(1) Chronic liver diseases- from fatty liver to cancer
Our group focuses on understanding and addressing the critical events that regulate the progression of chronic liver diseases into liver cancer. Building on the expertise of characterizing mutations and expression profiling of various tyrosine kinases in cancer tissues, the same endeavor is now extended laterally to consider their impact in preneoplastic events like fibrosis and fatty liver. Notable kinases are being evaluated for their suitability as drug targets for chemotherapeutic development. In more recent years, we further explore the risks and benefits of applying both organic and inorganic nanomaterials as disease modifiers, as well as to explore their intrinsic potential to support drug delivery into the liver, liver regeneration and anti-fibrosis. The techniques we employ include but are not limited to high-throughput sequencing, mutation analysis, immunoassays and other biochemical assay development. We perform target characterization on a subset of these targets to better understand the biochemical basis for their effects on host cells. Besides these, we engage in preclinical work through extensive collaborations with clinicians who provide us with clinical samples so that we can correlate our in vitro findings with patient information, in order to determine the clinical relevance of our work.

(2) Drug and chemical-induced liver injury
A second research emphasis looks at the mechanism and manifestation of drug-induced liver toxicities. Work includes mechanistic studies on drug distribution and metabolism, and the consequential generation and accumulation of toxic metabolites. Collective information of chemically similar compounds is applied for structural toxicity relationship studies. In addition, we explore potential hepatoprotective and cell regenerative approaches as therapeutic options to prevent and to circumvent liver injury. A separate tangent on liver injury arising from exposure to environmental chemicals, such as nano- and microplastics (NMP), is being pursued to better understand the longer term impact on liver health.

Associate Professor Han Kiat HO, Ph.D., DABT is currently the Deputy Head (Education) at the Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore (NUS). He received his Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) with First Class Honors from the NUS in 2000. Subsequently, he took on the A*STAR Overseas Graduate Scholarship and obtained his Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Washington in 2005, under the tutelage of Prof Sid Nelson. After which, he returned to Singapore for a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Medical Biology with Prof Axel Ullrich, working in the area of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In 2009, he started his own research program in NUS, exploring various aspects of liver diseases including the management of drug-induced liver toxicity, liver fibrosis and liver cancer. In recent years, he also interfaced the use of nanomaterials to explore the impact on liver regeneration as well as in nanotoxicology. Over the years as a faculty member, he has published more than 85 papers in internationally recognized journals and has won multiple university-level teaching excellence awards and is an elected fellow of NUS Teaching Academy. He is an editorial advisory board member of Biochemical Pharmacology and a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. He also holds a joint appointment as the Vice Dean in the Office of Student Affairs.

Graduate Students

Research Assistant

PhD Alumni (as supervisor)

