ABSTRACT
Natural products have long been celebrated as a treasure trove of therapeutic agents, serving as the foundation for many life-saving drugs. However, the perception of some of their health benefits, especially that of nutraceuticals and herbal medicines, often blurs the line between myths and truths. Drawing on examples from my research group, I will outline our efforts to uncover the facts behind the purported health benefits of selected natural products. By unravelling the intricate mechanisms of these natural compounds, we have uncovered unprecedented molecular insights that can be harnessed to develop drugs with novel modes of action. I will also illustrate how natural products can serve as starting points to design more drug-like molecules with improved pharmacological properties. From creating molecular glue degraders to targeting RNA and developing multi-functional antivirals, this presentation will showcase how nature’s molecular diversity provides a versatile toolbox for addressing complex biomedical challenges. This is a general talk that outlines possible approaches to the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of inflammation and infectious diseases.

BIOGRAPHY
Professor Christina Chai completed her BSc (Hons) at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, and earned her PhD in free radical chemistry from the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra under the mentorship of the late Professor ALJ Beckwith. Following her doctoral studies, she was awarded the prestigious Samuel and Violette Glasstone Research Fellowship at the University of Oxford, UK, where she investigated bioorganic reaction mechanisms. Her academic career began with faculty appointments at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (1991–1993), and ANU (1994–2004). In 2005, she joined the Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences at A*STAR in Singapore as a Principal Scientist and Programme Manager, where she established a research program in organic synthesis. Between 2008 and 2011, she also served as Director of Graduate Affairs for the Science and Engineering Research Council at A*STAR. In 2011, Professor Chai joined the Department of Pharmacy at the National University of Singapore (NUS). She served as Deputy Head of Department (2013–2014), Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Science (2013–2016), and Head of the Department of Pharmacy (2016–2024).

Professor Chai was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship from 2005–2006. She also served as the Ambassador Scientist for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Singapore (2010–2015). Currently, she is a member of the Women in Science and Engineering committee for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIPWiSE). Her editorial contributions include serving on the Editorial Board of the ACS Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2019–2021) and her current role on the Editorial Board of ChemMedChem (Wiley).

Her research interests focus on bioactive compounds, with a particular emphasis on nature-inspired small molecules for the treatment of inflammation and infectious diseases.