Advancing the science of metabolic and liver disease.
We investigate the full spectrum of metabolic and hepatic disease — from molecular mechanisms to clinical care — integrating laboratory science, translational research, multi-centre clinical studies, and artificial intelligence.
Four areas of inquiry
Our work spans MASLD, MASH, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation, with extending interest in cardiovascular complications of metabolic dysfunction.
Laboratory Investigation
We study cellular and molecular mechanisms of metabolic and liver disease using hepatocyte organoids, diet-induced animal models, and multi-omics platforms — examining how metabolic stress, alcohol exposure, and immune dysregulation drive fibrosis, inflammation, and malignant transformation.
Translational Research
We translate laboratory insight into clinical applications: discovering blood-based biomarkers of lipotoxicity, fibrosis, and oncogenic signalling, and identifying therapeutic targets to support early detection and surveillance for patients at risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Clinical Programme
Through multi-centre collaborations across East and Southeast Asia, we integrate imaging, laboratory, and lifestyle data from patients with MASLD, MASH, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, HCC, and cardiovascular risk to inform region-specific clinical decision-making.
Artificial Intelligence
We apply machine learning to integrated biological, clinical, and environmental datasets to forecast disease progression — from metabolic dysfunction to cirrhosis, liver cancer, cardiovascular events, or transplant eligibility — and to enhance longitudinal imaging surveillance in liver cancer.
Principal Investigators
We are a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists working at the intersection of liver disease, metabolism, transplantation, radiology, and cardiology — bridging basic science and clinical care to better understand disease mechanisms, improve diagnosis, and develop targeted therapies.
Prof Mark Muthiah
Prof. Mark Muthiah is a clinician-scientist and Professor at NUS Medicine. His research focuses on metabolic liver diseases, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, with particular interest in biomarker discovery, therapeutic targets, and translational strategies to improve patient outcomes.
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Asst Prof Cheng Han Ng
Asst Prof Cheng Han Ng is a researcher at the National University Health System (NUHS). His work focuses on sarcopenia in chronic liver disease, examining the interplay between muscle loss, metabolic dysfunction, and clinical outcomes, with publications in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Cell Metabolism.
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Asst Prof Nicholas Syn
Asst Prof Nicholas Syn is the inaugural Dean's Fellow at NUS Medicine and Adjunct Assistant Professor in Biomedical Informatics. He applies biostatistics and machine learning to hepatocellular carcinoma research, with publications in The Lancet Oncology and Nature Communications.
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From discovery to patient benefit
To ensure scientific discoveries translate into real-world impact, we actively pursue commercialisation pathways. Through our biotech spin-out LiverGENIX, we bring our most promising therapeutics toward the clinic — accelerating the development of next-generation solutions for metabolic and liver diseases.
Get in touch
We welcome enquiries from prospective collaborators, students, postdoctoral researchers, and clinical partners. Reach out directly to the Principal Investigator.