A/Prof Choolani, a clinician-scientist with a long track record in clinical and basic science research, whose main research goal is translational medicine through the development of technology that addresses the unmet need for faster and more accurate diagnostic testing for precision healthcare of Asian women.

He has been actively pursuing technology for the isolation of cell-based fetal DNA non-invasively from maternal blood for prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormality. The technology has resulted in several patents, publications and interest from industry. He has also introduced and validated non-invasive prenatal testing/screening (NIPT/NIPS) using cell-free fetal DNA in the plasma fraction of maternal blood. This liquid biopsy assay is an excellent screening tool for the three common fetal trisomies (21, 18, 13) and is currently offered to pregnant women in Singapore and the region.