Tel (65) 66016864
Email kohwp@nus.edu.sg

Dr Koh received her MBBS (Honours) from NUS, her PhD in immunology from the University of Sydney, Australia, and postdoctoral training in epidemiology from the University of Southern California in USA.

Prof Koh is the Principal Investigator of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a 63,257-strong cohort of middle-aged and elderly Chinese Singaporeans established for the long-term study of dietary and environmental determinants of chronic diseases common among Singaporeans. She has co-authored over 420 scientific papers on diet, lifestyle and genes in relation to risk of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gout, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and tuberculosis disease. She has received over $20 million dollars in research funding from NIH (USA) and NMRC (Singapore), and is a recipient of the Ministry of Health NMRC Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator), and the National Day Public Administration Medal (Bronze).

• NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (Honorary)
• NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (Primary)
• Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore (Secondary)

Unravelling the epidemiology of chronic diseases of importance to Singapore, such as cancer, cardio-metabolic, musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative diseases, and critical ageing outcomes

• Epidemiology

• M.B.B.S (Honours) (1992) National University of Singapore
• Ph.D (Medicine) (2001) The University of Sydney
• FAMS (College of Clinician-Scientists) 2016, Singapore

• 2014 NMRC Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator Category), Ministry of Health, Singapore
• 2016 Dean’s Excellence Award 2016 for outstanding accomplishment in research, Duke-NUS
• 2019 Dean’s Excellence Award 2016 for outstanding accomplishment in leadership, Duke-NUS
• 2019 National Day Public Administration Medal (Bronze), Singapore
• 2020 NMRC Clinician Scientist Award (Senior Investigator Category), Ministry of Health, Singapore

• Assistant Professor, Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, NUS (2003 – 2008)
• Associate Professor, Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, NUS (2008 – 2009)
• Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, NUS (2009 – 2011)
• Associate Professor, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS (2011 – 2012)
• Associate Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore (2012 – 2015)
• Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School Singapore (2015 – 2021)
• Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore (2021 – present)

• Assistant Dean, Faculty Development, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
• Director, Clinician-Scientist Development Unit, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

• Sheng LT, Jiang YW, Feng L, Pan A, Koh WP. Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Late-Life Cognitive Impairment: The Singapore Chinese Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77(3): 561-9
• Sheng LT, Jiang YW, Feng L, Pan A, Koh WP. Dietary total antioxidant capacity and late-life cognitive impairment: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021.
• Jiang YW, Sheng LT, Feng L, Pan A, Koh WP. Consumption of dietary nuts in midlife and risk of cognitive impairment in late-life: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Age Ageing 2021; 50(4): 1215-21
• Zhou YF, Song XY, Pan XF, Feng L, Luo N, Yuan JM, Pan A, Koh WP. Association between combined lifestyle factors and healthy ageing in Chinese adults: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021
• Chang X, Chua KY, Wang L, Liu J, Yuan JM, Khor CC, Heng CK, Koh WP, Dorajoo R. Midlife Leukocyte Telomere Length as an Indicator for Handgrip Strength in Late Life. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76(1): 172-5
• Song X, Wu J, Zhou Y, Feng L, Yuan JM, Pan A, Koh WP. Reproductive and hormonal factors and risk of cognitive impairment among Singapore Chinese women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020; 223(3): 410.e1-.e23
• Sheng LT, Jiang YW, Pan XF, Feng L, Yuan JM, Pan A, Koh WP. Association Between Dietary Intakes of B Vitamins in Midlife and Cognitive Impairment in Late-Life: The Singapore Chinese Health Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75(6): 1222-7
• Jiang YW, Sheng LT, Feng L, Pan A, Koh WP. Consumption of dietary nuts in midlife and risk of cognitive impairment in late-life: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Age Ageing 2020
• Wu J, Song X, Chen GC, Neelakantan N, van Dam RM, Feng L, Yuan JM, Pan A, Koh WP. Dietary pattern in midlife and cognitive impairment in late life: a prospective study in Chinese adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2019; 110(4): 912-20
• Wu J, Dong W, Pan XF, Feng L, Yuan JM, Pan A, Koh WP. Relation of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking in midlife with risk of cognitive impairment in late life: the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Age Ageing 2019; 48(1): 101-7

• Less Meat, More Greens and Grains, 7 February 2019
• Gift from 63,257 Singaporeans to healthcare research, The Straits Times Opinion, 6 November 2017
• 研究本地华族健康逾20年, Lianhe Zaobao, 3 November 2017
• 最新研究： 多吃牛奶乳制品可降 患糖尿病高血压风险 (Latest Research: Consumption of milk and dairy products lowers risk of diabetes, hypertension), Lianhe Zaobao, 24 May 2017
• Drinking milk lowers risk of diabetes, hypertension: NUS study, The Straits Times, 24 May 2017
• Red meat consumption linked to kidney failure, Daily Times, 07 March 2017
• Red meat intake linked to increased risk of kidney failure, The Straits Times, 19 July 2016, Tuesday
• Soy products not linked to increased risk of gout, The Straits Times, 7 May 2015, Thursday
• Incense smoke poses health hazard, The Straits Times, 6 September 2014, Saturday
• Omega-3 脂肪酸有益心脏并降低死亡风险 (Omega-3 fatty acids from fish and nuts reduces cardiovascular mortality), Lianhe Zaobao, 17 May 2014, Saturday
• 多吃蔬果豆类髋骨骨折风险可降三成 (Regular vegetables, fruit and soy consumption can lower hip fracture risk), Zaobao Sunday, 27 April 2014, Sunday
• Coffee consumption can reduce mortality risk from liver cirrhosis, The Straits Times, 9 April 2014, Wednesday
• Lifestyle choices ‘cut colon cancer risk’, The Straits Times, 27 March 2013
• 六种良好生活习惯可防结肠癌 (Six good lifestyle habits that prevent colon cancer), Lianhe Zaobao, 27 March 2013
• 本地研究显示：防结肠癌须激烈运动打太极快走动效不大 (Local study: Vigorous exercise needed to prevent colon cancer; taiji and brisk walking have limited effect), My Paper, 27 March 2013
• Fast food ‘can be life-threatening’, The Straits Times, 14 July 2012
• 西式快餐不利中老年华人, Lianhe Zaobao, 14 July 2012
• It’s never too late to quit smoking, The Straits Times, 7 January 2012
• It’s ‘not too late’ to stub out that cigarette…, Today, 7 January 2012