Month: April 2025

Innovation happens when industry and academia come together.

That’s why we were honoured to participate in a guest lecture series for the National Universtity of Singapore’s Master of Science in Biotechnology programme – a dynamic course designed to equip future biotech leaders with both technical expertise and practical know-how. Most notably, it fosters strong engagement with industry players – something we are proud to support.

As part of this, our team was invited to share insights directly with students through two guest lectures and an in-depth industry visit.

On 4 April 2025, Dr Feng Shu, PhD, Researcher Manager from our Automation & Data Management and Lead Optimization Units, delivered a lecture titled Recycling^® and Sweeping^® antibody technology. She shared how these innovative antibody technologies have enabled the targeting of previously untargetable antigens and how this has been used to develop novel drugs to treat diseases.

Following this, on 8 April 2025, Dr Eric Ng, a Senior Scientist from our Lead Optimization Unit presented a session on ‘Bispecific and Multi-Specific antibody technology’. He introduced students to exciting developments in therapeutic development and walked the class through how these monoclonal antibodies can bind multiple targets at the same time, increasing therapeutic potential. This technology has led to advancements in the treatment options in oncology and immunology.

To reinforce the connection between classroom learning and the real-world, we also hosted an on-site industry visit to our company on 11 April 2025. After an introduction to what we do, the students visited our labs, gaining firsthand exposure to the equipment and safety protocols that underpin day-to-day research.

The visit wrapped up with a Q&A sessions, with questions asked on our innovation culture and the reality of working in a research environment.

Our ongoing engagement with students has resulted in stronger ties between academia and industry and serves as a clear reminder of the value in working together to advance both education and the future of the biotech industry .

On 7 April 2025, we had the opportunity to host an industry visit for 11 students from the National University of Singapore (NUS).

This was a chance for the students to connect the dots between academic studies and real-world applications in the biopharma industry. It was also a valuable moment for us to share our expertise and showcase our work.

The group of 11 consisted of undergraduates enrolled in the Molecular Biotechnology module, as well as postgraduate students from the Master of Science in Biotechnology programme at NUS.

We started the visit with a brief background of what we do as part of the Chugai Group. Scientists and Research Associates from our Lead Optimization and Pharmacology units then gave the students a history and overview of our drug discovery process, from early-stage research and target identification to clinical trials.

They also provided an explanation of our proprietary antibody engineering technologies such as our Recycling Antibody Technology which has been used to develop innovative drugs that can deliver better clinical outcomes for patients.

Our Safety Team then walked the students through the rigorous safety standards we maintain in our laboratories and scientific work, which is integral to successful drug development.

The lab tour was a highlight as the students could take a look what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to drug discovery. Seeing the throughput screening machines and other equipment gave them a sense of how technology plays a critical role in drug discovery.

The visit concluded with an informal Q&A session. The students were eager to learn more about the industry, with many taking the opportunity to ask follow-up questions with NUS alumni who are now working in our company.

It’s always a pleasure to welcome science students to our space, where we can contribute to the development of the scientific community and help shape the careers of future scientists.