Leadership Announcement: Welcoming Our New CEO and CSO
01 April 2025
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jason Foo as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Dr. Brian Wang as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of Pathnova Laboratories Pte Ltd (Pathnova), effective 1 April 2025. Alongside their new roles, Mr. Foo and Dr. Wang will also join Pathnova’s Board of Directors, where they will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategic direction.
This leadership transition comes at an exciting juncture for Pathnova, following our recent merger with Angsana Molecular and Diagnostics Laboratory Pte Ltd. As part of this development, both Pathnova and Angsana are now wholly owned subsidiaries of a newly formed holding company, Archerfish Precision Diagnostics Pte Ltd (Archerfish). As we embrace this new chapter, current CEO Dr. Ian Cheong will step down from both the CEO position and the Pathnova Board. However, he will continue to support the broader enterprise as a Board Member of Archerfish, where he will help guide scientific strategy. He will also remain involved as a scientific adviser to Pathnova. Dr. Cheong has expressed full confidence in Mr. Foo and Dr. Wang and looks forward to witnessing the next phase of Pathnova’s development under their stewardship.
Both Mr. Foo and Dr. Wang bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record at Pathnova. Mr. Foo joined the company in 2018 and eventually became its Chief Operating Officer (COO). His leadership has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and fostering a culture rooted in action and measurable outcomes. Dr. Wang joined in 2021 as Technical Manager and has consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication to advancing our operational and scientific capabilities. His work in assay development has had a lasting impact on our organization. Their joint leadership was most notably demonstrated during Pathnova’s COVID-19 testing operations, where they led the team through unprecedented challenges and were nationally recognized for their contributions. Under their guidance post-pandemic response, Pathnova achieved key milestones, including ISO 13485 and CAP accreditations, as well as HSA approval for our in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits.
As they step into their new roles, the Board of Pathnova has every confidence that Mr. Foo and Dr. Wang will continue to elevate the company’s mission, values, and capabilities. Their leadership marks a bold new era for Pathnova and we look forward to the journey ahead.
Board Transition: Thank You, Mr. Peter Chia
01 April 2025
As part of our leadership transition pursuant to the merger, we would like to share that Mr. Peter Chia, who has served on the Board of Directors of Pathnova since 2021, will be stepping down from the board of Pathnova and transitioning to a new role on the board of Archerfish Precision Diagnostics Ptd Ltd (Archerfish), effective on 1 April 2025.
Since joining the Pathnova Board, Mr. Chia has been an integral part of Pathnova’s growth story. A strategic thinker with an understanding of both commercial and national imperatives, Mr. Chia played a key role during the pandemic, facilitating Pathnova’s agile and impactful contribution to the national COVID-19 testing effort during a time of national need. More recently, Mr. Chia has been instrumental in catalyzing the successful merger between Pathnova and Angsana Molecular and Diagnostic Laboratory, paving the way for the formation of Archerfish and a new organizational structure designed to accelerate our shared goals. As Mr. Chia assumes his new position on the board of Archerfish, he will undoubtedly bring the same commercial and pragmatic insights that have been hallmarks of his tenure at Pathnova.
We extend our deepest appreciation to Mr. Chia for his invaluable contributions to Pathnova. As we embark on a new phase of our journey, we do so acknowledging his significant contributions and with excitement for the future ahead.
A New Era Begins: Pathnova Laboratories and Angsana Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Unite
05 March 2025
Today, Archerfish Precision Diagnostics is formed by the merger of two industry leaders, creating a powerhouse of innovation and expertise. Together, we’re redefining the future of clinical diagnostics, delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners.
Read more about Archerfish Precision Diagnostics here.
See LinkedIn post by Group CFO, Kevin Lee, here.
Pathnova's brand refresh
20 January 2025
We're excited to announce a fresh new look for our brand! While our mission and values remain the same, we've updated our logo to better reflect who we are today and where we’re headed. This refresh represents our growth, innovation, and continued commitment to serving you better. You’ll start to see these changes across our website, products, and communications in the coming weeks. Thank you for being part of our journey!
Pathnova is now accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP)
27 February 2024
Pathnova Laboratories has recently achieved a significant milestone by receiving accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), a globally recognized standard of excellence in laboratory services. This accreditation underscores Pathnova Laboratories' commitment to maintaining the highest level of accuracy, reliability, and quality in diagnostic testing. The CAP accreditation process involves a rigorous evaluation of the laboratory's records and quality control procedures, including a thorough onsite inspection and assessment of the laboratory's staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program, and overall management. This achievement not only enhances Pathnova Laboratories' reputation in the medical community but also assures patients and healthcare providers of the laboratory's dedication to adhering to the strictest standards of diagnostic excellence.
2024-01-25_CAP Accreditation Certificate.pdf
The NPC 20k screening study
14 November 2023
As long-time collaborators with NUHS on screening for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), we are excited to be part of the recent NPC 20k screening study launched late last year. As part of the study, NUHS aims to recruit 20,000 participants between 35 and 60 for a simple blood test performed in Pathnova. If you are wondering about the younger age-range compared to other cancers, it is because this virally-driven cancer tends to target younger adults.
NPC is thought to be caused by Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which in its early phase of activation, produces a group of proteins called Early Antigen (EA). An individual who has active EBV reactivation in the nose will tend have an immune response to EA. Detecting this immune response is the basis of the test we perform in Pathnova, and has been shown to provide early detection of NPC in prior studies (2020, 2016) involving family members of NPC patients.
NPC is highly curable when detected early, and the test is currently free for participants. If you qualify (see poster on the right), you can sign up by clicking on the poster, which will take you to the sign up page for the clinical study.
Here are recent links to articles in the media.
