumental in arranging the move from NTU to NUS. She also assisted on various lab projects. She has an identical twin out there in the scientific world!
Currently a Clinical Research Coordinator at the National University Hospital, Singapore.
KC LAB STARTED AT NUS IN FEB 2020; MOVED TO NUS CAMPUS IN DEC 2020.
NTU KC LAB ALUMNI
Mengqi Shi
Research Associate (2018-2019)
Mengqi joined us after her completing her Masters from Queens University, Canada. Mengqi worked on elucidating natural products from marine sources as senotherapeutics.
She is currently a Research Associate in the lab of Dr. Shawn Chen, National University of Singapore.
Research Associate (2018-2019)
Mengqi joined us after her completing her Masters from Queens University, Canada. Mengqi worked on elucidating natural products from marine sources as senotherapeutics.
She is currently a Research Associate in the lab of Dr. Shawn Chen, National University of Singapore.
Bryan Lim
Research Assistant (2018-2019)
Bryan joined us after graduating from the National University of Singapore. A talented scientist with an aptitude for research and a great personality, Bryan worked on mitotic slippage and mitochondrial bioenergenetics. He also contributed significantly to our collaborative paper elucidating the role of cGAS-STING mediated micronuclei formation in pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei.
Bryan is currently pursuing a PhD at the Duke University Medical School, Dept of Immunology, USA.
Research Assistant (2018-2019)
Bryan joined us after graduating from the National University of Singapore. A talented scientist with an aptitude for research and a great personality, Bryan worked on mitotic slippage and mitochondrial bioenergenetics. He also contributed significantly to our collaborative paper elucidating the role of cGAS-STING mediated micronuclei formation in pathogenesis of B. pseudomallei.
Bryan is currently pursuing a PhD at the Duke University Medical School, Dept of Immunology, USA.
Joycelyn Teo
Research Assistant/Lab Manager 2018-2019 (NTU)
Joycelyn joined the Crasta Lab after graduating from NTU. She was in charge of lab management and procurement, and was instrumental in arranging the move from NTU to NUS. She also assisted on various lab projects. She has an identical twin out there in the scientific world!
Research Assistant/Lab Manager 2018-2019 (NTU)
Joycelyn joined the Crasta Lab after graduating from NTU. She was in charge of lab management and procurement, and was instrumental in arranging the move from NTU to NUS. She also assisted on various lab projects. She has an identical twin out there in the scientific world!
Sixun Chen
Research Fellow, Returning A*STAR Scholar serving deployment (2017-2018)
Sixun was a returning A*STAR Scholar who joined our lab as Research Fellow. She obtained her PhD from Stuart Schreiber's lab at Harvard. She worked primarily on setting up screens to combat chemoresistance as well as established a workflow to study therapy-induced senescence reversal. She has a strong interest and aptitude for translational science.
Sixun is currently working at Celligenics, Singapore.
Research Fellow, Returning A*STAR Scholar serving deployment (2017-2018)
Sixun was a returning A*STAR Scholar who joined our lab as Research Fellow. She obtained her PhD from Stuart Schreiber's lab at Harvard. She worked primarily on setting up screens to combat chemoresistance as well as established a workflow to study therapy-induced senescence reversal. She has a strong interest and aptitude for translational science.
Sixun is currently working at Celligenics, Singapore.
Monique Luijten
Research Fellow (2017-2019)
Originally from the Netherlands, Monique joined the lab after working at A*STAR IMCB. An outstanding scientist, Monique showed a potential combinatorial clinical strategy targeting senescence/SASP and antimitotic drugs. Her interests in the lab also included chromothripsis as a mutational game changer as well as the cgas-STING pathway in chemoresistance. We will never forget her "tallness" and mouth-watering Stroopwafels! Monique is currently a Scientific Writer with Genmab, Netherlands.
Research Fellow (2017-2019)
Originally from the Netherlands, Monique joined the lab after working at A*STAR IMCB. An outstanding scientist, Monique showed a potential combinatorial clinical strategy targeting senescence/SASP and antimitotic drugs. Her interests in the lab also included chromothripsis as a mutational game changer as well as the cgas-STING pathway in chemoresistance. We will never forget her "tallness" and mouth-watering Stroopwafels! Monique is currently a Scientific Writer with Genmab, Netherlands.
Rekha Jakhar
Research Fellow (2016-2019]
Originally from India, Rekha received her PhD degree in Biotechnology from Daegu University, South Korea where she explored ER stress and UPR in cell death pathways in breast cancers. She worked on mechanisms underlying mitotic slippage induced senescence as well as exosomal contribution to tumour recurrence.
Research Fellow (2016-2019]
Originally from India, Rekha received her PhD degree in Biotechnology from Daegu University, South Korea where she explored ER stress and UPR in cell death pathways in breast cancers. She worked on mechanisms underlying mitotic slippage induced senescence as well as exosomal contribution to tumour recurrence.
Chum Chun Lok
Research Assistant (2014-2015)
The ever-cheerful Chun Lok joined us after graduating from NTU. He assisted the lab with our screening projects. He joined Kimberly Kline's lab at NTU thereafter for his Masters Degree. He LOVES dogs!
Chun Lok is currently working at Lonza Biologics, Singapore.
Research Assistant (2014-2015)
The ever-cheerful Chun Lok joined us after graduating from NTU. He assisted the lab with our screening projects. He joined Kimberly Kline's lab at NTU thereafter for his Masters Degree. He LOVES dogs!
Chun Lok is currently working at Lonza Biologics, Singapore.
