Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

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Dr. Shining Loo joined the Academy of Pharmacy at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University as an Assistant Professor in 2023.

Dr. Loo received First-Class Honors in a Double Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Science and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), School of Biological Sciences (SBS), Singapore, and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. She is also a licensed practicing TCM physician in Singapore. She was awarded the prestigious Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship and received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at NTU, SBS, Singapore, under the supervision of Professor James P. Tam (2013-2018). Upon graduation, Dr. Loo was appointed as a Research Fellow and continued her postdoctoral research work with Professor Tam’s group (2018-2023).

Dr. Loo’s research interests center around peptide drug discovery and their translational applications for precision medicine, theranostics, drug delivery, material, and food technologies.

Dr. Loo has published over 12 peer-reviewed publications in well-recognized journals like the Journal of American Chemical Society, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Frontiers in Pharmacology, and Frontiers in Plant Sciences. She also holds 2 US and China national phase patent applications. In 2021, Dr. Loo won the Mistletoe Research Fellowship, the title of Mistletoe Research Fellow, and an Unfettered Research Grant from the Momental Foundation. She was also awarded the Merck Life Science Publication Award (First Prize) for her research contributions in the field of biology and biochemistry.

Dr. Loo's current research focusses on creating a toolbox of cell-penetrating peptides through scaffold innovations for "undruggable" intracellular molecular targets. This approach has led to the design and discovery of novel peptide-based precision medicines and targeted-drug delivery agents for different diseases. Moreover, these reagents are also applicable as chemical tools in basic science research to improve our understandings on cell signaling.

To achieve these objectives, her laboratory employs multidisciplinary approaches including peptide and protein chemistry, molecular pharmacology, mass spectrometry-based proteomics, high-throughput screening, combinatorial libraries, chemical biology, and animal studies.

She welcomes interested academic and industrial collaborations as well as students to join her group.
Interested parties can contact via e-mail: Shining.loo@xjtlu.edu.cn

Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Supervisor: Professor James P Tam), School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2018)
- Bachelor of Medicine (Chinese Medicine), Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China (2012)
- Bachelor of Science (Honors- First Class), School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2012)
Experience
- Assistant Professor, Academy of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (2023- Present)
- Research Fellow (Supervisor: Professor James P Tam), School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2018-2023)
Research interests
- Precision Medicine
- Peptide Drug Discovery and Design
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics-based Target-identification, Functional and Structural Characterization
- High-throughput Drug Screening and Validation
- Peptide and Protein Chemistry
- Molecular Pharmacology
- Targeted Protein Modifiers
- Targeted Drug Delivery
- Natural Products
Articles
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. “Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Ligands” (US Patent Publication No.: US 2022/0257706 A1)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. “Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Ligands” (China Publication No.: CN 114096556 A.)
- Julca, I., Mutwil-Anderwald, D., Manoj, V., Khan, Z., Lai, S. K., Yang, L. K., Ing, T.B., Dziekan, J., Lim, Y.P., Lim, S.K., Low, Y.W., Lam, Y.I., Mu, Y., Tan, Q.W., Nuc, P., Choo, L.M., Khew, G., Loo, S., Kam, A., Tam, J.P., Bozdech, Z., Schmidt, M., Usadel, B., Yoganathan, K., Alseekh, S., Fernie, A., Li, H.Y. and Mutwil, M. "Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis of Oldenlandia corymbosa reveals the biosynthesis and mode of action of anti-cancer metabolites." J. Integr. Plant Biol. (2023)
- Julca, I., Mutwil-Anderwald, D., Manoj, V., Khan, Z., Lai, S. K., Yang, L. K., Ing, T.B., Dziekan, J., Lim, Y.P., Lim, S.K., Low, Y.W., Lam, Y.I., Mu, Y., Tan, Q.W., Nuc, P., Choo, L.M., Khew, G., Loo, S., Kam, A., Tam, J.P., Bozdech, Z., Schmidt, M., Usadel, B., Yoganathan, K., Alseekh, S., Fernie, A., Li, H.Y. and Mutwil, M. "Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine plant Oldenlandia corymbosa reveals the biosynthesis and mode of action of anti-cancer metabolites." bioRxiv (2022)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. "Hyperstable EGF-like bleogen derived from cactus accelerates corneal healing in rats." Front. Pharm. (2022)
- Loo, S., Tay, S.V., Kam, A., Lee, W. and Tam, J.P. "Hololectin interdomain linker determines asparaginyl endopeptidase-mediated maturation of antifungal hevein-like peptides in oats." Front. Plant Sci., 1491 (2022)
- Loo, S., Tay, S.V., Kam, A., Tang, F., Fan, J.S., Yang, D. and Tam, J.P. "Anti-fungal hevein-like peptides biosynthesized from Quinoa cleavable-hololectins." Molecules, 5909, 26(19) (2021)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Li, B.B., Feng, N., Wang, X. and Tam, J.P. "Discovery of Hyperstable Noncanonical Plant-Derived Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Agonist and Analogs." J. Med. Chem. (2021)
- Hemu, X., Zhang, X., Nguyen, G.K., To, J., Serra, A., Loo, S., Sze, S.K., Liu, C.F. and Tam, J.P. "Characterization and application of natural and recombinant butelase-1 to improve industrial enzymes by end-to-end circularization." RSC Adv., 23105-23112, 11(37) (2021)
- Kam, A.*, Loo, S.*, Fan, J.S., Sze, S.K., Yang, D. and Tam, J.P. "Roseltide rT7 is a disulfide-rich, anionic, and cell-penetrating peptide that inhibits proteasomal degradation." J. Biol. Chem. jbc.RA119.010796 (2019) (*co-first author)
- Kam, A.*, Loo, S.*, Dutta, B., Sze, S.K. and Tam, J.P. "Plant-derived mitochondria-targeting cysteine-rich peptide modulates cellular bioenergetics." J. Biol. Chem. jbc-RA118 (2019) (*co-first author)
- Tam, J.P., Nguyen, G.K., Loo, S., Wang, S., Yang, D., and Kam, A. "Ginsentides: Cysteine and Glycine-rich Peptides from the Ginseng Family with Unusual Disulfide Connectivity." Sci. rep. 8(1) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Xiao, T., and Tam, J.P. "Bleogens: Cactus-derived Anti-Candida Cysteine-rich Peptides with Three Different Precursor Arrangements." Front Plant Sci., 8(2162) (2017)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Xiao, T., Nguyen, G.K., Liu, C.F., and Tam, J.P. "Identification and Characterization of Roseltide, a Knottin-type Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor Derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa." Sci. Rep., 6 (2016)
- Nguyen, G.K., Kam, A., Loo, S., Jansson, A.E., Pan, L.X., and Tam, J.P. "Butelase 1: a versatile ligase for peptide and protein macrocyclization." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 15398-15401, 137(49) (2015)
Proceedings
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S., Kam, A., Dutta, B. and Wang, X.L. “Cell-penetrating Peptides from Medicinal Plants Promote NO Production to Modulate Inflammation, Oxidative, and Autophagy Responses” Gordon Research Conference: Nitric Oxide (2023)
- Tang, F., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Cystine-stapled Helical Peptide from Withania somnifera Is Highly Stable and Cell-permeable” Experimental Biology (2022)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. “Hyperstable Cell-Penetrating Peptides from Medicinal Plants” Experimental Biology (2020)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Dutta, B. “Orally-active and Cell-penetrating Peptides from Nature” Gordon Research Conference: Chemistry and Biology of Peptides (2020)
- Tam, J.P., Kam, A., Loo, S., Dutta, B. and Sze, S.K. “Mitochondria-targeting and ATP-boosting Hyperstable Peptide Bioenergetics” American Peptide Society Symposium (2019)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Identification of a Naturally-occurring Heparin-binding Peptide Preferentially Targeting the Nucleolus” Experimental Biology (2019)
- Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery of a Plant-derived Cell-penetrating Proteasome Inhibitor” Experimental Biology (2019)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. "Peptidyl Adaptogenics." Proceedings for the 10th International Peptide Symposium (10th IPS), in conjunction with the 55th Japanese Peptide Symposium (55th JPS) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Wong, C.T.T., and Tam, J.P. "Design of Organelle-Specific Cell Penetrating Peptides." Proceedings for the 10th International Peptide Symposium (10th IPS), in conjunction with the 55th Japanese Peptide Symposium (55th JPS) (2018)
- Tam, J.P., Nguyen, G.K., Kam, A. and Loo, S. "Advances in Site-specific and Linkage-specific Ligation – Precision ligation of DARPin-conjugates targeting the breast cancer HER2 receptor." Proceedings of the 35th European Peptide Symposium, Ireland (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., and Tam, J. P. "Mitochondria-targeting peptide from Hibiscus sabdariffa." FASEB J. 32 (1) (2018)
- Kam, A., Wong, C.T.T., Loo, S., and Tam, J.P. "DNA-binding peptide dendrimer for efficient and selective intracellular delivery." FASEB J. 32 (1) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., and Tam, J.P. "Discovery of a Cell-penetrating Peptide via Heparin-binding from Pereskia bleo." FASEB J. Supplement: lb77-lb77, 31(1) (2017)
- Kam, A., Loo, S., and Tam, J.P. "First-in-class Naturally-occurring Bioenergetic Peptide from Hibiscus sabdariffa." FASEB J. Supplement: lb241-lb241, 31(1) (2017)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., and Tam, J.P. "Cysteine-rich peptide from Hibiscus Sabdariffa." Proceedings for the 52nd Japanese Peptide Symposium (2015)
Conference presentations
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S., Kam, A., Dutta, B. and Wang, X.L. “Cell-penetrating Peptides from Medicinal Plants Promote NO Production to Modulate Inflammation, Oxidative, and Autophagy Responses” Gordon Research Conference on Nitric Oxide, Ventura, California, USA (Poster) (2023)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Wang, X. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery of a Cactus-derived Hyperstable Non-canonical Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Agonist” (Frontiers in Peptide Science and Drug Discovery Symposium, Singapore (Poster) (2022)
- Kam, A., Loo, S., Wang, X. and Tam, J.P. “Amino acid scanning revealed a potent analog of a hyperstable non-canonical plant-derived EGFR agonist” Frontiers in Peptide Science and Drug Discovery Symposium, Singapore (Poster) (2022)
- Tang, F., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Cystine-stapled Helical Peptide from Withania somnifera Is Highly Stable and Cell-permeable” Experimental Biology 2022, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (Poster) (2022)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. “Hyperstable Cell-Penetrating Peptides from Medicinal Plants” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, San Diego, USA (Poster) (2020)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Dutta, B. “Orally-active and Cell-penetrating Peptides from Nature” Gordon Research Conference Series: 2020 Chemistry and Biology of Peptides, Ventura, California, USA (Poster) (2020)
- Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery and Functional Characterizaton of Cysteine-rich Peptides from Medicinal Plants: The cell-penetrating and bioactivities of roseltides” P2S2 5th Annual Peptides and Proteins Symposium, Singapore (Oral) (2019)
- Tam, J.P., Kam, A., Loo, S., Dutta, B. and Sze, S.K. “Mitochondria-targeting and ATP-boosting Hyperstable Peptide Bioenergetics” American Peptide Symposium, Monterey, USA (Oral) (2019)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Identification of a Naturally-occurring Heparin-binding Peptide Preferentially Targeting the Nucleolus” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, Orlando, USA (Oral and poster) (2019)
- Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery of a Plant-derived Cell-penetrating Proteasome Inhibitor” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, Orlando, USA (Oral and poster) (2019)
- Tam, J.P., Loo, S. and Kam, A. “Peptidyl Adaptogenics” 10th International Peptide Symposium (10th IPS), in conjunction with the 55th Japanese Peptide Symposium (55th JPS), Kyoto, Japan (Oral) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Wong, C.T.T. and Tam, J.P. “Design Of Organelle-Specific Cell Penetrating Peptides” 10th International Peptide Symposium (10th IPS), in conjunction with the 55th Japanese Peptide Symposium (55th JPS), Kyoto, Japan (Poster) (2018)
- Tam, J.P., Hemu, X., Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tang, F. “Design and facile synthesis of potent broad-spectrum cyclic antimicrobial peptides mimicking tachyplesins“ Antimicrobial Resistance in the Asia Pacific & its impact on Singapore, Singapore (Poster) (2018)
- Tam, J.P., Nguyen, G.K.T., Kam, A. and Loo, S. “Advances in Site-specific and Linkage-specific Ligation – Precision ligation of DARPin-conjugates targeting the breast cancer HER2 receptor” 35th European Peptide Symposium, Dublin, Ireland (Oral) (2018)
- Tay, Z.Q., Lim, E.W.H., Mok, C.Y., Yang, T.F., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Differences of white and red ginseng using mass spectrometry profiling” 14th International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong (Poster) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Mitochondria-targeting peptide from Hibiscus sabdariffa” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, San Diego, USA (Oral and poster) (2018)
