THE TEAM

Senior Management Team

CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER

A/Professor Mahesh Choolani

Associate Professor Choolani is the principle Founder of INEX. He served as Chairman since the company’s inception in 2006 and was a key driver in the successful development of INEX from a small biotech start-up to a leading women’s health diagnostic company. In February 2014, he continued as Founder Director and manages the strategic and scientific objectives of the company.

A/Professor Choolani leads the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at the National University Hospital (NUH), where he and his team were instrumental in the development of the breakthrough FlashFISH™ technology. FlashFISH™ is a rapid diagnostic test performed during amniocentesis that can detect Down syndrome in unborn babies within three hours. The technology put Singapore on the world map as being the first country to offer Same-Day Prenatal Diagnosis.

A/Professor Choolani received the Benjamin Henry Sheares’ Memorial Lecture Award in 2010 for his outstanding work in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has also been awarded the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Clinician Scientist award for his outstanding contribution to research.
A/Professor Choolani has published over 100 articles and abstracts in notable journals and currently chairs the National University of Singapore’s Leadership in Academic Medicine Clinician Scientist Unit and the National Healthcare Group’s Clinician Leadership Research programme.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sidney Yee

Dr. Sidney is founding CEO of Diagnostic Development Hub (DxD Hub) at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and continues to serve as Advisor to A*STAR's Innovation & Enterprise division. She first joined A*STAR as the head for its Investments and Startup Management division under Exploit Technologies (later re-named Innovation and Enterprise). Dr. Sidney strategizes and develops frameworks that support start-up activities related to technologies and innovations, including setting up A*STARTCentral, a pioneering deep tech open innovation lab. A*STARTCentral is Asia's first lifesciences innovation centre, which has incubated and supported many biotech and medtech companies, including EngineBio, MediSix etc.

During COVID-19 pandemic, DxD Hub helped to develop and deploy a number of COVID-19 diagnostics products within weeks. These included conventional RT-PCR test Fortitude, serological test cPass, direct PCR test RESOLUTE, as well as data analytics software such as INSPECTA, and other medical devices for diagnostics and lab workflow efficiency. These products were deployed in more than 45 countries globally during the pandemic.

While at DxD Hub, she co-founded and co-lead the ASEAN Diagnostics Initiative to spearhead ASEAN-wide collaborations, one of which was the regional sero-surveillance study on COVID vaccines. Dr. Sidney was inaugural lead of Singapore's Diagnostics Co-Operative of the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness And Response (PREPARE). PREPARE is Singapore's national platform focusing on strengthening mid- to long-term R&D capabilities to prevent, prepare for and respond to future epidemics.

A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Sidney co-founded, invested and mentored a number of startups in the biotech and healthtech space. During her tenure at EDB Investments, Dr. Sidney led several early-stage investments in genomics, drug development and medical devices. Some of her investment portfolio included Paradigm Therapeutics (acquired by Takeda), and Vanda Pharma (Nasdaq).

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Dr. Chia Pin Chang

Dr. Chia-Pin Chang leads technical development and collaborator activities in INEX. Before joining INEX, Dr. Chang was a Principal Investigator in Agency of Science and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, where his research interests include developing biochemical sensors and in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) devices for human disease detection. Several of his works have been licensed to industry partners for commercialization.

Dr. Chang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Doctor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.

LABORATORY DIRECTOR

Dr. Sherry Ho

Dr. Sherry Ho pursued her PhD in Molecular Diagnostics from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University of Singapore after a 4-year stint as Medical Technologist in Cytogenetics, Parkway Laboratory Pte Ltd.

She developed a strong interest and expertise in women’s healthcare, in particular, prenatal testing. Her achievements include several scientific awards in various conferences including a Young Scientist Award in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), as well as two patents in the field. She was a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow for 7 years in a reference molecular diagnostic laboratory in the National University Hospital where she developed and validated several new tests for routine testing. She is also a trained CAP inspector and is lending her expertise in quality assurance within iGene Laboratory.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

Lee Chiang Loke

Board of Directors

TED TAN

Mr. Ted Tan has over 30 years of public and private sector experience in policy making, programme development, leadership, coaching and mentoring, governance, and risk management.

