Groundbreaking Research Offers New Hope for Miscarriage and Autoimmune Disease Patients

In a world where the distress of impending loss weighs heavily on expectant mothers, Dr. Ku Chee Wai’s journey in reproductive medicine has ignited hope. While training at Duke-NUS Medical School, the faces of women facing miscarriage became pivotal to his career aspirations. His goal? To pioneer advancements in care for those navigating the treacherous waters of high-risk pregnancies.

In a remarkable breakthrough in 2020, seven years post his MD graduation from Duke-NUS, Dr. Ku and his team at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Singapore, developed a novel blood test that measures progesterone levels in pregnant women experiencing early bleeding. This test, a gamechanger in predicting pregnancy outcomes as early as 16 weeks, allows healthcare providers to identify low-risk versus high-risk cases. “This enables tailored treatment, ensuring our patients receive optimal support,” Dr. Ku explained.

Driven to deepen his impact, Dr. Ku, a National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Research Training Fellowship recipient, returned to Duke-NUS to pursue a PhD in Clinical and Translational Sciences. This innovative programme uniquely equips physicians to blend rigorous research with practical patient care, leveraging the vast resources at the SingHealth-Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC).

Under the mentorship of Professor Jerry Chan, a notable expert in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Ku created an ingenious lifestyle intervention tool known as 6P. This tool guides women toward healthier living by focusing on essential pillars: portion control, food proportions, pleasure in eating, meal timing, physical activity, and mindful psychological habits.

“This validation study showed that participants found the tool tremendously beneficial in enhancing their eating habits and overall well-being,” Dr. Ku noted. Building on 6P's success, he launched the HELMS (Healthy Early-Life Moments in Singapore) initiative, a robust mobile health platform aimed at supporting women, particularly during challenging pregnancies, by emphasizing mental and metabolic health— paving the way for healthier generations.

Dr. Ku asserts, “An investment in the mother translates to a better future for the child.”

Advancing Research in Autoimmune Diseases: A Dual Perspective

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Noviani, another talented Duke-NUS MD graduate, has turned her attention to the realm of autoimmune diseases. Enrolling in the same PhD programme as Dr. Ku in 2023, her research focuses on systemic sclerosis, a debilitating autoimmune condition that predominantly affects women in their reproductive years.

“While systemic sclerosis is rare, the consequences are severe, particularly for women at a stage in life where family planning is critical,” she explained. Currently incurable, this condition poses not only physical challenges but emotional ones as well. Dr. Noviani aspires to unravel its complexities to advance personalized treatment strategies for affected patients.

Guided by esteemed mentors like Professor Salvatore Albani and Associate Professor Andrea Low, Dr. Noviani is dedicated to discovering potential biomarkers that can revolutionize treatment plans. “Integrating clinical evidence with patient responses has offered invaluable insights, and I believe my research could reshape the standard of care for autoimmune rheumatic diseases,” she stated.

By engaging in the Duke-NUS Clinical and Translational Sciences programme, Dr. Noviani is cultivating essential skills for her research journey—skills crucial for analyzing data, designing robust experiments, and interpreting complex results.

Both Dr. Ku and Dr. Noviani stand at the forefront of their fields, driven by a shared commitment to improve patient care. Their innovative spirit and collaborative efforts illustrate a beacon of hope for countless individuals grappling with the heartbreak of miscarriage risks and the challenges posed by autoimmune diseases.

As they continue their missions, one thing remains evident: the intersection of pioneering research and compassionate care can alter the course of medical history—creating remarkable legacies entwined with patient hope and healing.