Masters Alumni

Postdoctoral fellow Alumni

PharmD Alumni

Final Year Project  (FYP) Alumni

UROPS (Undergraduate research project) Alumni

Research Team Member Alumni

1. Wee HL, Ho HK, Li SC. Singapore Med J, 43, 128-34 (2002). Public awareness of diabetes mellitus in Singapore.
2. Ho HK, Hu ZH, Tzung SP, Hockenbery DM, Fausto N, Nelson SD, Bruschi, SA. Biochemical Pharmacology, 69, 147-157 (2005). BCL-xL overexpression effectively protects against tetrafluoroethylcysteine-induced intramitochondrial damage and cell death.
3. Ho HK, White CC, Fernandez C, Kavanagh TJ, Fausto N, Nelson SD, Bruschi SA. Toxicological Sciences, 86, 354-364 (2005). Nrf2 activation involves an oxidative-stress independent pathway in tetrafluoroethylcysteine-induced cytotoxicity.
4. Ho HK, Jia YK, Coe KJ, Gao Q, Doneanu CE, Hu ZH, Bammler TK, Beyer RP, Fausto N, Bruschi SA, Nelson SD. Biochemical Pharmacology, 72, 80-90 (2006). Cytosolic heat shock proteins and heme oxygenase-1 are preferentially induced in response to specific and localized intramitochondrial damage by tetrafluoroethylcysteine.
5. Boelsterli UA, Ho HK, Zhou SF, Leow KY. Current Drug Metabolism, 7, 715-727 (2006). Bioactivation and hepatotoxicity of nitroaromatic drugs.
6. Coe, KJ, Jia Y, Ho HK, Rademacher P, Bammler TK, Beyer RP, Farin FM, Woodke L, Plymate SR, Fausto N, Nelson SD. Chem Res Tox, 20, 1277-1290 (2007). Comparison of the cytotoxicity of the nitroaromatic drug flutamide to its cyano analog in the hepatocyte cell line TAMH: Evidence for complex I inhibition and mitochondrial dysfunction using toxicogenomic screening.
7. Ruhe JE, Streit SS, Hart S, Wong CH, Specht K, Knyazev P, Knyazeva K, Tay LS, Loo HL, Foo P, Wong W, Pok S, Lim SJ, Ong HM, Luo M, Ho HK, Peng K, Lee TC, Bezler M, Mann C, Gaertner S, Hoefler H, Iacobelli S, Peter S, Tay A, Brenner S, Venkatesh B, Ullrich A. Cancer Res, 67, 11368-11376 (2007). Genetic alterations in the tyrosine kinase transcriptome of human cancer cell lines.
8. Ho HK , Pok S, Streit SS, Ruhe JE, Hart S, Loo HL, Lim KS, Aung MO, Lim SG, Ullrich A. J Hepatology, 50, 118-127 (2009). FGFR4 Regulates Proliferation, Anti-apoptosis and Alpha-fetoprotein Secretion During Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Represents a Potential Target for Therapeutic Intervention.
9. Saha S, New LS, Ho HK, Chui WK, Chan ECY. Tox Letters, 192, 141-149 (2010). Investigation of the role of thiazolidinedinone ring of troglitazone in inducing hepatotoxicity.
10. Roidl A, Foo P, Mann C, Bechtold S, Berger HJ, Streit S, Ruhe JE, Hart S, Ullrich A, Ho HK. Oncogene, 29, 1543-1552 (2010). The FGFR4 Y367C Mutant is a Dominant Oncogene in MDA-MD453 Breast Cancer Cells.
11. Saha S, New LS, Ho HK, Chui WK, Chan ECY. Tox Letters, 195(2-3), 135-141 (2010). Direct toxicity effects of sulfo-conjugated troglitazone on human hepatocytes.
12. Teng WC, Oh JW, New LS, Wahlin MD, Nelson SD, Ho HK and Chan CYE. Mol Pharmacol, 78, 693-703 (2010). Mechanism-based inactivation of Cytochrome P450 3A4 by lapatinib.
13. Nayak T, Li J, Phua LC, Ho HK, Ren Y, Pastorin G. ACS Nano, 4(12), 7717-25 (2010). Thin films of functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes as suitable scaffold materials for stem cells proliferation and bone formation.
14. Chan CY, New LS, Ho HK, Chan EC. Tox Letters, 206(3), 314-24 (2011). Reversible time-dependent inhibition of CYP450 enzymes by duloxetine and the inertness of its thiophen ring towards bioactivation.
15. Teo YL, Saetaew M, Chanthawong S, Yap YS, Chan EC, HO HK, Chan A. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 133(2), 703-711 (2012). Effect of CYP3A4 inducer dexamethasone on hepatotoxicity of lapatinib: clinical and in vitro evidence.
16. Poh W, Wong W, Ong H, Aung MO, Lim SG, Chua BT, Ho HK. Mol Cancer, 11:14 (2012). Klotho-beta overexpression as a novel target for suppressing proliferation and fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.
17. Chan EC, New LS, Chua TB, Yap CW, Ho HK, Nelson SD. Drug Metab Disp, 40(7), 1414-1422 (2012). Interaction of lapatinib with cytochrome P450 3A5.
18. Tian Q, Wong W, Xu Y, Chan Y, Ho HK, Pastorin G, Ang WH. Chem Comm, 48(44), 5467-5469 (2012). Immobilisation of quantum dots by bio-orthogonal PCR amplification and labeling for direct gene detection and quantification.
