About iGene Laboratory Pte Ltd
Established in 2014, iGene Laboratory Pte Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of INEX Innovate Pte Ltd. Located in Singapore, our laboratory specializes in cutting-edge diagnostic tests leveraging advanced technological platforms such as next-generation sequencing. By harnessing precise data and sophisticated analyses, we empower both patients and physicians to make informed decisions, thereby enhancing medical outcomes. Serving medical professionals and patients across the South East Asian Region and beyond, iGene Laboratory is committed to delivering excellence in personalized healthcare solutions.
Our Vision/Mission
VISION
Empowering women through advanced medical research and compassionate care to achieve healthier pregnancies and families.
MISSION
Our mission is to leverage cutting-edge biosciences expertise to develop and deliver high-quality diagnostic tests and services. We are dedicated to improving maternal and fetal outcomes by offering comprehensive medical testing and expert guidance during the prenatal and preconception stages. We strive for excellence by continually improving our technology, design capabilities, and quality management systems, ensuring superior healthcare solutions from development through to client delivery.
Our People
Associate Professor Choolani is the principle Founder of INEX. He served as Chairman since the company’s inception in 2006 and was a key driver in the successful development of INEX from a small biotech start-up to a leading women’s health diagnostic company. In February 2014, he continued as Founder Director and manages the strategic and scientific objectives of the company.
A/Professor Choolani leads the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at the National University Hospital (NUH), where he and his team were instrumental in the development of the breakthrough FlashFISH™ technology. FlashFISH™ is a rapid diagnostic test performed during amniocentesis that can detect Down syndrome in unborn babies within three hours. The technology put Singapore on the world map as being the first country to offer Same-Day Prenatal Diagnosis.
A/Professor Choolani leads the High-Risk Pregnancy Unit of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division at the National University Hospital (NUH), where he and his team were instrumental in the development of the breakthrough FlashFISH™ technology. FlashFISH™ is a rapid diagnostic test performed during amniocentesis that can detect Down syndrome in unborn babies within three hours. The technology put Singapore on the world map as being the first country to offer Same-Day Prenatal Diagnosis.
A/Professor Choolani received the Benjamin Henry Sheares’ Memorial Lecture Award in 2010 for his outstanding work in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He has also been awarded the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Clinician Scientist award for his outstanding contribution to research.
A/Professor Choolani has published over 100 articles and abstracts in notable journals and currently chairs the National University of Singapore’s Leadership in Academic Medicine Clinician Scientist Unit and the National Healthcare Group’s Clinician Leadership Research programme.
Dr. Sidney is founding CEO of Diagnostic Development Hub (DxD Hub) at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and continues to serve as Advisor to A*STAR's Innovation & Enterprise division. She first joined A*STAR as the head for its Investments and Startup Management division under Exploit Technologies (later re-named Innovation and Enterprise). Dr. Sidney strategizes and develops frameworks that support start-up activities related to technologies and innovations, including setting up A*STARTCentral, a pioneering deep tech open innovation lab. A*STARTCentral is Asia's first lifesciences innovation centre, which has incubated and supported many biotech and medtech companies, including EngineBio, MediSix etc.
During COVID-19 pandemic, DxD Hub helped to develop and deploy a number of COVID-19 diagnostics products within weeks. These included conventional RT-PCR test Fortitude, serological test cPass, direct PCR test RESOLUTE, as well as data analytics software such as INSPECTA, and other medical devices for diagnostics and lab workflow efficiency. These products were deployed in more than 45 countries globally during the pandemic.
During COVID-19 pandemic, DxD Hub helped to develop and deploy a number of COVID-19 diagnostics products within weeks. These included conventional RT-PCR test Fortitude, serological test cPass, direct PCR test RESOLUTE, as well as data analytics software such as INSPECTA, and other medical devices for diagnostics and lab workflow efficiency. These products were deployed in more than 45 countries globally during the pandemic.
While at DxD Hub, she co-founded and co-lead the ASEAN Diagnostics Initiative to spearhead ASEAN-wide collaborations, one of which was the regional sero-surveillance study on COVID vaccines. Dr. Sidney was inaugural lead of Singapore's Diagnostics Co-Operative of the Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness And Response (PREPARE). PREPARE is Singapore's national platform focusing on strengthening mid- to long-term R&D capabilities to prevent, prepare for and respond to future epidemics.
A serial entrepreneur, Dr. Sidney co-founded, invested and mentored a number of startups in the biotech and healthtech space. During her tenure at EDB Investments, Dr. Sidney led several early-stage investments in genomics, drug development and medical devices. Some of her investment portfolio included Paradigm Therapeutics (acquired by Takeda), and Vanda Pharma (Nasdaq).
Dr. Chia-Pin Chang leads technical development and collaborator activities in INEX. Before joining INEX, Dr. Chang was a Principal Investigator in Agency of Science and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, where his research interests include developing biochemical sensors and in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) devices for human disease detection. Several of his works have been licensed to industry partners for commercialization.
Dr. Chang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Doctor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Dr. Chang holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Doctor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from The George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
Dr. Sherry Ho pursued her PhD in Molecular Diagnostics from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University of Singapore after a 4-year stint as Medical Technologist in Cytogenetics, Parkway Laboratory Pte Ltd.
She developed a strong interest and expertise in women’s healthcare, in particular, prenatal testing. Her achievements include several scientific awards in various conferences including a Young Scientist Award in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), as well as two patents in the field. She was a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow for 7 years in a reference molecular diagnostic laboratory in the National University Hospital where she developed and validated several new tests for routine testing. She is also a trained CAP inspector and is lending her expertise in quality assurance within iGene Laboratory.
She developed a strong interest and expertise in women’s healthcare, in particular, prenatal testing. Her achievements include several scientific awards in various conferences including a Young Scientist Award in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), as well as two patents in the field. She was a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow for 7 years in a reference molecular diagnostic laboratory in the National University Hospital where she developed and validated several new tests for routine testing. She is also a trained CAP inspector and is lending her expertise in quality assurance within iGene Laboratory.
Accreditations & Quality Standards
iGene Laboratory is a clinical laboratory licensed by Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Molecular Microbiology including COVID-19 testing services.