Formerly the  Deputy CEO of Enterprise Singapore, an agency under the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Tan stood down in September 2021 and is now an Enterprise Fellow of Enterprise Singapore. Additionally, Mr. Tan is the Operating Partner of Heliconia Capital Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings that provides growth capital for SMEs.

Mr. Tan has been appointed as a Board Director of Singapore SGX Mainboard-listed Q&M Dental Group, and Board Director of China Life Insurance (Singapore) – a subsidiary of China Life Insurance Group, a Fortune 500 company. He is also the Chairman of IPI that catalyses innovation and Board Director of SEEDS Capital that invests in innovative startups.

Mr. Tan has been appointed an Adjunct Associate Professor of the Nanyang Business School at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

In 2012, Mr. Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) by the Singapore government.

KANE BLACK

Mr. Black launched his career with Adtec Corporation K.K., a semiconductor trading company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which is now known as AKIBA Holdings (6840:Tokyo). He later became the Director of International Markets, based in London. In 2005, he played a key role in the acquisition of Adtec Corporation by Shinden Hightex Corporation, an electronic component manufacturer and trading conglomerate also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

As an seasoned technology entrepreneur, Mr. Black has a diverse international background in senior and executive leadership roles across the technology, biotechnology, medical device, and healthcare investment sectors worldwide.

In 2012, he co-founded Nova Satra Health Sdn. Bhd. to pursue advancements in medical technology. In 2014 this venture led to the creation of Nova Satra Dx Pte Ltd., a women’s health focused molecular diagnostic company based in Singapore. In 2019, Nova Satra Dx merged with INEX Innovations Exchange, rebranding as INEX Innovate, where Mr. Black was appointed CEO. He led the company for almost five years before transitioning to a Non-Executive Director role on the Board.

In 2022 Mr. Black was honoured with the Ernst & Young Singapore Entrepreneur of the Year award – Biotechnology.

Currently, Mr. Black serves as Chief Executive Officer of Ikigai Ventures Limited (LSE:IKIV), a Special Purpose Acquisition Company listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

Mr. Black holds degrees in International Business and Business Administration from Bond University and Griffith University, Australia and is a Singapore Permanent Resident.

A/PROFESSOR MAHESH CHOOLANI

Associate Professor Choolani is the principle Founder of INEX. He served as Chairman since the company’s inception in 2006 and was a key driver in the successful development of INEX from a small biotech start-up to a leading women’s health diagnostic company. In February 2014, he continued as Founder Director and manages the strategic and scientific objectives of the company.

A/Professor Choolani leads the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at the National University Hospital (NUH), where he and his team were instrumental in the development of the breakthrough FlashFISH™ technology. FlashFISH™ is a rapid diagnostic test performed during amniocentesis that can detect Down syndrome in unborn babies within three hours. The technology put Singapore on the world map as being the first country to offer Same-Day Prenatal Diagnosis.

A/Professor Choolani received the Benjamin Henry Sheares’ Memorial Lecture Award in 2010 for his outstanding work in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has also been awarded the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Clinician Scientist award for his outstanding contribution to research.

A/Professor Choolani has published over 100 articles and abstracts in notable journals and currently chairs the National University of Singapore’s Leadership in Academic Medicine Clinician Scientist Unit and the National Healthcare Group’s Clinician Leadership Research programme.

KONG HAN TAN

Mr. Tan is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Malaysian conglomerate Genting Berhad and Chief Executive of Genting Plantations Berhad. Mr. Tan has extensive experience in investment banking, leisure, gaming, real estate and medical technologies.

He is also a director of Singapore based Alzheimer’s research company TauRx Pharmaceuticals, U.K Based next generation sequencing company DNAe Group and U.S based Elevance Renewable Sciences amongst others. He was called to the English Bar (Lincoln’s Inn) in 1989 and the Malaysian Bar in 1990.

