Kaw Bing CHUA, MD, Ph.D. Adjunct Senior Principal Investigator

Dr K. B. Chua graduated from the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1979 with a MBBS degree. He obtained the MRCP (Paediatrics) from U.K. in 1983 and the Master of Medicine degree (Paediatrics) from the National University of Singapore in 1984. Subsequently, he obtained the Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Malaya in 1998, and both MRCPath from U.K. and FRCP from Edinburgh in 1999. He received his Ph.D (Distinction) in Molecular Virology from the University of Malaya in 2002 and FRCPath from U.K. in 2007.

Dr. Chua’s professional career began as a house-officer and medical officer in the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, from 1979 to 1983. He worked as a consultant paediatrician from 1984 to 1994, first with the Chinese Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, followed by the Lady Templer Specialist Centre in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, then with the Pertama Specialist Centre, Kuala Lumpur. In 1994, he joined the University of Malaya, his alma mater, as a lecturer and subsequently Associate Professor. From 2002 to 2003, he was appointed at the International Medical University as a Professor of Paediatrics and Medical Microbiology. From 2003, he served as a consultant clinical virologist with the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

During his tenure in the Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Dr Chua was the key person instrumental in establishing the aetiological agents causing the outbreak of Hand-Foot-Mouth disease with fatal encephalomyelitis in 1997 and 2000; outbreak of chikungunya in Klang valley in 1999, and outbreak of Nipah virus in 1998/1999. His pursuit to establish the natural reservoir of Nipah virus led to his discovery of another new paramyxovirus (Tioman virus), a new orthoreovirus (Pulau virus), and a new bacterium named Waddlia malaysiensis. During his tenure in the National Public Health Laboratory, he isolated four more novel viruses in his quest to search for potential infectious agents of acute respiratory diseases of aetiology yet to be known

In 2011, Dr Chua joined Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL) as a Senior Director in Strategic Research Project (SRP). He was last employed as Senior Principal Investigator until 31 August 2023. You may wish to contact Dr CHUA Kaw Bing at chuakb@tll.org.sg.

Research Interests

His research area and interest is primarily driven by his desire to serve society through solving the problem of infectious diseases affecting humans, especially those in the region. At this juncture, the three priority areas closest to his heart are; 

• Development of an oral live attenuated enterovirus 71 (EV71) vaccine for future prevention and control of outbreak of hand foot and mouth disease due to EV71 especially those associated with deathly involvement of the central nervous system.
• Explore an improved approach to reduce dengue virus infection and transmission in the community.
• Explore new approach of developing animal model to study pathogenesis and diseases of human viruses.