Mrs Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy

Started in 2006, the Mrs Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy currently supports the renowned Professor Dario Campana, a pioneer in cellular immunotherapy expert and 2019 Jacob and Louise Gabbay Awardee, together with his team at the National University of Singapore and National University Hospital to conduct research on cell-based therapy and clinical trials for break-throughs in cancer treatment.

Professor Dario Campana, previously from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, was formally appointed as the Mrs Lee Kong Chian Chair in February 2013.

Professor Dario Campana was re-appointed as the Mrs Lee Kong Chian Chair in Advanced Cellular Therapy on 10 January 2025. This appointment is effective from 1 July 2024 and will continue through to 30 June 2027.

Based in Singapore now, he focuses on several cutting-edge research and clinical trials. These includes research on how Natural Killer cells can be used to fight cancer in children and adults, as well as Cancer Immunotherapy. Due to the potential of his research to save lives and develop cures for different forms of cancer, he also managed to secure funding under the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS). With this funding, patients enrolled in his cell-therapy clinical trials do not need to pay for this treatment.

Progress

RESEARCH
5

First-in-human clinical trials

3

Spin-off biotech companies (SG/US)

7

New Patents granted

14

Patents under application

MEDICAL CARE
15

Patients successfully treated with experimental CAR-T cell therapy under compassionate use

110+

Patients to be treated with CAR-T cell therapy by 2030

TRAINING AND EDUCATION
19

Researches published

80+

Speaking engagements worldwide

VIVA’s contribution has allowed our research programmes to proceed at a much faster rate and to initiate clinical trials of novel immunotherapies developed in our laboratory.

Dr Dario Campana