SCELSE - a biofilm & microbiome research centre in NTU & NUS

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SCELSE advances sustainability and translational impact through cutting-edge research and innovative solutions, driving progress in: • Healthcare, • Industry, • Society, and • Environment

That's a wrap on the 14th SCELSE Summer Course! 🎉 Over two weeks, 13 PhD students and postdocs from five countries explored microbiomes and biofilms through expert lectures, hands-on learning and a research trip to St John's Island. Thank you to all who made it possible. See you in 2028!
World Ocean Day (8 Jun) may have passed, but the challenge of producing sustainable seafood remains as urgent as ever. As global demand for seafood continues to rise, aquaculture will play an increasingly important role in feeding the world. Yet disease outbreaks remain one of the biggest challenges facing fish farmers, affecting both productivity and sustainability. Check out this documentary by the World Ocean Council where SCELSE Principal Investigator Prof Joachim Loo from NTU School of Materials Science and Engineering shares how his team is developing functional fish feeds to help juvenile Asian sea bass better resist infection and improve survivability. By combining probiotics and nutrients within specially engineered feed formulations, the team aims to deliver these beneficial ingredients to targeted parts of the fish gut, improving bioavailability and strengthening immune health. The result could be healthier fish, more resilient aquaculture systems, and more sustainable seafood production. Nutrition can unlock significant potential for the aquaculture industry — improving growth, enhancing disease resistance, and supporting long-term productivity. Catch Prof Loo (from 6:30 onwards) and learn how science is helping to build a more sustainable future for aquaculture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrdES8MX6AM&t=390s
From lab innovation to aquaculture transformation — LoopForBio (a spinoff from SCELSE) takes the stage at the launch of the UOB Innovation Hub at Wee Cho Yaw Plaza at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Yesterday, Dr Eze Santillán(CEO & Co-Founder) and Dr Soheil Neshat (CTO & Co-Founder) showcased LoopforBio’s solution — converting nutrient-rich food byproducts into microbial protein that supports aquaculture performance while reducing environmental impact. Real-world impact: • 80% improved survival in shrimp trials (vs fishmeal) • Up to 8x cost efficiency compared to conventional alternatives per ton • Reduced carbon emissions and protection of marine resources Said Dr Santillan: “We’re rethinking how the world produces protein — transforming waste into a sustainable resource that supports healthier shrimp and a greener planet.” The UOB Innovation Hub maps the full innovation journey — from Stage 0 (ideas) to Stage 4 (global scale) — creating a clear pathway for ventures like LoopForBio to move from research to real-world deployment. Pix below, L–R: Dr Neshat and Dr Santillan at the LoopforBio booth — advancing sustainable protein with measurable impact: higher shrimp survival, lower costs, and a greener aquaculture future - on 25 March 2026. Explore more: https://www.loopforbio.com/about LoopforBio is looking for collaborators to scale impact.
What is the one thing that wows SCELSE visitors? Do we handle COVID pathogens? And why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) considered one of the biggest global health threats today? These questions and more were raised when 30 delegates from the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle Singapore (S&TDC), representing embassies and high commissions from across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas, visited SCELSE on 13 Mar 2026. The visit opened with an introduction by Prof Alain Filloux, SCELSE Centre Director, followed by a tour of SCELSE's facilities by scientists Drs Yong Hwee FOO, Elena Gusareva and Angel Anika Cokro. Led by Wanda Preiser, Head of the Nanyang Technological University Singapore Office of International Engagement, and her team, the visit underscored the importance of international partnerships in advancing science and innovation. Curious about the answers? See the comments below. Thank you to the S&TDC delegates for the engaging discussions and thoughtful questions during your visit to SCELSE.
Congrats to the SCELSE Safety Team on receiving the Silver Award at the NTU Safety & Health Awards Ceremony 2025 on 3 Mar 2026. This recognition reflects the dedication of SCELSE’s Safety Team (see pix), and of everyone at SCELSE who practises safety every single day. Their consistent, often unseen work keeps our laboratories and shared spaces safe for research, learning, and collaboration. Prof Alain Filloux, SCELSE Centre Director, shared:“Good science depends on good safety. This award recognises the commitment of our Safety Team and colleagues who take responsibility for one another every day. A strong safety culture is built through people, ownership, and continuous care.” Thanks to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore for the recognition, and to everyone at SCELSE who contributes to making safety an integral part of our work.
Congratulations to SCELSE PI and NTU Prof Joachim Loo and his team on the progress of their functional feed project for Asian sea bass — a story just covered by Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报. Using encapsulation technology to deliver probiotics and nutrients directly to fish, the team developed a functional feed that helps sea bass grow up to 25% faster, reaching market size in about nine months instead of a year, while improving overall health and survival. Joachim Loo, NTU’s Professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, said: “By designing encapsulation systems that deliver probiotics and nutrients more effectively, we can improve fish health, growth and resilience. Such innovations can help support a more sustainable aquaculture. We aim to launch our startup soon in the hope of further strengthening Singapore’s food security.” The project was supported by The Singapore Food Story R&D Programme, which received S$144 million in government funding and supported 66 research projects in its first phase, completed by mid-2023. Read the full story in Zaobao https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20260221-8142240 Pix below (L-R): Lewis Martin, Prof Joachim Loo and Kaarunya Sampathkumar measuring and weighing the Asian seabass fingerlings that are fed with control and functional feeds at the research facility at Nanyang Technological University Singapore.
