Our Team

Dr Teo Cheng Peng - MBBS, NMED, FAMS

Senior Advisor
Co-founder

Sukh Chopra - PBS, MBA,
COL (Retd)

Chief Executive Officer
Co-founder

Prof Steven Myint -
MD, PhD

Strategic Advisor
Co-founder

Dr Gayatri Sharma -
PhD

Commercial Advisor
Co-founder

Laboratory Team

Our viral vector laboratory team consists of a group of dedicated scientists who work diligently to advance all aspects (discovery to commercialization) in Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT). The team brings many cumulative years of expertise and a shared drive to maximize the potential of viral vectors to deliver genetic material into target cells for unmet therapeutic purposes.

Technical Leadership

Eric Soon – MSc, leads our MSAT team with more than a decade of experience in research and clinical production of viral vectors and monoclonal antibodies. He works collaboratively with our global industry expert advisors led by Dr Shekar Ganesa – PhD (Senior Technical Advisor) and Dr Ping Law – PhD (Senior Asay Development Advisor) as well as with our research partners in A*STAR in vector design, process optimization and new modalities. 

Eric’s unwavering commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment within the team is well-recognized.

Shekar brings 30+ years of experience in Process Development (cell line development/banking, upstream, downstream, formulation and analytical development activities) with a proven record of accomplishment of global regulatory submissions/approvals at Genzyme-Sanofi, Amgen and MassBiologics for monoclonal antibodies and gene therapy (AAV and Lentivirus) in adherent and suspension adapted HEK 293 cells. 

At MassBiologics, Shekar’s team lead the process development, scale-up/technology transfer and regulatory (FDA and EMEA) approval of UPSTAZA™ (eladocagene exuparvovec, AAV2-AADC) for the treatment of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency.

Ping specialises in QC assays and large-scale enrichment of different cell types, including cell processing for clinical therapies such as stem cell transplantation and CAR-T. He was a Director at Miltenyi Biotec (CDMO business), San Jose, CA overseeing GMP manufacturing (cell therapy products), MSAT and process development. He also held key cell processing roles held at NUH Dept of orthopaedic surgery (Singapore), St Jude (USA) and UCSD (USA).

Research Scientists

Our dedicated research scientists Atiqah Herman – BEng, Ashaa Shunmugam – PhD, Huang Xiao Ling – MSc, Huang Xi Xiao – PhD and Peh Xiu Luan – BSc, are the driving force behind our experiments. They bring extensive knowledge in cell and molecular biology, vector design, upstream, downstream process development, analytical method development/qualification and subsequent process scale-up and method transfer activities

Goals and Achievements

The mission of the SGVector team is to develop safer and more efficient viral vectors for CGT. Over the past year, we have achieved significant milestones, including the development of a suspension based scalable viral vector process with improved transduction efficiency and reduced immunogenicity. This accomplishment is aligned with our mission of bringing affordable CGT therapies to patients globally.

Future Direction

Looking ahead, our MSAT team is committed to pushing the boundaries of viral vector innovation. Our aim is to expand our viral vector development initiatives for various disease areas by exploring cutting-edge delivery technologies and strengthen our collaborations with our partner research institutions as well as clinical partners.

In Summary

Our viral vector laboratory team is a dynamic and driven group of individuals working collaboratively at the forefront of gene therapy research. With every member contributing their unique expertise and a shared drive for innovation, SGVector is poised to make significant contributions to the CGT field and improve the lives of patients worldwide.

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Dr Teo Cheng Peng

SENIOR ADVISOR & CO-FOUNDER

Haematologist. Founding member of TalkMED Group Ltd (SGX listed) and Parkway Cancer Centre at Gleneagles Hospital. Chairman of Gleneagles Hospital Blood Transfusion Committee. Co-founder of StemCord and StemMed Pte Ltd. CEO of CellVec (a Lenti Viral Vector GMP CDMO in Singapore).

Developed the Autologous Stem Cell Transplant program for solid tumours at Singapore General Hospital. Spearheaded the Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant research at the National University Hospital.

Key member of various prestigious medical bodies including Singapore Society of Haematology, Singapore Bone Marrow Donor Programme, Singapore Society of Oncology, Society of Transplantation (Singapore), International Society of Haematology and Graft Engineering and the International Society of Haematology.

COL (Ret) Sukh Chopra

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER

Director LoveNils, a Charity Organisation, catering to the needs of children with cancer. Chairman of the Board & Remuneration Committee Shanaya Limited (SGX listed). Lecturer with Singapore’s leading Universities on management.

Regional MD Civica, a Smart Software & Solutions provider globally. World Bank funded project consultant in Capacity Building, Afghanistan. Director Administration, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS. Colonel (Retired) Singapore Armed Forces.

Award recipient from Singapore’s President for distinguished and meritorious service (PBS). Award recipient from various Singapore Government agencies recognising his contributions to promote social cohesion in Singapore.

Professor Steven Myint

STRATEGIC ADVISOR & CO-FOUNDER

Immunologist. Executive Director Health Innovation Manchester (UK).

Founding Non-Executive Director of NHSA (UK). Senior fellow to A*STAR. Adjunct Professor at Duke-NUS (Singapore). Chairman of Inex Pte Ltd (Singapore). Professor & Dean of Medicine & Health at University of Surrey (UK) and Professor/Chairman of Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Leicester (UK). Global Medical Director at GSK. Chairman Green Signal Bio (India). Fellow of the Institute of Knowledge Transfer, the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK).

Authored over 120 peer reviewed publications and 6 books. Instrumental in over 50 successful IND and 12 NDA submissions. 

Dr Gayatri Sharma

COMMERCIAL ADVISOR & CO-FOUNDER

COO of CellVec (a Lenti Viral Vector GMP CDMO in Singapore) with expertise in commercial strategy, operations, marketing, and market access – shaping and achieving the company’s regional and global growth ambitions.

Commercialised rare oncolytic and genetic disorder products at Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC, UK) and Oxford University Hospitals (UK). Served as the Entrepreneur in Residence at Duke-NUS (Singapore) and led the Institute’s first gene therapy asset acquisition to big pharma overseeing the strategic planning for their gene therapy assets. First non-European recipient of the CHRAT Fellow at Institute of Child Health, University College London – Great Ormand Street Hospital (UK).