19. Chng HT, Ho HK, Yap CW, Lam SH, Chan EC. J Biomol Screen, 17(7), 974-986 (2012). An investigation of the bioactivation potential and metabolism profile of zebrafish versus human.
20. Saha S, Chan DS, Lee CY, Wong W, Yap CW, Chui WK, Chan EC, Ho HK. Eur J Pharmacol 697(1-3), 13-23 (2012). Pyrrolidinediones reduce the toxicity of thiazolidinediones and modify their anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.
21. Chan A, Ho HK, Cheung YT, Teo YL. Adv Pharmacoepidem Drug Safety, 1:5 (2012). Supportive care in cancer patients: Current challenges and opportunities.
22. Zhao C, Tan A, Pastorin G, Ho HK. Biotech Adv, 31(5), 654-68 (2013). Nanomaterial scaffolds for stem cell differentiation and proliferation in tissue engineering.
23. Teo YL, Ho HK, Chan A. Cancer Treat Rev 39(2), 199-206 (2013). Risk of tyrosine kinase inhibitors-induced hepatotoxicity in cancer patients: A meta-analysis.
24. Phua LC, Mal M, Koh PK, Cheah PY, Chan EC, Ho HK. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 71(3):817-823 (2013). Investigating the role of nucleoside transporters in the resistance of colorectal cancer to 5-fluorouracil therapy.
25. Ho HK, Németh G, Ng YR, Pang E, Szántai-Kis C, Zsákai L, Breza N, Greff Z, Horváth Z; Pató J, Szabadkai I, Szokol B, Baska F, Őrfi L, Ullrich A, Kéri G, and Chua BT. Curr Med Chem, 20:1203-17 (2013). Developing FGFR4 inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents via in silico design, supported by in vitro and cell-based testing.
26. Wong BS, Yoong SL, Jagusiak A, Panczyk T, Ho HK, Ang WH, Pastorin, G. Adv Drug Delivery Rev. 65(15): 1964-2015 (2013). Carbon nanotubes for delivery of small molecule drugs.
27. Phua LC, Koh PK, Cheah PY, Ho HK, Chan ECY. J Chromatography B. 15(937):103-113 (2013). Global gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC/TOFMS)-based metabonomic profiling of lyophilized human feces.
28. Cheung YT, Lim SR, Ho HK, Chan A. Plos One 8(12):e81234 (2013). Cytokines as mediators of chemotherapy-associated cognitive changes: Current evidence, limitations and directions for future research.
29. Ho HK, Yeo AHL, Kang TS, Chua BT. Drug Discover Today, 19:51-62 (2014). Current strategies in inhibiting FGFR activities for clinical applications: Opportunities, challenges and toxicological considerations.
30. Ng T, Cheung YT, Ng QS, Ho HK, Chan A. Expert Opin Drug Safety, 13:83-92 (2014). Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors and cognitive impairment: evidence and controversies.
31. Yoong SL, Wong BS, Zhou QL, Chin CF, Li J, Venkatesan T, Ho HK, Yu V, Ang WH, Pastorin, G. Biomaterials 35(2): 748-759 (2014). Enhanced cytotoxicity to cancer cells by mitochondria-targeting MWCNTs containing platinum(IV) prodrug of cisplatin.
32. Teo YL Chong XJ, Chue XP, Chau NM, Tan MH, Kanesvaran R, Wee HL, Ho HK, Chan A. Cancer Chemo Pharmacol 73:381-388 (2014). Role of sunitinib and SU12662 on dermatological toxicities in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: in vitro, in vivo and outcomes investigation.
33. Tan DSY, Yeo AHL, Ho HK, Wee HL, Ong HY. Asian Study of CLOPidogrel (ASCLOP) Responsiveness: Int J Cardiol 171:e21-23 (2014). The contributions of genetic and non-genetic factors.
34. Phua LC, Chue XP, Koh PK, Cheah PY, Ho HK, Chan ECY. Cancer Biol Ther 15:1-9 (2014). Non-invasive fecal metabonomic detection of colorectal cancer.
35. See M, Shih V, Ho HK, Tang T, Farid M, Quek R, Tao M,Lim ST, Chan A. Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare, 23:13-20 (2014). A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Role of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Pegfilgrastim in Lymphoma Patients Receiving Chemotherapy.
36. Phua LC, Chue XP, Koh PK, Cheah PY, Chan ECY, Ho HK. Oncology Reports, 32:97-104 (2014). Global fecal microRNA profiling in the identification of biomarkers for colorectal cancer screening among Asians.
37. Ho HK, Chua BT, Wong W, Lim KS, Teo V, Ong HT, Chen X, Zhang W, Hui KM, Go ML, Ullrich A. Mol Oncol, 8(7):1266-77 (2014). Benzylidene-indolinones are Effective as Multi-targeted Kinase Inhibitor Therapeutics Against Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
