Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Science Engagement Talks - NUS Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

10:35 am – 10:50 am: Student Life Sharing by NUS Pharmaceutical Society

The NUS Pharmaceutical Society (NUSPS) which consists of NUSPS External & Internal Committees, Special Projects and the Five Houses, serves to enrich the student life of NUS Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science students. NUSPS also offers opportunities for both Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science students to develop professionally, and create student vibrancy within this Pharmily. Learn more about the exciting activities organised by NUSPS, such as Pharmacy Orientation Programme, as well as RxAG and RxFlag.

Key Involvement: President, Vice President (Special Projects), RxAG Vice Project Director (Programme), IRC Vice Director External, IPSF NUSPS Student Exchange Officer | Volunteering Experience in NUSPS: RxFlag Long Term Engagement and Summer Based Activities 2024, HealthT.A.G.

Key Involvement: Vice President (Special Projects), RxAG Vice Project Director (Floats) | Volunteering Experience in NUSPS: Fit. Fun. Fruits 2024, RxFlag Long-Term Engagement, Station Manager for HealthT.A.G.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pharmacy Talks by Programme Directors and Alumni

Pharmacy: So Much More Than You Imagined

Pharmacists today play a vital role in helping patients live healthier and safer lives. Their expertise in medicines is at the heart of patient care, from selecting the right treatment for the right person through pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine, to improving safety through digital health, clinical informatics, and national healthcare strategy. From supporting individual patients to designing a smarter healthcare system for Singapore, pharmacists work at the centre of science, technology, and healthcare innovation.

In this session, discover how the BPharm (Hons) programme at NUS prepares students for these exciting career pathways through active, team-based learning that builds clinical judgement, leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills for the healthcare professions of tomorrow

A/Prof Chui Wai Keung is a pharmacist who received his B.Sc.(Pharmacy)(Hons) degree from the National University of Singapore. He was conferred a Ph.D. degree, majoring in medicinal chemistry, from Aston University in Birmingham (UK). He headed the Department of Pharmacy at NUS between 2013 and 2015. A/P Chui is currently a council member of the Singapore Pharmacy Council. He is co-leading the design and implementation of the new competency-based B.Pharm.(Hons) programme which integrates basic, clinical and systems sciences as its hallmark. He is globally connected and sits on working committees from the World Health Organization and the Western Pacific Pharmaceutical Forum.

Ms Chloe Chia is a pharmacist at National University Hospital (NUH). She earned her Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) with Highest Distinction from NUS in 2022, receiving top academic awards including the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal. During her clinical practice, she developed a strong interest in precision medicine and went on to pursue an MPhil in Genomic Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Currently, as part of the pharmacogenomics team at NUH, she is interested in integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical care and advancing the role of pharmacists in personalised medicine.

Ms Priscilla Chua is Director, Clinical Informatics Group, Synapxe, and Deputy Director, HealthTech Policy Division, Ministry of Health (MOH). She drives the use of Data Standards such as the harmonisation of COVID vaccination codes in IT systems. During COVID-19, she facilitated the setup of 10 vaccination centres and supported the deployment of Vital Signs Monitoring equipment at Community Care Facilities. In MOH, Priscilla also supports the formulation of strategies and policies relating to the use of data. Before her work in Synapxe and MOH, Priscilla championed the implementation of pharmacy and clinical systems in a public hospital. Other than her pharmacy degree, Priscilla holds Master of Science (Health Informatics), and Master of Health Administration qualifications

Prof Gallagher was previously the Head of Pharmacy of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (2010-2018). In that role, he reformed pharmacy education through his Directorship of the National Pharmacy Internship Programme and the establishment of the Irish Institute of Pharmacy. Before RCSI, Prof Gallagher had established a pharmacy and medical centre in Dublin. He is a graduate of University College London (England) and Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) where he obtained his MBA and PhD respectively. In 2016, Utrecht University (Netherlands) and subsequently in 2019 the International Pharmaceutical Federation recognised him for his contributions to academic pharmacy practice.

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Pharmaceutical Science Talks by Programme Director and Alumni

Ever Wondered How a Molecule Becomes a Blockbuster Medicine and Why Most Never Make It?

Step into the high stakes world of drug discovery in an interactive session that takes you from lab bench to real patients. Unpack real case studies with insights from researchers and industry insiders, and see what it really takes to get a drug through trials, approval, and into hospitals.

Explore the many career routes in Pharmaceutical Science, from cutting edge R&D and advanced manufacturing to regulation, quality, and the business side that brings new treatments to the world.

Prof Christina Chai obtained her B.Sc. (Hons) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and her Ph.D. from the Australian National University, Australia. Following her Ph.D., she was awarded a Violette and Samuel Glasstone Research Fellowship at the University of Oxford where she studied bioorganic reaction mechanisms. This was followed by Faculty positions at Victoria University of Wellington (1991-1993) and the Australian National University (1994-2004). Prof Chai was a Principal Scientist and Programme Manager at the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) (2004-2011) and was co-appointed Director of Graduate Affairs at A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research Council (2008-2011). Prof Chai joined NUS in 2011 and was Head of NUS’ Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from 2016 - 2024.

Mr Sean Lee graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Science from the National University of Singapore. His postgraduate research focuses on developing multi-targeting antivirals as a means to prevent or delay the onset of drug resistance. Throughout his candidature, Sean has presented at several international conferences and co-authored multiple publications. His PhD is funded by NUS under the Graduate Tutorship Scheme through which he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Ms Lim En Tong is a graduate of NUS Pharmaceutical Science (Class of 2023) and is currently working at GSK as an MSAT Process Scientist. She joined the company through its Future Leaders Graduate Program, which enabled her to develop a broad range of critical skillsets through rotations across various functions. Beginning her career in Quality Assurance, she built a strong foundation in quality systems, risk-based decision-making, and regulatory expectations. She has since transitioned into MSAT, where she applies this foundation to develop robust vaccine manufacturing processes at the lab-scale. Her current work focuses on deepening process understanding through experimentation, driving process optimization, and evaluating the impact of process parameters on product quality and yield to enable consistent manufacturing performance.

Mr Zachary Clunies Ross graduated from NUS with a degree in Pharmaceutical Science in 2025. During his studies, he developed a strong interest not only in science, but also in the commercial side of the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in understanding how treatments are brought to market. He currently works as a Medical Sales Representative at Eisai, covering the CNS/GI portfolio, where he engages healthcare professionals to support business growth. His responsibilities include maintaining existing relationships as well as opening new accounts for the company. Zachary is keen to continue building his career in the commercial function, where he can combine his scientific background with his interest in sales and stakeholder engagement. He enjoys connecting with people, understanding their needs, and identifying practical ways to add value, and he looks forward to further developing his career in this area.