Katharina Glaser
PhD student (Short-Term DAAD Research Fellowship, Germany - Jan 2015-July 2015)
Katharina (Kat) was an extremely talented, hardworking Phd Student from University of Wurzburg, Germany under the German DAAD Scholarship. Her supervisors in Germany were Prof Helga Stopper and Dr Henning Hintzsche, leading figures in the Toxicology field. In our lab, she characterised mitotic slippage in haematopoietic stem cells.
She approved of Singapore's Broitzet currywurst and grew a liking to durian by the end of her stint with us.
After graduation, Katharina started work at Fraunhofer IGB, Germany.
PhD student (Short-Term DAAD Research Fellowship, Germany - Jan 2015-July 2015)
Katharina (Kat) was an extremely talented, hardworking Phd Student from University of Wurzburg, Germany under the German DAAD Scholarship. Her supervisors in Germany were Prof Helga Stopper and Dr Henning Hintzsche, leading figures in the Toxicology field. In our lab, she characterised mitotic slippage in haematopoietic stem cells.
She approved of Singapore's Broitzet currywurst and grew a liking to durian by the end of her stint with us.
After graduation, Katharina started work at Fraunhofer IGB, Germany.
He Qianqian
PhD Student (2015-2019)
The lab got lucky again with Qianqian joining us for her PhD. She came to Singapore after completing a Master's Degree in China. Possessing excellent work ethic, she is a focused, dilligent and driven individual. Her work provided valuable insights into the role of aneuploidy-induced senescence in tumour progression. Being very fit, she could out-run all of us combined!
Qianqian is currently a Research Fellow in Assoc Prof Koh Cheng Gee's group at NTU SBS.
PhD Student (2015-2019)
The lab got lucky again with Qianqian joining us for her PhD. She came to Singapore after completing a Master's Degree in China. Possessing excellent work ethic, she is a focused, dilligent and driven individual. Her work provided valuable insights into the role of aneuploidy-induced senescence in tumour progression. Being very fit, she could out-run all of us combined!
Qianqian is currently a Research Fellow in Assoc Prof Koh Cheng Gee's group at NTU SBS.
Alex Wong
PhD Student (2014-2018)
We got really lucky with Alex as our very first Phd Student who was awarded the highly-competitive Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Schorlarship (IGS). Self-driven and very independent, he pursued the role of lipid droplets in the context of mitotic slippage and connected it to the senescence secretome. He is also a master at making snowmen from frozen ice from the -80 freezer!
Alex is currently a Research Fellow in Prof Lam Kong Peng's group at A*STAR BTI.
PhD Student (2014-2018)
We got really lucky with Alex as our very first Phd Student who was awarded the highly-competitive Interdisciplinary Graduate Program Schorlarship (IGS). Self-driven and very independent, he pursued the role of lipid droplets in the context of mitotic slippage and connected it to the senescence secretome. He is also a master at making snowmen from frozen ice from the -80 freezer!
Alex is currently a Research Fellow in Prof Lam Kong Peng's group at A*STAR BTI.
Cheng Bing
Research Fellow (2014-2018)
After completing her Phd in China where she gained much expertise in the field of autophagy, she joined our lab where she first elucidated the role of autophagy in mitotic slippage-induced senescence. Had her ears pierced with us as witness following a particularly memorable lab lunch!
Cheng Bing is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology in China.
Research Fellow (2014-2018)
After completing her Phd in China where she gained much expertise in the field of autophagy, she joined our lab where she first elucidated the role of autophagy in mitotic slippage-induced senescence. Had her ears pierced with us as witness following a particularly memorable lab lunch!
Cheng Bing is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology in China.
Guo Ke
Senior Research Fellow and Lab Manager (2014-2017)
Originally from China where she was a medical doctor, Guo Ke spent most of her career at A*STAR IMCB prior to joining us. Hardworking and always smiling, she helped manage the lab, and executed all our animal and patient sample work and collaborations with utmost efficiency. She also has a talent and the patience for training students and peers extremely well.
Guo Ke is currently in Dr Chew Wei Leong's lab at A*STAR GIS.
Senior Research Fellow and Lab Manager (2014-2017)
Originally from China where she was a medical doctor, Guo Ke spent most of her career at A*STAR IMCB prior to joining us. Hardworking and always smiling, she helped manage the lab, and executed all our animal and patient sample work and collaborations with utmost efficiency. She also has a talent and the patience for training students and peers extremely well.
Guo Ke is currently in Dr Chew Wei Leong's lab at A*STAR GIS.
Amy Lim Seok Wei
Research Assistant (2013-2016)
The ever-smiling Amy Lim joined us after graduating from University of Queensland, Australia. She assisted the lab with screening projects and fundamental mechanisms behind mitotic slippage, as well as lab procurement and getting the lab up and running!
Research Assistant (2013-2016)
The ever-smiling Amy Lim joined us after graduating from University of Queensland, Australia. She assisted the lab with screening projects and fundamental mechanisms behind mitotic slippage, as well as lab procurement and getting the lab up and running!
Durkeshwari Anbalagan
Research Fellow (2013-2015)
Durkesh joined as Research Fellow after completing her Phd in the lab of Assoc Prof Lina Lim at the National University of Singapore. She was the first hire of the Crasta Lab and contributed greatly in starting the lab at NTU's new medical school. Her work focused on mitotic slippage characterisation and she set up early screens to combat mitotic slippage-induced senescence.
Durkesh is now Assistant Director at the Ministry of Health, Singapore.
Research Fellow (2013-2015)
Durkesh joined as Research Fellow after completing her Phd in the lab of Assoc Prof Lina Lim at the National University of Singapore. She was the first hire of the Crasta Lab and contributed greatly in starting the lab at NTU's new medical school. Her work focused on mitotic slippage characterisation and she set up early screens to combat mitotic slippage-induced senescence.
Durkesh is now Assistant Director at the Ministry of Health, Singapore.