38. Tan CY, Lai RC, Wong W, Dan YY, Lim SK, Ho HK. Stem Cell Res Ther, 5(3): 76 (2014). Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes promote hepatic regeneration in drug-induced liver injury models.
39. Pang YY, Yeo WK, Loh KY, Go ML, Ho HK. Food Chem Tox, 71:207-216 (2014). Structure-toxicity relationship and structure-activity relationship study of 2-phenylaminophenylacetic acid derived compounds.
40. Phua LC, Ng HW, Yeo AHL, Chen E, Lo MSM, Cheah PY, Chan ECY, Koh PK, Ho HK. Oncol Lett 10:2519-2526 (2015) Prevalence of KRAS, BRAF, PI3K, EGFR mutations among Asian metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
41. Teo YL, Ho HK, Chan A. Brit J Clin Pharmacol 79:241-253 (2015). Metaboilsm-related pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions in tyrosine kinase inhibitors: current understanding, challenges and recommendations.
42. Teo YL, Ho HK, Chan A. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 11:231-242 (2015). Formation of reactive metabolites and management of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced hepatotoxicity: a literature review.
43. Ng T, Chan M, Khor CC, Ho HK, Chan A. Cancer Treat Rev 40(10):1199-1214 (2014). The genetic variants underlying breast cancer treatment-induced chronic and late toxicities: A systematic review.
44. Teo YL, Chue XP, Chau NM, Tan MH, Kanesvaran R, Wee HL, Ho HK, Chan A. Target Oncol 10(3):429-437 (2014). Association of drug exposure with toxicity and clinical response in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving an attenuated dose regimen of sunitinib.
45. Tan CY, Saw TY, Fong CW, Ho HK. Redox Biol 4:308-320 (2015). Comparative hepatoprotective effects of tocotrienol analogs against drug-induced liver injury.
46. Ho HK, Chan JC, Hardy KD, Chan EC. Drug Metab Rev 47(1):21-8 (2015). Mechanism-based inactivation of CYP450 enzymes: a case study of lapatinib.
47. Huleatt PB, Khoo ML, Chua YY, Tan TW, Liew RS, Balogh B, Deme R, Goloncser F, Magyar K, Sheela DP, Ho HK, Sperlagh B, Matyus P, Chai CL. J Med Chem 58:1400-1419 (2015). Novel arylalkenylpropargylamines as neuroprotective, potent, and selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
48. Patel DN, Ho HK, Tan LL, Tan MM, Zhang Q, Low MY, Chan CL, Koh HL. Front Pharmacol 6:25 (2015). Hepatotoxic potential of asarones: in vitro evaluation of hepatotoxicity and quantitative determination in herbal products.
49. Teo YL, Wee HL, Chue XP, Chau NM, Tan MH, Kanesvaran R, Wee HL, Ho HK, Chan A. Pharmacogenomics J 16:47-53 (2016). Effect of the CYP3A5 and ABCB1 genotype on exposure, clinical response, and manifestation of toxicities from sunitinib in Asian patients.
50. Cheung YT, Ng T, Shwe M, Ho HK, Foo KM, Cham MT, Lee JA, Fan G, Tan YP, Yong WS, Madhukumar P, Loo SK, Ang SF, Wong M, Chay WY, Ooi WS, Dent RA, Yap YS, Ng R, Chan A. Ann Oncol. 26:1446-51 (2015). Association of proinflammatory cytokines and chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients: a multi-centered, prospective, cohort study.
51. Yoong SL, Lau WL, Liu AY, Prendergast D, Ho HK, YU VC, Lee C, Ang WH, Pastorin G. Nanoscale. 7(33):13907-17 (2015). Mitochondria-acting hexokinase II peptides carried by short-length carbon nanotubes with increased cellular uptake, endosomal evasion and enhanced bioactivity against cancer cells.
52. Ng T, Teo SM, Yeo HL, Shwe M, Gan YX, Cheung YT, Foo KM, Cham MT, Lee JA, Tan YP, Fan G, Yong WS, Preetha M, Loh WK, Koo SL, Jain A, Lee GE, Wong M, Dent R, Yap YS, Ng R, Khorr CC, Ho HK, Chan A. Neuro Oncol 18:244-251 (2016). BDNF genetic polymorphism (rs6265) is protective against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment in patients with early stage breast cancer.
53. Tee JK, Ong CN, Bay BH, Ho HK, Leong DT. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotech 8:414-438 (2016). Oxidative stress by inorganic nanoparticles.
54. Bi X, Adriani G, Xu Y, Chakrabotty S., Pastorin G, Ho HK, Ang WH, Chan Y. Anal Chem 87(20):10292-8 (2015). Gene detection in complex biological media using semiconductor nanorods within an integrated microfluidic device.
55. Tan SQ, Lee YY, Packiaraj DS, Ho HK, Chai CL. Chem Res Toxicol 28(10):2019-33 (2015). Systematic evaluation of the metabolism and toxicity of thiazolidinone and imidazolidinone heterocycles.
