SCELSE - a biofilm & microbiome research centre in NTU & NUS
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scelse.bsky.social
SCELSE - a biofilm & microbiome research centre in NTU & NUS
@scelse.bsky.social
80 followers 7 following 66 posts
SCELSE advances sustainability and translational impact through cutting-edge research and innovative solutions, driving progress in:
• Healthcare,
• Industry,
• Society, and
• Environment
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scelse.bsky.social
SCELSE research, featured in the Straits Times, shows a new way to potentially help chronic wounds heal by disarming E. faecalis with catalase — reducing infection risk and potential amputations without antibiotics. L–R: Prof Kimberly Kline, Dr Aaron Tan Ming Zhi, Assoc Prof Guillaume Thibault
See - https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/spore-study-finds-new-way-to-disarm-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-speed-up-healing-of-chronic-wounds
January 20, 2026 at 10:18 AM
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Discover how SCELSE advanced biofilm & microbiome research in FY2024. From top-ranked publications to education, industry engagement, and real-world impact. Scan to read the SCELSE Year in Review flipbook now.
@fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social @drlauranolan.bsky.social
January 15, 2026 at 9:49 AM
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Check out this 2-minute video on the SCELSE-Haleon-PC Biome MOU signing ceremony which underscores how microbiome science moves from lab to translation-ready health solutions. Explore partnerships with SCELSE today! #SCELSEImpact @fillouxlab.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Qz...
SCELSE, Haleon & PC Biome Form Strategic Partnership in Microbiome Health
YouTube video by SCELSE
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:36 AM
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From generous spreads to laughter-filled games, the SCELSE year-end party reminded us that taking time to celebrate together matters. Wishing all a refreshing break and a strong 2026 ahead. Happy New Year! @fillouxlab.bsky.social @cwhitch.bsky.social @drlauranolan.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
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SCELSE is in the news! Check out the story - Haleon taps into tripartite partnership to drive microbiome R&D in Singapore- by Koe T. in NutraIngredients: www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2025...
December 11, 2025 at 5:57 AM
scelse.bsky.social
Registration is open for the SJINML Public Lecture with Dr Margaret McFall-Ngai: The Power of Symbiosis in Shaping Our Biosphere. If you’ve wondered about sustainability or if probiotics really work, this talk may have the answer.
3 Dec, SMU. Light refreshments available.
December 1, 2025 at 6:34 AM
scelse.bsky.social
Prof Cynthia Whitchurch @cwhitch.bsky.social, SCELSE Research Director, is a keynote speaker at the Asia-Pacific Biofilm Conference 2026, presenting “When death becomes a biofilm”. Registration and abstract submissions are now open — join the region’s biofilm community in Melbourne.
December 1, 2025 at 6:13 AM
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Congratulations Prof Alain Filloux on being elected Fellow of the International Engineering and Technology Institute (IETI). This honour recognises his leadership in microbiology and his global contributions to advancing biofilm and microbiome science. @fillouxlab.bsky.social
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 AM
scelse.bsky.social
World AMR Awareness Week calls us to act now. At the SCELSE retreat, PhD student Alicia Pek, supervised by Prof Cynthia Whitchurch, showed how cell wall-deficient P. aeruginosa reveals a vulnerability that boosts antibiotic & non-antibiotic activity.
#WorldAMRWeek #AMR #SCELSE @cwhitch.bsky.social
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.
November 21, 2025 at 1:18 PM
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Two intense days underscored SCELSE’s strength in true multi-disciplinarity — broad enough to collaborate, deep enough to push boundaries. A retreat filled with ideas across health, climate, and food. Kudos to Prof Whitchurch @cwhitch.bsky.social for organising a strong event.
