Eric Yap Peng Huat

Doctor. Rhodes Scholar to pursue a PhD at Oxford. Defence Scientist. Associate Professor Eric Yap Peng Huat is a man of many hats, but all these experiences have made him a truly holistic researcher and offers much to learn from. 

Life as a doctor, life as a researcher 

Working “harder” in research doesn’t necessarily mean working longer hours, like a clinician, but rather having the right mindset to ask the right questions. As a Rhodes Scholar, he was tasked by his Professor at the University of Oxford to carry out research on PCR in the 1990s, just when the technology was newly developed. Within the first year, he failed to get any significant results with his clinician mindset. As he took a step back, he asked, “what is the central question?”. This new mindset allowed him to prioritise, identify the right problems and empowered him to publish his first paper in his second year as a PhD student. 

With unique perspectives as both a clinician and a researcher, Prof Eric also highlights the difference between job fulfilment and the social networks that he has formed. As a junior doctor, despite the long and tiring hours, he felt immense fulfilment watching each of his patients get better after his treatment. In research, even though years of experiments could ultimately only allow one to simply write a line or a paragraph in a textbook, the impact of a highly influential paper could inspire millions of students and research pathways worldwide. 

The progress of molecular genetic research

Having been one of the pioneer researchers in PCR technology, Prof Eric has also observed how such technologies have progressed and advanced over the years. During his defence scientist days at DSO National Laboratories in Singapore, it took his team over 2 years to develop a suitable PCR assay for the Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria by guessing and using the primers from a known relative, Burkholderia pseudomonas. Nowadays, the same process can be done within days via the genetic primer database that is widely available to all. 

His background in PCR also helped to revolutionise the diagnostic procedures for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19 where during the brink of the pandemic in 2020, his team developed a method that could detect the presence of COVID-19 or dengue in just under 36 minutes. He also highlighted the convenience of the current method, where instead of transporting whole virus strains that could be very dangerous and risky, such techniques today only require the knowledge of synthetic primers to carry out a PCR - a much safer technique. 

With the advancement of PCR, not only has it aided in diagnostic procedures, it has also allowed the understanding of hundreds of bacterial genomes, paving a way forward for the treatment of infectious diseases and the detection of biological warfare. 

Serendipity

Throughout his many breakthroughs in his careers, he likens the process of research to be serendipitous, such as the invention of PCR by Kary Mullis in the 1980s. He acknowledges that although the research environment is ever-changing, it could sometimes just take a slight interest in new technologies or a new perspective to result in a novel discovery. Research sometimes just requires a little playing around to get to a new revelation. He believes in the “try, try, try” mindset and once accomplished, you will be rewarded with the utmost satisfaction of using all your mental faculties to solve the problem at hand. 

Key takeaways 

When asked about some lessons or takeaways that he has learnt throughout his many years and experience in research, Prof Eric highlighted some key examples ranging from how to choose research questions to thinking ahead when starting a biotechnology company. 

Do not choose low-hanging fruits, and aim big 

When choosing research questions, it can be tempting to choose “safe” paths, such as questions that haven’t been done in your particular country. If you only had limited remaining time left to do research, what would you want to accomplish? 

Choose a research pathway based on your passions and something close to your heart; something that might take a few years to do but will result in some tangible importance to the world. 

While navigating a biotechnology start-up, remember to envision the manufacturing process while developing your technologies

As one discovers new technologies, the normal path for most researchers is to explore the commercialisation prospects. However when doing so, although your current technology may be revolutionary, what may be successful in the lab may not be successfully translated to commercialisation straightaway due to the manufacturing costs and materials. 

Ensure that you consult the appropriate experts first-hand and do not be resistant and limit the disciplines that can work on your project, as a multidisciplinary team will take your technologies to new heights due to the diverse expertise and insights to improve your technology. 

Embrace the beauty and functionality of hands-on experiments 

Many times, the more senior you are, the less hands-on you become in the lab as you are swamped with obtaining grants and editing research papers. However, it is also important to try and find time to conduct your own experiments as you are more likely to have better lab techniques and can develop more efficient protocols and technologies. 

True to his words, Prof Eric shows his most recent personal project to develop a technique to reduce hundreds of Petri dishes into the size of a lunchbox that he can carry around safely to observe the bacteria during his meetings. 

Prof Eric is a researcher with a wealth of experience and much to learn from. As he believes, research is an ever-changing environment and no knowledge is wasted. So long as you try and dream big, you will one day make an impactful difference in the world. 

His lab is currently still developing and improving new PCR diagnostic procedures and into frugal innovation. For more information on his lab, visit: https://dr.ntu.edu.sg/cris/rp/rp01231 or email at ericyap@ntu.edu.sg