Breaking new ground: Pathnova's Class C IVD kits obtain HSA approval
16 October 2023
We're thrilled to announce that our very first Class C IVD kits have obtained HSA approval and are listed in the Singapore Medical Device Register:
ebv-EArly (IgA) Immunofluorescence Assay, Cat. No. PNL 1001
ebv-CApsid (IgA) Immunofluorescence Assay, Cat. No. PNL1002
Device Registration No.: DE0508573
These kits were developed to meet the critical need for NPC testing, starting with hospital and private clinical laboratories in Singapore and the surrounding region.
Contact us on our hotline at 9039 3990 for more details.
We look forward to speaking with you soon!
Pathnova Kit Flyer_2024.pdfISO 13485:2016 certification renewed and accredited by both SAC-SINGLAS & UKAS
28 July 2023
Aligning with Singapore industry standards set out by SAC-SINGLAS, we successfully renewed our ISO 13485:2016 certification. This milestone reflects our commitment to quality, safety, and excellence in the medical device field. It’s a testament to our dedication to meeting global benchmarks and delivering trusted solutions.
Here’s to raising the bar and continuing to innovate with integrity!
Pathnova Laboratories' ISO 13485:2016 is accredited by both SAC-SINGLAS and UKAS.
Pathnova Laboratories_Certificate (SAC ISO 13485).pdf2023-07-28_Pathnova Laboratories_Certificate (UKAS ISO 13485).pdf
Emeritus Professor Chan Soh Ha, Co-founder of Pathnova Laboratories, Passes Away
8 June 2023
Pathnova Laboratories mourns the loss of our esteemed co-founder, Professor Chan Soh Ha, who left this world leaving a lasting legacy behind him. A man known for his succinctness, Professor Chan's philosophy was one of action over words.
Known and revered as an exceptional CEO and Medical Director, Professor Chan was an unfathomable reservoir of knowledge and a cherished companion to those fortunate to have shared personal bonds with him. His dedication to our mission ran deep and was contagiously inspiring, a force that propelled us to strive for excellence.
One of the key pillars of Professor Chan's legacy was his relentless commitment to nasopharyngeal cancer screening. His scientific method was an elegant simplicity: undertake impartial and blinded comparisons, then let the data lead the way. His approach brought to mind Richard Feynman's wise words, "The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool." Professor Chan was gifted with the rare ability to remain objective, seeing things as they were, not as he wished them to be. He possessed a distinctive clarity of vision for nasopharyngeal screening, envisioning that it could be both accurate and cost-effective. His steadfast focus has steered our path through challenging times since our very beginnings. Those who knew him will deeply miss his unwavering faith and trust in their abilities.
In our grief, we also take this time to honor and celebrate Professor Chan's remarkable life, acknowledging his pioneering contributions to Singapore. In his memory, we pledge to make his vision a reality, ensuring scalable and accurate nasopharyngeal screening.
-Ian Cheong, Co-founder
Pathnova@LKC rises to the challenge of increased Covid-19 cases
26 September 2021
Jessie Lim wrote a great article in the Straits Times on how Pathnova@LKC has been adapting to increased Covid-19 RT-qPCR testing since 1 Mar 2021. A few of our lab members were interviewed as representatives of our larger team.
From left to right: Mr. Jason Foo (COO), A/Prof Ian Cheong (CSO), Dr. Brian Wang (Team Leader), Melvin Ng (Systems Design Engineer), A/Prof Eric Yap (Medical Director).
(Photo credit: Liu ShuQi, Temasek Life Sciences Accelerator)
Also check out the cool video footage of our lab below.
Pathnova Laboratories, in partnership with NTU, is now operating a clinical diagnostic lab at the LKC School of Medicine
1 July 2021
Read about how Pathnova and NTU have teamed up since 1 March 2021 to support the national covid testing effort and to pursue innovations in clinical diagnostics.
A quick shout out to Temasek Life Sciences Accelerator for all their support.
From Right to Left: A/Prof Eric Yap, Mr. Jason Foo, E/Prof Chan Soh Ha, Dr. Ian Cheong. (Photo credit: Nanyang Technological University)
A proud moment: Our first ISO 13485:2016 certification and CE mark
19 September 2020
We reached an exciting milestone—earning our very first ISO 13485:2016 certification and CE mark. It was a proud moment for our team, reflecting countless hours of hard work, collaboration, and dedication to quality.
This achievement isn’t just about meeting a global standard; it’s about our promise to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative solutions that make a real difference in the medical device industry. Most importantly, it’s a commitment to the people who rely on our products every day.
Here’s to celebrating this milestone and continuing to grow, improve, and serve with integrity.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Here are links to our certificates:
Temasek Trust write up
13 November 2017
Check out a write up on Pathnova in the Temasek Trust Newsletter (4th Quarter 2017). We are proud to provide the most predictive NPC detection assay in Singapore.
(Photo credit: Temasek Trust Newsletter)
The Next Chapter in IFA EBV serology
20 Oct 2017
A message to colleagues by Emeritus Professor Chan Soh Ha
The WHO Immunology Centre has provided IFA EBV serology services for Singapore and the region since the 80’s. One key service we offered was the detection of EBV activation through raised IgA antibodies to EBV Early Antigen (EA). This service was stopped about three years ago due to manpower issues.
I am now pleased to inform you that I have restarted the service under Pathnova Laboratories and will be working closely with researchers at Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory to develop pattern recognition technology to ensure continued service.
The ebv-EArly™ test offered by Pathnova Laboratories is the very same EBV IFA IgA anti-EA test previously offered by the WHO Immunology Centre with me performing the IFA. Additionally, our recently published results are promising and show that pattern recognition can improve IFA consistency. We will include this improved analysis at a later date for no extra charge.