Bat expert joins grad medical school

Eminent researcher leads infectious diseases programme at Duke-NUS
Grace Chua Straits Times 6 Jul 12;

NOT many researchers can say that their lab work inspired a medical thriller film.

But Professor Wang Linfa's groundbreaking studies of bat viruses contributed to the 2011 movie Contagion, in which a bat virus is transmitted to humans.

Prof Wang, 52, is the new director of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School's emerging infectious diseases programme. On July 1, he took over from Professor Duane Gubler, who will continue with his tropical medicine research at Duke-NUS.

The China-born, California- trained Australian, based for the last two decades at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, helped identify the Hendra virus that killed horses and a trainer in Queensland in 1994. He traced its origin to fruit bats in the area.

He also led the World Health Organisation team that tracked the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus back to bats in 2005, though civet cats were the direct source of the human infection.

Professor Mariano Garcia-Blanco, who co-led the search for a new director, said Prof Wang embodies a 'rare combination' of leadership, outstanding scientific research in emerging infectious diseases, and respect and understanding of various cultures.

The committee asked some 100 people if they were interested in the post, or to recommend someone. Seven were shortlisted, he added, and Prof Wang stood out.

As the new director, Prof Wang said his experience dealing with unknown animal viruses complements the five-year-old programme's existing strengths in dengue, influenza and other aspects of infectious disease.

In the next five years, he aims to consolidate what the programme is doing and recruit three more faculty members - preferably medical doctors.

The programme already monitors local bird and bat populations for viruses, and has done so for about a year.

He also wants the infectious diseases community here - comprising entities such as the Health Ministry, which monitors illnesses like mosquito-borne dengue fever; the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, which checks domesticated animals for diseases such as bird flu; and public and private research institutes - to work together more closely.

His efforts started even before he took the job. 'I met 100 people before I signed on the dotted line.'

He hopes to beef up local and regional emergency responses to new diseases that could spread quickly with globalisation.

Hence, clear policy is vital, he said. In Australia, for example, local government scientists who are unable to identify a virus must send specimens to the country's central lab within 48 hours. Without such policies, local vets and scientists might hold on to samples and not share information.

Detecting and identifying new pathogens early, and showing clear links between diseases and pathogens, is another priority.

Prof Wang said: 'With Singapore's technologies and skills, if we work together, we can be as competitive as Australia or the US.'