KOK HWEE SIM

Mr Sim is the Group Executive Director of Zicom Group Limited, Managing Director of iPtec Pte Ltd, and Chief Executive Officer of Zicom MedTacc Pte Ltd, a company focusing on investments and acceleration of early stage medical technologies companies. Both companies are supported by SPRING Singapore. His directorships in medtech companies include Biobot Surgical Pte Ltd, a spinoff from SingHealth and NTU that has developed a robotic platform for performing transperineal prostate biopsy; and Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd, a spinoff from A*Star.

Mr. Sim graduated with a Bachelor in Industrial and Operations Engineering (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA and a Masters in Financial Engineering from Columbia University, New York, USA.

DR. SIDNEY YEE

Dr. Sidney is founding CEO of Diagnostic Development Hub (DxD Hub) at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and continues to serve as Advisor to A*STAR’s Innovation & Enterprise division. She first joined A*STAR as the head for its Investments and Startup Management division under Exploit Technologies (later re-named Innovation and Enterprise). Dr. Sidney strategizes and develops frameworks that support start-up activities related to technologies and innovations, including setting up A*STARTCentral, a pioneering deep tech open innovation lab. A*STARTCentral is Asia’s first lifesciences innovation centre, which has incubated and supported many biotech and medtech companies, including EngineBio, MediSix etc.

 

During COVID-19 pandemic, DxD Hub helped to develop and deploy a number of COVID-19 diagnostics products within weeks. These included conventional RT-PCR test Fortitude, serological test cPass, direct PCR test RESOLUTE, as well as data analytics software such as INSPECTA, and other medical devices for diagnostics and lab workflow efficiency. These products were deployed in more than 45 countries globally during the pandemic.

 

While at DxD Hub, she co-founded and co-lead the ASEAN Diagnostics Initiative to spearhead ASEAN-wide collaborations, one of which was the regional sero-surveillance study on COVID vaccines. Dr. Sidney was inaugural lead of Singapore’s Diagnostics Co-Operative of the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness And Response (PREPARE). PREPARE is Singapore’s national platform focusing on strengthening mid- to long-term R&D capabilities to prevent, prepare for and respond to future epidemics.

 

A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Sidney co-founded, invested and mentored a number of startups in the biotech and healthtech space. During her tenure at EDB Investments, Dr. Sidney led several early-stage investments in genomics, drug development and medical devices. Some of her investment portfolio included Paradigm Therapeutics (acquired by Takeda), and Vanda Pharma (Nasdaq).

PANG XUE BIN - BOARD OBSERVER

Mr Pang is a Board Observer representing shareholder Enterprise Singapore’s SEED’s Capital Pte Ltd. Mr Pang has prior experience working in various startups and had spent time developing his appreciation for deep-tech ventures within the Investments team at SGInnovate, and now, SEEDS Capital, to continue growing the deep-tech ecosystem in Singapore.

Scientific Board of Advisors

PROF. RICHARD CHOY PH.D. FIBMS, reg MT(HKMLTB)

Dr. Richard Choy brings more than 18 years of medical genetics, lab diagnostics test accreditations, business development and commercial operation in clinical laboratory services. He is an Associate Professor at Dept. of O&G, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Founded the CUHK Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis Centre and Pre-implanataion Genetic Laboratory (now #1 in Asia in microarray-based prenatal testing) and established the NATA-accredited  and CAP-accredited molecular and cytogenetics diagnostics laboratories.

Prof Choy is experienced in implementing a broad range of molecular diagnostic tests including cytogenetics, NIPT, CMA and  low-pass whole genome sequencing analysis for Prenatal Diagnosis and Pre-implantation genetic testing. He is a board member of the Hong Kong Society of Medical Genetics and holds the Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis License in Hong Kong.

DR. KHALIL RAZVI MBBCh BAO, LRCPI. LRCSI, MMED (O&G), FAMS, FRCOG

Dr. Khalil Razvi is a consultant gynaecological oncologist at Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He has held leadership and administrative roles in the NHS including Clinical Director for the Obstetrics & Gynaecology department and Director for Women & Children. He is the lead Colposcopist in Southend Hospital and has led the Gynaecological Oncology service for South Essex.