56. Zhao C, Andersen H, Ozyilmaz B, Pastorin G, Ho HK. Nanoscale 7(43):18239-49 (2015). Spontaneous and specific myogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on polyethylene glycol-linked multi-walled carbon nanotube films for skeletal muscle engineering.
57. Ngai MH, So CL, Sullivan M, Ho HK, Chai CL. Chem Med Chem 11:72-80 (2016). Photo-induced isomerisation and hepatoxicities of semaxanib, sunitinib and related 3-substituted indolin-2-ones.
58. Duan Y, Wong W, Chua SC, Wee HL, Lim SG, Chua BT, Ho HK. Int J Oncol 48:358-366 (2016). Overexpression of Tyro3 and its implications on hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
59. Chia HY, Yau WP, Ho HK. Biopharm Drug Dispos 37:168-181 (2016). Establishing population distribution of drug-metabolizing enzymes activities for the use of salivary caffeine as a dynamic liver function marker in a Singaporean Chinese population.
60. Pang YY, Tan YM, Chan, ECY, Ho HK. Chem Res Toxicol 29:1118-31 (2016). Phase I metabolic stability and electrophilic reactivity of 2-phenylaminophenylacetic acid derived compounds.
61. Chae JW, Teo YL, Ho HK, Lee JY, Back HM, Yun HY, Karlsson MO, Kwon KL, Chan A. Cancer Chemo Pharmacol. 78(3) 623-632 (2016). BSA and ABCB1 polymorphism affect the pharmacokinetics of sunitinib and its active metabolite in Asian mRCC patients receiving an attenuated sunitinib dosing regimen.
62. Darvish M, Ho HK, Kang TS. Mol Genetics Metab Rep. 8:51-60 (2016). Towards the development of an enzyme replacement therapy for the metabolic disorder propionic academia.
63. Chae JW, Ng T, Yeo HL, Shwe M, Gan YX, Ho HK, Chan A. PLoS One. 11(10):e0164204 (2016). Impact of TNF- (rs1800629) and IL-6 (rs1800795) polymorphisms on cognitive impairment in Asian breast cancer patients.
64. Yap SQ, Chin CF, Hong Thng AH, Pang YY, Ho HK, Ang WH. Chem Med Chem. 12(4):300-311 (2017). Finely tuned asymmetric platinum(IV) anticancer complexes: Strucure-activity relationship and application as orally available prodrugs.
65. Pang YY, Tan YL, Ho HK. J Chromatography B. 1061-1062:220-224 (2017). Investigation of the effect of plasma albumin levels on regorafenib-induced hepatotoxicity using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method.
66. Ng T, Lee YY, Chae JW, Yeo AHL, Shwe M, Gan YX, Ng RCH, Chu PPY, Khor CC, Ho HK, Chan A. BMC Cancer 17(1):867 (2017). Evaluation of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and self-perceived cognitive impairment post-chemotherapy: a longitudinal study.
67. Chae JW, Chua PS, Ng T, Yeo AHL, Shwe M, Gan YX, Dorajoo S, Foo KM, Loh KW, Koo SL, Chay WY, Tan TJY, Beh SY, Lim EH, Lee GE, Dent R, Yap YS, Ng R, Ho HK, Chan A. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 168(3):713-721 (2018). Association of mitochondrial DNA content in peripheral blood with cancer-related fatigue and chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in early-stage breast cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.
68. Wee XT, Ho LK, Ho HK, Lee JY, Yap CW, William H, Chan LCE, Tay HC, Goh CEM, Tan DS. Clin Cardiol. 40(12):1218-1226 (2017). Incidence of thromboembolic and bleeding events in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: An Asian multicentre retrospective cohort study in Singapore.
69. Ng T, Phey XY, Yeo HL, Shwe M, Gan YX, Ng R, Ho HK, Chan A. Clin Breast Cancer. 18(5):e927-e937 (2018). Impact of adjuvant anthracycline-based and taxane-based chemotherapy on plasma VEGF levels and cognitive function in breast cancer patients: A longitudinal study.
70. Baek JS, Tee JK, Pang YY, Tan EY, Lim KL, Ho HK, Loo SCJ. Neuromolecular Med. 20(20):262-270 (2018). Improved bioavailability of levodopa using floatable spray-coated microcapsules for the management of Parkinson’s Disease.
71. Tan YL, Ho HK. Drug Discovery Today. 23(5):1108-1114 (2018). Navigating albumin-based nanoparticles through various drug delivery routes.
72. Tan JJY, Tee JK, Chou KO, Yong SYA, Pan J, Ho HK, Ho PCL, Kang L. Biomater Sci 6(6):1347-1357 (2018). Impact of substrate stiffness on dermal papilla aggregates in microgels.
73. Zhao C, Lin JS, Choolani M, Dan YY, Pastorin G, Ho HK. J Tiss Eng Regen Med 12(7):1556-1566 (2018). Enhanced hepatic differentiation of human amniotic epithelial cells on polyethylene glycol-linked multi-walled carbon nanotube-coated hydrogels.
