NTU SBS is proud to share that one of our undergraduate, Chester Ng has been awarded the Highly Commended Entrant of the 2023 Global Undergraduate Awards, under the category of Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Care.
Cited as the ultimate championship of high-potential undergraduates and often referred to as a “junior Nobel Prize”, the Global Undergraduate Awards is the world’s largest international academic awards programme, recognising excellent research and original work across the sciences, humanities, business and creative arts.
The Highly Commended Entrant recognises papers or projects ranked in the top 10% of submissions in their category.
Chester Ng, pictured here with Dr Zhao Yan (left) and Associate Professor Linda Zhong (right)
Ng Yan Jie, Chester, B.Sc in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine (Double Degree), Year 4
- Award Category: Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Healthcare
- Research Title: The effectiveness of acupuncture in improving common diabetic parameters in mature adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Research Description: Investigating the effects of acupuncture in the management of diabetic parameters using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach
- Supervisor: Dr Zhao Yan
We check in with Chester, who’s currently studying at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM) as part of his 5-year double-degree programme.
Hi Chester! How’s it going in Beijing so far?
Life in Beijing has been good so far! It is definitely an eye-opening experience here in Beijing Dongfang Hospital, where we are exposed to more complex illnesses and treatment methods!
Can you briefly share about your research that won you the Global Undergraduate Awards?
This piece of work was part of my URECA Project under the supervision of Dr Zhao Yan, where we aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture in the management of diabetic parameters using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. It has also been a great privilege to receive the Global Undergraduate Awards, Highly Commended Award, for the second year in a row.
You also first authored a review article this year as an undergraduate, can you tell us more about that?
This piece of work was done with the supervision of my supervisor, Prof Linda Zhong. It is the first paper I have authored, and as a first author as an undergraduate. Through this review, we aimed to explore the applications of Chinese Medicine “Medicine and Food Homology” （药食同源）theory in the management of post-COVID disorders. We have identified a list of Chinese Herbal Medicines which can be consumed as medicinal food, which could be integrated into one’s diets, especially for those experiencing post-COVID disorders to alleviate their respective symptoms. It has been a privilege to have this paper published in a Q1 journal as well, Frontiers in Immunology.
Can you briefly share about your current research, if any?
Currently, I am working on a few projects with Prof Zhong’s group. Our latest projects aim to delve into Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and how CM-related interventions might be useful in the long-term management of this disease.
Can you share some of your experiences and memorable moments at SBS?
One of the most memorable experiences in SBS thus far was definitely the orientations! As the batch that enrolled in SBS when COVID began, we were not able to experience physical orientations in Year 1. However, when physical orientations returned in 2022, participating in SBS Transition and Orientation Programme in 2022 as a Group Leader as well was definitely a memorable experience!
What would you say is your biggest achievement so far in SBS, and what do you hope to achieve in the years ahead?
I believe this achievement is my biggest thus far in SBS, to be able to first-author an article as an undergraduate, and in an esteemed scientific journal. In the years ahead, I hope to be able to contribute to the TCM community in Singapore as well in the form of TCM-related research.
Can you share with us a little nugget of your life as a student at BUCM?
As a Year 4 student in BUCM, most of our time now is spent having lessons. We also have intern sessions where we shadow the physicians here during their consultations, to deepen our understanding outside of the classroom. Come Year 5 next year, we will embark on full-time intern sessions where we will consolidate our knowledge gained over the past 4 years and put it into practice in daily consults in different hospital departments. During the time-off from school, we also try to take the chance to travel around Beijing and China to explore!
Lastly, do you have any advice for anyone looking to pursue a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine at SBS like you?
No doubt, this Double Degree course is a daunting one and filled with challenges. Nevertheless, if you have a deep interest in CM, this course is definitely a fulfilling one, and it will be a rewarding experience for sure!