WOMAN OF THE YEAR - Professor Jackie Ying is on a tireless mission to solve real-world problems with revolutionary solutions

The renowned and internationally acclaimed scientist 1S effecting socioeconomic change with her research: Her World’s Woman of the Year 2023 winner, Professor Jackie Ying founder of A*Star’s Nanobio Lab and co-founder of Cellbae is indefatigable in her pursuit of ways to improve lives through sectors from biomedical sciences to agritechnologuy.

- Chelsia Tan

When Professor Jackie Yi-Ru Ying and her team discovered a material that would help diabetic patients autoregulate their intake of insulin, it caught the attention of the medical and scientific communities worldwide.

The material (stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles) led to a technology that autoregulates the release of insulin based on the patient’s blood glucose levels – allowing it to be delivered orally or by nasal passage without the need for injections. In turn, this would help prevent hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic conditions in diabetic patients.

Scientists are a “rebellious” bunch, quips the 57-year-old, who is the founder of A*Star’s Nanobio Lab. Having a mindset that challenges conventional wisdom is vital to innovative research, says Prof Ying. “To break new grounds, scientists need to explore novel ideas and pursue what may be deemed by most as unattainable. It requires a fearless ‘can do’ spirit, and lots of passion and perseverance.”

At Nanobio Lab, she oversees a team of over 25 research staff across various disciplines at the research incubator, which develops solutions for medicine, energy and food security.

Prof Ying’s research in nanotech spans biomaterials (for drug delivery systems and stem cell culture), diagnostic assays (such as rapid test kits for infectious diseases), safer and better energy storage, and agritech (for improved seed germination and plant growth), among others.

Brilliance, passion and dedication – the all-important trinity of success – has been integral in establishing Prof Ying as one of the world’s leading scientists. But what truly makes her revolutionary is her unflinching determination in challenging the status quo.