74. Tee JK, Peng F, Tan YL, Yu B, Ho HK. Front Pharmacol 25(9):1018 (2018). Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate ameliorates fibrosis and disrupts TGF-b-mediated SMAD pathway in activated hepatic stellate cell line LX-2.
75. Peng F, Tee JK, Setyawati MI, Yeo HLA, Tan YL, Leong DT, Ho HK. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 10(38):31938-31946 (2018). Inorganic nanomaterials as highly efficient inhibitors of cellular hepatic fibrosis.
76. Tan CJ, Lim SWT, Toh YL, Ng T, Yeo A, Shwe M, Foo KM, Chu P, Jain A, Koo SL, Dent RA, Ng RCH, Yap YS, Lim EH, Loh KW, Chay WY, Lee GE, Tan TJY, Beh SY, Wong M, Chan JJ, Khor CC, Ho HK, Chan A. Mol Neurobiol 56(7):4741-4750 (2018). Replication and meta-analysis of the association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and cognitive impairment in patients receiving chemotherapy.
77. Tee JK, Ng LY, Koh HY, Leong DT, Ho HK. Int J Mol Sci 20(1) pii E35 (2018). Titanium dioxide nanoparticles enhance leakiness and drug permeability in primary human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells.
78. Tee JK Peng F, Ho HK. Biochem Pharmacol 160:24-33 (2019). Effects of inorganic nanoparticles on liver fibrosis: Optimizing a double-edged sword for therapeutics.
79. Peng F. Setyawati MI, Tee JK, Ding X, Wang J, Nga ME, Ho HK, Leong DT. Nature Nanotech 14(3):279-286 (2019). Nanoparticles promote in vivo breast cancer cell intravasation and extravasation by inducing endothelial leakiness.
80. Tee JK, Setyawati MI, Peng F, Leong DT, Ho HK. Nanotoxicology 13(5):682-700 (2019). Angiopoietin-1 accelerates restoration of endothelial cell barrier integrity from nanoparticle-induced leakiness.
81. Toh YL, Tan CJ, Yeo AHL, Shwe M, Ho HK, Gan YX, Foo KM, Chu P, Olson K, Chan A. J Cell Mol Med 23(6):4281-2489 (2019). Association of plasma leptin, pro-inflammatory adipokines and cancer-related fatigue in early-stage breast cancer patients: a prospective cohort study.
82. Tee JK, Yip LX, Tan ES, Santitewagun S, Prasath A, Ke PC, Ho HK, Leong DT. Chem Soc Rev 48(21):5381-5407. Nanoparticles’ interactions with vasculature in diseases.
83. Tan DS, Aw JWX, Winther M, Goh LL, Ong HY, Wee E, Liu J, Ho HK. J Clin Pharm Ther 45(1):52-58 (2020). CYP2C19 phenotype in South-East Asian acute coronary syndrome patients and impact on major adverse cardiovascular events.
84. Toh YL, Wang C, Ho HK, Chan A. J Neuroimmunol. 342:577196 (2020). Distinct cytokine profiles across trajectories of self-perceived cognitive impairment among early-stage breast cancer survivors.
85. Boey A, Ho HK. Small. 16(21):e2000153 (2020). All roads lead to the liver: Metal nanoparticles and their implications for liver health.
86. Koh YQ, Tan CJ, Toh YL, Sze SK, Ho HK, Limoli CL, Chan A. Int J Mol Sci. 21(8):2755 (2020). Role of exosomes in cancer-related cognitive impairment.
87. Toh YL, Pang YY, Shwe M, Kanesvaran R, Toh CK, Chan A, Ho HK. Heliyon. 6(4):e03813 (2020). HPLC-MS/MS coupled with equilibrium dialysis method for quantification of free drug concentration of pazopanib in plasma.
88. Goh ZH, Tee JK, Ho HK. Int J Mol Sci 21(10):3714 (2020) An evaluation of the in vitro roles and mechanisms of silibinin in reducing pyrazinamide- and isoniazid-induced hepatocellular damage.
89. Yap NY, Tan NYT, Tan CJ, Loh KW, Ng RCH, Ho HK, Chan A. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 183(3):683-696 (2020). Associations of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) with long-term cancer-related cognitive impairment in survivors of breast cancer.
90. Tan YL, Ho HK. Cells. 9(11):2354 (2020). Hypothermia Advocates Functional Mitochondria and Alleviates Oxidative Stress to Combat Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity. 
91. Yap NY, Loo WS, Zheng HF, Tan QM, Tan TK, Quek LYP, Tan CJ, Toh YL, Ng CC, Ang SK, Tan VKM, Ho HK, Chew L, Loh KW, Tan TJY, Chan A. Trials. 21(1):909 (2020). A study protocol for HEalth-Related quality of life-intervention in survivors of Breast and other cancers experiencing cancer-related fatigue using TraditionAL Chinese Medicine: the HERBAL trial. 
92. Tan YL, Tey SM, Ho HK. Dose Response. 18(4):1559325820970846 (2020). Moderate Hypothermia Effectively Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury With Prolonged Action Beyond Cooling. 
    
