Research Lab
Christopher LAI
Associate Professor, Deputy Cluster Director & Programme Leader (SIT)
Associate Professor and Deputy Cluster Director, Health and Social Sciences Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology
Programme Leader, Bachelor of Science with Honours in Diagnostic Radiography, Singapore Institute of Technology
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
Visiting Lead Senior Academician, SingHealth
Advisory Board Member, Aimitari MedTech Pte. Ltd
We have several opening for Master and Doctorate students. Please contact me at Chris.lai@singaporetech.edu.sg for details.
Master Plan (Dr Christopher Lai's Lab)
Thanks to all my students and research staff, who helped me a lot in the research development. I cannot solve all problems alone. Thank all my research partners for your encouragement, help and support!
Research Achievement
Selected works
Capral Tunnel Syndrome
1. Woo, E.H.C., White, P. and Lai, C.W.K. (2018). Morphological changes of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel during various finger and wrist positions: an analysis of intensive and non-intensive electronic device users. Journal of Hand Surgery. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2018.08.006.
2. Woo, E.H.C., White, P. and Lai, C.W.K. (2017). Effects of electronic device overuse by university students in relation to clinical status and anatomical variations of the median nerve and transverse carpal ligament. Muscle & Nerve. DOI 10.10 02/mus. 25697.
4. Woo, E.H.C., White, P. and Lai, C.W.K. (2016) Musculoskeletal impact of the use of various types of electronic devices on university students in Hong Kong: An evaluation by means of self-reported questionnaire. Manual Therapy. 10.1016/j.math.2016.07.004.
5. Woo, E.H.C., White, P., Ng, H.K. and Lai, C.W.K. (2016). Development of Kinematic Graphs of Median Nerve during Active Finger Motion: Implications of Smartphone Use. Plos One. 1;11(7):e0158455. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158455.
6. Woo, E.H.C., White, P. and Lai, C.W.K. (2016). Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Child Health. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 52: 590–594. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13181.
7. Woo, E.H.C., White, P and Lai, C.W.K.. (2015). Ergonomics Standards and Guidelines for Computer Workstation Design and the Impact on Users’ Health– A Review. Ergonomics, DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2015.1076528.
8. Lai, C.W.K., Chiu, Y. T. and Law, W. S. (2014). The deformation and longitudinal excursion of median nerve during digits movement and wrist extension. Manual Therapy. DOI:10.1016/j.math.2014.06.005.
Image Segmentation and Analysis
Cheng, X, Tang, FH, Lai, C.W.K., Grimm LJ and Lo, J.Y.. (2021). Multi-modality Patient Specific Registration for Breast Imaging using Biomechanical Modeling with Reference to AI Evaluation of Breast Tumor Change. Life, DOI:10.3390/life11080747.
Goh, Y.L.E., Lee, Z.Y. and Lai, C.W.K. (2021). Spatial Distribution and Quantification of Mammographic Breast Density, and Its Correlation with BI-RADS Using an Image Segmentation Method. Life 2021, 11, 516. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11060516.
Lee, Z.Y., Goh, Y.L.E. and Lai, C.W.K. (2021). Classification of mammographic breast density and its correlation with BI-RADS in elder women using machine learning approach. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences. Doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2021.10.004.
Cardiometabolic Health
1. Htun KT, Jaikumkao K, Pan J, Moe Moe AT, Intachai N, Promsan S, Lungkaphin A, Tapanya M, Pasanta D, Tungjai M, Kaewjaeng S, Kim HJ, Kaewkhao J, Lai CWK, Kothan S. (2022). Noninvasive NMR/MRS Metabolic Parameters to Evaluate Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Diagnostics. 2022; 12(7):1621. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12071621
2. Chin, E.C, Leung, C.K., Yu, D.J., Yu, A.P. Bernal, J.K. Lai, C.W.K., Chan, D.K.C., Ngai,H.H., Yung, P.S.H., Lee, C.H. Fong, D.Y. Keating, S.E. Coombes, J.S. and Siu, P.M.. (2022). Effects of one-year once-weekly high-intensity interval training on body adiposity and liver fat in adults with central obesity: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2022.03.003.
3. Htun, K.T.; Pan, J.; Pasanta, D.; Tungjai, M.; Udomtanakunchai, C.; Petcharoen, T.; Chamta, N.; Kosicharoen, S.; Chukua, K.; Lai, C.W.K.; Kothan, S. (2021). Advanced Molecular Imaging (MRI/MRS/1H NMR) for Metabolic Information in Young Adults with Health Risk Obesity. Life 2021, 11, 1035. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11101035.
4. Yu, A.P., Ugwu, F.N., Tam, B.T., Lee, P.H., Pang S., Chow, A.S., Cheng, K.K., Lai, C.W.K., Wong, C.S. and Siu, P.M.. (2020). Obestatin and growth hormone reveal the interaction of central obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Scientific Reports 10, 5495. DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-62271-w.
