Adrian Kee Keong Teo
| Adrian Kee Keong Teo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Singapore |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Singaporean |
| 🎓 Alma mater | National University of Singapore; University of Cambridge |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Disease modelling of diabetes using human pluripotent stem cells; cofounder of BetaLife Pte Ltd |
| 🏅 Awards | A*STAR STAR Mentor Award (2023, 2024); JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) – Medical Innovation (2019); Dr Susan Lim Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2018) |
Adrian Kee Keong Teo is a Singaporean stem cell and diabetes researcher. He is currently the **Senior Principal Investigator** and **Deputy Director of the Cell & Molecular Therapy Division** at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (**IMCB**), A*STAR.[1] He also holds academic appointments at the **National University of Singapore (NUS)** and is the scientific cofounder of **BetaLife Pte Ltd**, a biotechnology company developing stem cell–derived therapies for diabetes.[2]
Early life and education
Teo obtained his **B.Sc. (First Class Honours)** from the National University of Singapore (NUS).[2] He completed his **Ph.D. in Stem Cell Biology** at the University of Cambridge under Professor Ludovic Vallier, as an **A*STAR Graduate Scholar** and **Honorary Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar**.[3] Following his doctoral studies, Teo conducted postdoctoral research at the **Joslin Diabetes Center**, Harvard Medical School, funded by a **JDRF Postdoctoral Fellowship**, focusing on pancreatic islet biology and diabetes.[3]
Career
After his postdoctoral training, Teo returned to Singapore to join the **Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)**.[1] He is currently Senior Principal Investigator and Deputy Director of the Cell & Molecular Therapy Division at IMCB, and leads the **Stem Cell Diabetes Research Laboratory**.[1] He is also an **Associate Professor** in the Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.[4]
Teo is the **scientific cofounder of BetaLife Pte Ltd**, which develops clinical-grade stem cell–derived pancreatic beta cells for diabetes treatment.[5]
Research
Teo’s research focuses on **human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)** — including embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — to model diabetes and understand beta cell development.[2] His laboratory studies **genetic and molecular mechanisms** that underlie pancreatic beta cell differentiation and dysfunction, with an aim to advance **cell replacement therapies** for diabetes.[1]
Teo has published widely on stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, including:
- “New insights into human beta cell biology using human pluripotent stem cells” — Molecular Metabolism (2019).[6]
- “Protocol for the generation of pancreatic and hepatic progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells” — STAR Protocols (2021).[7]
- “Manufacturing clinical-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells” — Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2022).[8]
Awards and honors
- **2024** – A*STAR Graduate Academy STAR Mentor Award[1]
- **2023** – A*STAR Graduate Academy STAR Mentor Award[1]
- **2023** – COVID-19 Resilience Medal, Government of Singapore[1]
- **2022** – Graduate Mentor of the Year (GRAMAY) Award[1]
- **2021** – Public Sector Transformation Award (A*STAR team award)[1]
- **2019** – JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) – Medical Innovation[1]
- **2018** – Stem Cell Society Singapore Dr. Susan Lim Outstanding Young Investigator Award[1]
- **2013** – JDRF Postdoctoral Fellowship[3]
- **2011** – ISSCR Travel Award[3]
- **2008** – Honorary Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholar[3]
- **2008** – A*STAR Graduate Scholarship (A*STAR–Cambridge Partnership)[3]
Media coverage
Teo has been featured in several scientific and media articles:
- “Weaponizing stem cells in the war on diabetes” — A*STAR Research feature (2023).[2]
- “Opening the cellular gates to glucose” — A*STAR Research highlight (2022).[9]
- “Singapore’s BetaLife develops stem cell cure for diabetes” — The Straits Times (2023).[10]
External links
- [A*STAR IMCB profile – Adrian Teo](https://www.a-star.edu.sg/imcb/people/adrian-teo)
- [NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine – Faculty Page](https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/bch/faculty/adrian-teo/)
- [Adrian Teo Laboratory](https://www.adrianteolab.com)
- [BetaLife Pte Ltd](https://www.betalife.bio)
- [LinkedIn – Adrian Teo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-teo-12061b6/)
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Adrian Teo – IMCB". A*STAR. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Weaponizing stem cells in the war on diabetes". A*STAR Research. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "About Us – Adrian Teo Lab". Adrian Teo Laboratory. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Associate Professor Adrian Teo". NUS Medicine. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "BetaLife Pte Ltd". BetaLife. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Teo, Adrian K. K. (2019). "New insights into human beta cell biology using human pluripotent stem cells". Molecular Metabolism. 32: 109–121. doi:10.1016/j.molmet.2019.11.011. PMC 7056928 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 31926876. - ↑ Teo, Adrian K. K. (2021). "Protocol for the generation of pancreatic and hepatic progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells". STAR Protocols. 2 (2): 100594. doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100594. PMC 8209683 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 34169288 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Teo, Adrian K. K. (2022). "Manufacturing clinical-grade human induced pluripotent stem cells". Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 13: 373. doi:10.1186/s13287-022-03077-1 (inactive 12 October 2025).
- ↑ "Opening the cellular gates to glucose". A*STAR Research. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "Singapore's BetaLife develops stem cell cure for diabetes". The Straits Times. 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
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