93. Koh YQ, Ng DQ, Ng CC, Boey A, Wei M, Sze SK, Ho HK, Acharya M, Limoli CL, Chan A. Biomark Insights. 16:11772719211018204 (2021). Extracellular Vesicle Proteome of Breast Cancer Patients with and Without Cognitive Impairment Following Anthracycline-based Chemotherapy: An Exploratory Study. 
94. Tan YL, Nga ME, Ho HK. Sci Rep. 11(1):18620 (2021). In vivo demonstration of a novel non-invasive model for inducing localized hypothermia to ameliorate hepatotoxicity. 
95. Boey A, Leong SQ, Bhave S, Ho HK. Int J Mol Sci. 22(21):11777 (2021). Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Alleviate Hepatic Fibrosis Phenotypes In Vitro. 
96. Bhave S, Ho HK. Biomedicines. 9(12):1776 (2021). Exploring the Gamut of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases for Their Promise in the Management of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. 
97. Koh YQ, Sin YAD, Rong HJ, Chua THS, Ho SS, Ho HK. Heliyon. 8(8):e10131 (2022). Evaluation of anthoxanthins and their actions on digestive enzyme inhibition when used independently and in combination. 
98. Chan A, Cheng I, Wang C, Tan CJ, Toh YL, Ng DQ, Koh YQ, Zhou H, Foo KM, Chan RJ, Ho HK, Chew L, Farid M, Tannock I. Cancer Med. 10.1002/cam4.5295 (2022). Cognitive impairment in adolescent and young adult cancer patients: Pre-treatment findings of a longitudinal study [published online ahead of print, 2022 Oct 11]. 

Education-related publications

1. Chan ECY, Ho HK. Technology in Education, online (2011). Investigation of online computer-based formative assessment and traditional closed-book paper-based assessment in pharmacy undergraduate teaching.
2. Ho HK. Asian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2016). Exploring the etiology of for grade moderation: Is there a place for prophylaxis.
3. Ho HK, Chng HT. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 13(5):536-543 (2021). Stirring deep thinking and learning through student-designed assessment problems.