5. Islam, R. and Lai, C. W. K.. (2019). A Brief Overview of lncRNAs in Endothelial Dysfunction-Associated Diseases: From Discovery to Characterization. Epigenomes 3.(3), 20. DOI:10.3390/epigenomes3030020.
6. Chin, E.C., Yu, A.P., Lai, C.W.K., Fong, D.Y., Chan, D.K., Wong, S.H., Sun, F.H., Ngai, H.H., Yung, P.S., and Siu, P.M..(2019). Low-frequency HIIT improves body composition and aerobic capacity in overweight men. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002097.
7. Yu AP, Ugwu FN, Tam BT, Lee PH, Lai CWK, Wong SC, Lam WW, Sheridan S, and Siu PM. (2018). One year of yoga training alters ghrelin axis in centrally obese adults with metabolic syndrome. Frontiers in Physiology, DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01321
8. Ugwu FN, YU, AP, Tam BT, Lee PH, Lai CWK, Wong CS and Siu PM. (2018). Ghrelin axis reveals the interacting influence of central obesity and hypertension. Front. Endocrinol. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00534.
9. Supriya R, Tam BJ, Yu, AP, Lee PH, Lai CWK, Cheng KK, Yau, SY, Chan, LWC, Yung, BY, Sheridan S and Siu, P. (2018). Adipokines demonstrate the interacting influence of central obesity with other cardiometabolic risk factors of metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Plos One. 13(8): e0201585. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201585.
10. Yu AP, Tam BT, Lai CWK, Yu DS, Woo J, Chung KF, Hui SS, Liu JY, Wei GX, and Siu PM. (2018). Revealing the neural mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of Tai Chi: A neuroimaging perspective. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 46(02):231-259. DOI:10.1142/S0192415X18500131.
11. Supriya R, Yung BY, Yu AP, Lee PH, Lai CWK, Cheng KK, Yau SY, Chan LW, Sheridan S, and Siu PM. (2018). Adipokine profiling in adult women with central obesity and hypertension. Frontiers in Physiology. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00294.
12. Tam BT, Yu AP, Tam EW, Monks DA, Wang XP, Pei XM, Koh SP, Sin TK, Law HK, Ugwu FN, Supriya R, Yung BY, Yip SP, Wong SC, Chan LW, Lai CWK, Ouyang P, and Siu PM. (2018). Ablation of Bax and Bak protects skeletal muscle against pressure-induced injury. Scientific Reports. Volume 8, Article number: 3689. DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-21853-5.
13. Gao, L., Kwan Y, Bulmer, AC and Lai CWK. (2018). Noninvasive real-time characterization of renal clearance kinetics in diabetic mice after receiving Danshensu treatment. Oxid Med Cell Longev. Article ID 8267560. DOI: 10.1155/2018/8267560.
14. Leung WKC, Yu AP, Lai CWK and Siu PM. (2018). Association of markers of pro-inflammatory phenotype and beige adipogenesis with metabolic syndrome in Chinese centrally-obese adults. Journal of Diabetes Research, Article ID 8956509. DOI: 10.1155/2018/8956509.
15. Supriya, R., Yu, A. P., Lee, P. H., Lai, C. W.K., Cheng, K. K., Yau, S. Y., Chan, L. W., Yung, B. Y. and Siu, P. M. (2018). Yoga training modulates adipokines in adults with high-normal blood pressure and metabolic syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. Mar;28(3):1130-1138. DOI: 10.1111/sms.13029.
16. Ugwu, F. N., Yu, A. P., Sin, T. K., Tam, B. T., Lai, C.W.K., Wong, S. C. and Siu, P. M. (2017). Protective Effect of Unacylated Ghrelin on Compression-Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury Mediated by SIRT1-Signaling. Frontiers in Physiology. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00962.
17. Gao L, Siu PM, Chan SW, Lai CWK. (2017). Cardiovascular Protective Effects of Salvianic Acid A on db/db Mice with Elevated Homocysteine Level. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017; 2017:9506925.
18. Ghosh, A. Gao, L, Thakur A, Siu, M.P. and Lai, C.W.K. (2017). Role of free fatty acids in endothelial dysfunction. Journal of Biomedical Science. 24(1):50.
19. Siu, S P.Y., Leung, W.K.C., Wan, P.S.C, Liu, E.K.H. and Lai, C.W.K. (2017). Association between sonographically measured mesenteric fat thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in Chinese young male adults. Journal of International Medical Research. doi:10.1177/0300060516688407.