SCELSE-NTU’s Dr Haris Charalampos Antypas and Prof Kimberly Kline from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), have found that silencing bacterial communication may worsen infectious endocarditis, a severe heart valve infection. Published in Nature Communications, the study shows that when Enterococcus faecalis loses quorum sensing, it forms larger, more resilient biofilms and is linked to poorer clinical outcomes. This finding at Nanyang Technological University Singapore challenges assumptions about quorum-sensing inhibitors and highlights the need for more targeted strategies.
See - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/spore-study-finds-new-way-to-disarm-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-speed-up-healing-of-chronic-wounds
It’s World AMR Awareness Week — themed Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future. SCELSE is doing exactly that with this week’s sharing on exploiting cell wall-deficient Pseudomonas aeruginosa for new AMR solutions. Presented at the SCELSE Scientific Retreat, Alicia P. — a SCELSE PhD student under the supervision of Prof Cynthia Whitchurch FAA Whitchurch — highlighted a promising vulnerability in this highly drug-resistant pathogen. When exposed to very high beta-lactam levels, P. aeruginosa can enter a temporary cell wall-deficient state that increases drug influx and weakens efflux. In this window, the bacterium becomes far more sensitive to antibiotics and even FDA-approved non-antibiotic compounds. From a 1,443-compound screen, 81 showed potentiated activity, including 41 non-antibiotics that worked only in this weakened state. This opens new opportunities to repurpose existing drugs against Gram-negative infections. Next steps: To uncover mechanisms of action and explore how this vulnerability can be harnessed for therapeutic strategies.
To know about Fecal Microbiota Transplantation #FMT is one thing — but to speak directly with the experts pioneering its application is another. Prof Cynthia Whitchurch, SCELSE Research Director, had the opportunity to meet experts on microbiome at the Microbiome Research Centre (MRC) in Sydney, as she explored potential collaboration opportunities in gut microbiome research. She was impressed by MRC’s laser focus on advancing microbiome science — from uncovering how microbial communities influence disease to translating these insights into evidence-based guidance for clinicians, patients, and the public, while training the next generation of microbiome researchers. Her discussions with Prof Georgina Hold, Dr Howard Yim, Dr Xiato Jiang, and Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice explored the connection between the gut microbiome, mental health, and FMT — a promising avenue for addressing chronic and complex diseases. “Understanding how we can harness the microbiome to prevent and treat disease is one of the most exciting challenges in modern science,” said Prof Whitchurch. “I look forward to continuing this conversation when MRC Director Prof Emad El-Omar visits SCELSE in Singapore.” 📍 Microbiome Research Centre, Sydney, Australia, 31 Oct 2025 Pix(L-R): Dr Howard Yim (MRC), Prof Cynthia Whitchurch (SCELSE), Prof Georgina Hold (MRC), Dr Xiaotao Jiang (MRC), Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice (MRC)
“Deep-sea microbes play a critical role in ocean carbon storage and climate regulation,” said Assoc Prof Janelle Thompson, supervisor to SCELSE-NTU researcher Dr Jeslyn Poo. Dr Poo and Dr Yvonne Hii (supervised by Dr Stephen Summers) have joined international scientists aboard the state-of-the-art OceanXplorer to explore the Christmas Island Seamount Province in the eastern Indian Ocean. This landmark expedition, led by National University of Singapore with partners from ASEAN and the United States, marks Singapore’s first major research mission to the high seas. Supported by the National Research Foundation Singapore, the voyage seeks to uncover how tiny ocean microbes and viruses help regulate Earth’s climate and sustain marine ecosystems. Watch the video below for highlights from the official launch on 4 Oct 2025.
SCELSE welcomed Global Officers from the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research to explore potential collaboration with SCELSE on all matters marine, such as biofouling and biocorrosion. The visit, hosted by Prof Staffan Kjelleberg and Dr Stephen Summers, highlighted SCELSE’s expertise in marine biofilm and microbiome science and its applications in ocean health, biofouling, and ecosystem resilience. “SCELSE’s strength lies in integrating microbial ecology with advanced systems biology to address complex environmental challenges,” said Dr Stephen Summers. “Collaborations like these are key to developing our research into practical solutions that protect marine environments.” Photo (L–R): SCELSE Snr Research Fellow Dr Stephen Summers and Advisor Prof Staffan Kjelleberg; US Navy's Dr Stephen Turner and Dr Paul Sundaram; and NUS TMSI Dr Serena Teo at SCELSE today.
Missed the SCELSE Open House 2025? Here's your chance to experience it in 2 minutes. From lab tours and exhibits to research talks, a fireside chat, and hands-on demos — this video captures the energy of "A Journey into the Microbial World". Watch the full highlights below! Hope to see you next year at SCELSE Open House!