November 20, 2025 at 7:46 AM
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SCELSE’s annual Scientific Retreat begins tomorrow. Two days of presentations, posters, and breakout discussions will sharpen the next phase of our biofilm and microbiome research aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. @cwhitch.bsky.social @fillouxlab.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
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Join SCELSE's Prof Cynthia Whitchurch @cwhitch.bsky.social in welcoming Prof Edward Ruby at this SCELSE Seminar on 4 Dec 2025
November 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM
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November 17, 2025 at 11:29 AM
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November 17, 2025 at 11:28 AM
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‪Manila Central University visited SCELSE to explore collaboration and tour our sequencing, bioreactor & imaging facilities. Group pix (L–R): PAAC NUS's Arthur Ng, MCU's Beverly Bas, Carlo Monterey, Dr Ramil Flores, Dr Charmaine Ng, SCELSE’s Maria Yung, James Ho & SNBC’s Sheela Reuben.
How can regional universities collaborate to strengthen knowledge exchange and nurture young talents in healthcare through biofilm and microbiome research? This question shaped the visit by Manila Central University (MCU) representatives to SCELSE, where they explored opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration. The MCU delegation concluded their tour with a visit to SCELSE’s sequencing, bioreactor, and advanced biofilm imaging facilities. SCELSE is grateful to MCU for gifting us with their commemorative publication, “Gifts of Grace – The Manila Central University Celebrates 100 Years of Heritage.” Our sincere thanks also to SCELSE's Justine Dacanay and Yong Hwee FOO for their excellent facilitation of the laboratory tours held on 4 November 2024.
November 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
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SCELSE hosted Lincoln Agritech, a leading NZ research & innovation company, to explore how biofilm and microbiome insights can translate into sustainable, real-world applications. (L–R): James Ho, Anya Hornsey, Prof Travis Glare, Sheela Rueben & Prof Stefan Wuertz. #SCELSE #LincolnAgritech
November 10, 2025 at 6:34 AM
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Prof Cynthia Whitchurch, SCELSE Research Director and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, joins AMR Research Symposium 2025 to share insights on bacterial biofilms, antibiotic tolerance & host colonization. Scan to register. #AMR #Biofilms #SCELSE @cwhitch.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 5:38 AM
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To know about #FMT is one thing — but to speak with experts pioneering it is another. SCELSE's Prof Cynthia Whitchurch @cwhitch.bsky.social visited Sydney's Microbiome Research Centre, to explore gut microbiome links to mental health and disease for future collaborations.
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)
November 5, 2025 at 4:55 AM
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Happening right now! SCELSE’s MSOs let their hair down at the party of the year! Here’s to celebrating NTU’s contribution to nation building!
October 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM
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Singapore’s first high seas research mission sets sail!
Two SCELSE-NTU Dr Jeslyn Poo & Dr Yvonne Hii researchers join the OceanX expedition to uncover how tiny ocean microbes regulate our planet’s climate and more. Watch the launch: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSeu...
#OceanX #SCELSE #SingaporeResearch
“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.
October 29, 2025 at 2:11 AM
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SCELSE hosted Global Officers from the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research to explore collaboration on biofouling & biocorrosion. “Collaborations like these are key to developing our research into practical solutions that protect marine environments,” said SCELSE Dr Stephen Summers (in red shirt).
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.
October 28, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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Join Dr Ezequiel Santillan, Senior PM, SCELSE & LoopForBio, CEO at 'From Lab to Launch: Turning Your Research Into Revenue' — an evening on transforming ideas into impact.
📅 22 Oct 2025 | 🕕 6–8:30 PM
Register: event.ntu.edu.sg/nationalgrip...
October 13, 2025 at 6:25 AM
scelse.bsky.social
Dr Stephen Summers reveals how “plastispheres” — microbial worlds on plastics — threaten ecosystems, food chains, and our health in this commentary on Channel News Asia. www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/p...

#SCELSEImpact #PlasticPollution #Microbiome #AMR #Sustainability
Commentary: Plastic pollution isn’t just trash – it’s alive with microbes that threaten our health
Plastics will not only choke coastlines but also incubate antibiotic resistance, disrupt food webs and infiltrate the human body, says SCELSE researcher Stephen Summers.
www.channelnewsasia.com
October 9, 2025 at 5:24 AM
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September 24, 2025 at 9:14 AM