20. Leung, W.K.C., GAO, L., Siu, P.M. and Lai, C.W.K. (2016). Diabetic Nephropathy and Endothelial Dysfunction: Current and Future Therapies, and Emerging of Vascular Imaging for Preclinical Renal-kinetic Study. Life Sciences. DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.10.015
21. Pei XM, Tam BT, Sin TK, Wang FF, Yung BY, Chan LW, Wong CS, Ying M, Lai CWK, and Siu PM. (2016). S100A8 and S100A9 are Associated with Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity in Diabetic Heart. Frontiers in Physiology. 7:334. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00334.
22. Supriya, R., Tam, B., Pei, X., Lai, C.W.K., Chan, L.W.C., Yung, B. and Siu. M.P. (2016). Doxorubicin induces inflammatory modulation and metabolic dysregulation in diabetic skeletal muscle. Frontiers in Physiology. 7:323. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00323.
23. Lai, C.W.K and Kan, M. Y..(2015). Homocysteine-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2015;67:1–12, DOI: 10.1159/000437098.
24. Mak, W.Y.V. and Lai, C.W.K. (2014). Acute Effect on Arterial Stiffness after Performing Resistance Exercise by Using the Valsalva Manoeuvre during Exertion. BioMed Research International, 2014, Article ID 343916.
25. Yuan, C., Lai, C.W.K., Chan, W.C., Chow, M., Law, W.K.W. and Ying, M. (2014). The Effect of Diabetes Self-Management Education on Body Weight, Glycemic Control, and Other Metabolic Markers in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Diabetes Research. 2014: 78976.
26. Yuan, C., Lai, C.W.K., Chan, W.C., Chow, M., Law, W.K.W. and Ying, M. (2014). Cumulative effects of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease on carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of diabetes research. 2014;2014:179686.
27. Chan, W. B., Chan, N. N., Lai, C. W. K., So, W. Y., Lo, M. K. W., Lee, K. F., et al. (2006). Vascular defect beyond the endothelium in type II diabetic patients with overt nephropathy and moderate renal insufficiency. Kidney International, 70(4), 711-716.
28. Chan, W. B., Ma, R. C. W., Chan, N. N., Ng, M. C. Y., Lee, Z. S. K., Lai, C. W. K., et al. (2004). Increased leptin concentrations and lack of gender difference in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 64(2), 93-98.
29. Chan, N. N., Chan, W. B., Ma, R. C. W., Ng, M. C. Y., Lee, Z. S. K., Lai, C. W. K., et al. (2002). Sex difference in serum leptin concentrations in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients with or without nephropathy. Endocrine Abstracts, (4), 38.
New and advanced Medical Imaging Research
1. Ong M-Y, Koh JJ-H, Kothan S, Lai CWK. (2022). The Incidence and Associated Risk Factors of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy after Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography in the Emergency Setting: A Systematic Review. Life. 2022; 12(6):826. https://doi.org/10.3390/life12060826
2. Christopher Lai, Alfred Tan, Gregory Ho, Tina Poh Tin Teo, Juraihah Hj Mohd Saleh, Sharity Tan Man Wei, Naw Julia Thwin Oo, Paul Lim, Felix Frias and Sylvia Azalia. (2022) Minimizing the risk of patient head injury in cardiac catheterization laboratory. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, Volume 53, Issue 3, Supplement, Page 10, ISSN 1939-8654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2022.03.118.
3. Huang, C. Chan, P.K., Kwong, Y.C., Yeung, S.S., Lai, C.W.K., and Fu, S.N. (2021). Knee joint loadings are related to tibial torsional alignments in people with radiographic medial knee osteoarthritis. PLoS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255008.
4. Boonsuth, R., Kaewjaeng, S., Kaewkhao, J., Lai, C.W.K. Kothan, S. (2018). A study of the magnetic susceptibility on gadolinium calcium silicoborate glass. Materials Today: Proceedings. DOI:10.1016/j.matpr.2018.04.025.
5. Leung, WKC, Chu KL and Lai, C.W.K. (2017). Sonographic evaluation of the immediate effects of eccentric heel drop exercise on Achilles tendon and gastrocnemius muscle stiffness using shear wave elastography. PeerJ. PeerJ 5:e3592 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.3592.
6. Li, E.C.F. and Lai, C.W.K. (2016). A User Report on the Trial Use of Gesture Commands for Image Manipulation and X-ray Acquisition. Radiological Physics and Technology. 9: 261. doi:10.1007/s12194-016-0358-1.
7. Lai, C.W.K and Law, H.K.W. (2015). Mammographic Breast Density in Chinese women: Spatial Distribution and Autocorrelation Patterns. PLoS One. DOI:10: e0136881.
8. Lai, C.W.K., Cheung, H.Y., Chan, T.P. and Wong, T.H. (2015). Reducing the radiation dose to the eye lens region during CT brain examination: the potential beneficial effect of the combined use of bolus and a bismuth shield. Radioprotection. DOI: 10.1051/radiopro/2015003.