He is actively involved in research with over 30 peer reviewed publications and over 50 conference publications. He is a co-inventor in 2 international patents for research into rapid diagnosis of fetal conditions and ovarian cancer. His main research interest is in Ovarian Cancer Diagnostics and Enhanced Recovery following major gynaecological surgery. He is currently involved in novel research using opto-magnetic imaging spectroscopy for cancer diagnostics.

Dr Razvi is a leading advocate in raising awareness of gynaecological cancers and has worked closely with ovarian cancer charities in the UK (Target Ovarian Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action). He has also co-founded a gynaecological cancer charity in Essex called COPES (Cervical Ovarian Perineal Endometrial Support) which currently provides support for women who have gynaecological cancers as well as their families.

He mentors junior doctors during training especially in the performance of gynaecological surgery. He is a faculty member of the Anatomy of Complications Workshop in Singapore which trains surgeons in the prevention and management of surgical complications.

He is active in teaching and is an examiner for the MBBS exam in Queen Mary, University of London. He was previously an examiner for the National University of Singapore (MBBS, MMed exams) as well as the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (MRANZCOG).

PROF. ARIJIT BISWAS MBBS, MD, FRCOG, FAMS

Professor Arijit Biswas obtained his basic MBBS degree from Calcutta University, India where he was awarded the Gold Medal in aggregate as well as in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Pathology. He started his postgraduate training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India in 1981 and continued further advanced specialist training in UK from 1987. He obtained his MD in 1986 and MRCOG (UK) in 1989. He obtained the FAMS in 1999 and became a Fellow of the Royal College in UK (FRCOG) in 2001.

His current practice at the NUH includes all areas of general obstetrics & gynaecology, heading the Fetal Care Centre in the hospital. His special interest is in the areas of prenatal diagnosis, antenatal ultrasound and high-risk pregnancies. He headed the Maternal-Fetal Medicine division of the department for 24 years from 1992 till 2016 and was also the President of College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists Singapore (COGS) from 2015 till May 2017. Prof Biswas is currently the Chairman of Residency Advisory Committee, Ministry of Health, Singapore and the Clinical Director of the department in NUHS.

He was awarded National Outstanding Clinician Award 2017 by the Ministry of Health to recognise his contributions for innovations in healthcare, patient safety, clinical quality, biomedical research as well as training and education of clinicians.

DR. SAFEDIN “SAJO” BEQAJ PHD, HCLD, CC (ABB)

Dr. Sajo Beqaj is board certified in molecular pathology and is a board certified clinical consultant. He has been practicing as a laboratory director since 2005.

He received his PhD in pathology from Wayne State University Medical School, Detroit, Michigan. He performed his post-doctoral fellowship at Abbott Laboratories from 2001-2003. He continued his career as a Research Assistant Professor at Children’s Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois until 2005 when he joined Path Group Labs, Nashville, Tennessee as Laboratory Director in molecular diagnostics. In 2008 he joined DCL Medical Laboratories as Laboratory Director for Clinical Pathology where he was responsible for clinical laboratory operations and technical operations including development and implementation of new tests and technologies.

Although he is a board certified high-complexity laboratory director and oversees all clinical pathology operations, his field of expertise is in molecular diagnostics and genetic testing. He has served as a teacher assistant at pathology department at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, visiting professor of molecular diagnostics at Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee; and as an adjunct professor of anatomy and physiology at Nashville State Community College, Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Beqaj has published more than 20 medical textbook chapters and journal articles. In addition, he has presented various scientific clinical abstracts and has conducted clinical trials for several well-known pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies.

He is a member of numerous medical and scientific associations including the Association of Molecular Pathology, American Association of Clinical Chemistry and the Pan Am Society for Clinical Virology. He has served on a number of clinical laboratory regulatory and scientific committees.