- Kam, A., Wong, C.T.T., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “DNA-binding peptide dendrimer for efficient and selective intracellular delivery” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, San Diego, USA (Poster) (2018)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J. P. “An Optimized Workflow for the Identification of Heparin-binding Cysteine-rich Peptides from Plant Origins" Commonwealth Science Conference 2017, Singapore (Poster) (2017)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery of a Cell-penetrating Peptide via Heparin-binding from Pereskia bleo” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, Chicago, USA (Poster) (2017)
- Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “First-in-class Naturally-occurring Bioenergetic Peptide from Hibiscus sabdariffa” ASBMB annual meeting conjunction with Experimental Biology, Chicago, USA (Poster) (2017)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Hyper-stable Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor Derived from Hibiscus Sabdariffa” Science Improving Lives Symposium, Singapore (Poster) (2017)
- Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Intracellular uptake of Cysteine-rich peptide derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa” 2nd Annual NTU-ICES (A*STAR) Joint Science Workshop, Singapore (Poster) (2016)
- Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Intracellular uptake of Cysteine-rich peptide derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa” The 11th Annual Peptide Therapeutics Symposium, La Jolla, USA (Poster) (2016)
- Loo, S., Kam, A., Xiao, T. and Tam, J.P. “Knottin-type Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor Derived from Hibiscus Sabdariffa” The 11th Annual Peptide Therapeutics Symposium, La Jolla, USA (Poster) (2016)
- Yeo, T.C., Chai, H.X., Tan, M.M., Tan, W.S., Kam, A., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Ultra-stable Heparin-binding Cysteine-rich Peptides derived from Pereskia bleo” 12th International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong (Poster) (2016)
- Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Identification and Characterization of Cysteine-rich Neutrophil Elastase Inhibitor from Hibiscus sabdariffa” 52nd Japanese Peptide Symposium, Hiratsuka, Japan (Poster) (2015)
- Koh, C.C., Tang, J., Loo, S., Kam, A. and Tam, J.P. “Discovery of Active Biologics in Pereskia bleo” 10th International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong (Poster) (2014)
- Tang, J., Lee, Q., Tan, H., Wong, S., Tan, T., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Bioactivity of Peptides in Pereskia bleo” 9th International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong (Poster) (2013)
- Chan, Z., Tay, E.E., Tan, V., Koh, N.Z., Loo, S. and Tam, J.P. “Isolation and Characterization of Active Biologics in Melia azedarach” 9th International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong (Poster) (2013)
Grants
- Mistletoe Research Fellowship Grant, Momental Foundation, California, USA (USD$ 10,000) (2021)
Professional service activities
- Special Issue Guest Editor, Frontiers in Pharmacology “Naturally-occurring Peptides and Proteins as Leads for Drug Discovery and Development” (2022- Present)
- Special Issue Guest Editor, Processes “Natural Products for Drug Discovery and Development” (2021- Present)
- Editorial Board Member, Science Journal of Chemistry (2021- Present)
- Guest Editor, Special Issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717) “Advancements in Targeting Proteasomal Degradation to Combat Diseases” (2020- Present)
- Organizing Committee for the 2nd Peptides and Proteins Symposium, Singapore (2016)
- Organizing Committee for the 7th International Peptide Symposium, Singapore (2015)
- Organizing Committee for the iFood Conference NTU, Singapore (2014)
- Liaison officer for Professor Sydney Brenner (Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, 2002) at the 8th Asian Science Camp, Singapore (2014)
- Organizing Committee for the International Conference on Natural Products and Health, Singapore (2013)
Teaching activities
- APH216 Drug Action
Professional memberships
- Member of the Society for Cell Biology Singapore (SCBS) (2022- Present)
- Good Practice in Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Association (GPTCM RA) Member (2022- Present)
- American Chemical Society (ACS) Community Associate Member (2021- Present)
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Singapore Association (2020- Present)
- 500 Women Scientists Organization (Singapore Pod) (2020-2021)
- Associate member of Euroscience (2019- Present)
- Scientific & Technical Research Association (STRA) (2019- Present)
- American Peptide Society (2019- Present)
- European Peptide Society (2019- Present)
- International Chemical Biology Society (2019- Present)
- National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) (2018- Present)
- American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) (2017- Present)
Awards and honours
- Merck Life Science Publication Award (First Prize) (2021)
- Mistletoe Research Fellowship (2021)
- 10th International Peptide Symposium Travel Award (JPY$ 46,000) (2018)
- Women in Engineering, Science, and Technology (WiEST) Conference Grant (SGD$ 3,000) (2018)
- Pharmaceuticals Travel Award (CHF$ 800) (2018)
- ASBMB Graduate Travel Award (USD$ 1,000) (2018)
- Peptide Therapeutics Foundation Travel Grant (USD$ 500) (2016)
- Nanyang President's Graduate Scholarship (2013-2018)
- NTU President Research Scholar (URECA) (2009-2010)

电话
+86 (0)51288161353
Email
Shining.Loo@xjtlu.edu.cn
地址
SD334C(SIP Campus-Science Building)
Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District
Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou
P.R.China
215123

Shining LooPh.D.

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Articles

Proceedings

Conference presentations

Grants

Professional service activities

Teaching activities

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Awards and honours