People Drive the Future of Science

Dr. Mohamed ElSayed is the Executive Director of NATi, where he previously served as its inaugural Chief Scientific Officer. He brings over 25 years of leadership experience across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic sectors. Prior to NATi, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at RVAC Medicines and formerly the Vice President of Biotechnology at Eli Lilly, where he led the development of oral biologics and mRNA platforms, advancing multiple assets from discovery to clinical proof-of-concept. He has also held senior roles at Abbvie, Samyang, and Guilford Pharmaceuticals, and was a tenured professor at the University of Michigan. Dr. ElSayed holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Cairo University and a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Maryland. He completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Washington with fellowships from the National Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Dr Vira Bitko is the Head, Vaccines & Immunology at the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi). With over 20 years’ experience in vaccine R&D and biopharmaceutical leadership, she has a strong record of advancing vaccines from concept to clinic. She previously held senior roles at RVAC Medicines, BlueWillow Biologics, AGTC and other companies, driving preclinical development, translational research, and innovative vaccine platforms. Her expertise spans microbiology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Gerontology.

Dr. Sissi Lin is an RNA drug developer and strategist with over 15 years of experience in nucleic acid chemistry and RNA therapeutics. She is currently Deputy Director of R&D Strategy at NATi, where she is responsible for RNA pipeline development, emerging technology translation and capability building in Singapore. Previously, she was the founding Director of Chemistry and Operations at Lerna Biopharma, where she built the oligonucleotide drug development platform, led ligand discovery for liver and ocular targets, and oversaw CMC through preclinical stages. Dr. Lin holds a BSc in Chemistry from Southwest University in China and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Michigan Technological University in US. She completed her postdoctoral research under Nobel Laureate Professor Sydney Brenner at Molecular Engineering Laboratory in A*STAR.

Dr. Surya Prakash is Head, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases (CVMD) at the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi). He brings over two decades of experience in translational pharmacology and therapeutic innovation. He previously served as VP of Metabolic Diseases at Evotec, Germany, and held senior roles at Sanofi, Eli Lilly, Dr.Reddy’s labs and Duke-NUS. A pharmacology graduate from The University of Queensland, Australia, Dr. Prakash specializes in novel target identification, validation, project enablement, asset generation and multi-modality therapeutics, including nucleic acid therapies. At NATi, he drives internal discovery and strategic collaborations to deliver transformative therapies.

As a Manager with the NATi Portfolio Management team, Nani drives the strategic planning and execution of grant-funded projects, ensuring successful outcomes aligned with NATi’s objectives. With a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and over a decade of experience across academic and private sectors, Nani possesses a robust background in managing diverse projects and portfolios. Her expertise spans innovation, the development and commercialization of biomolecular-based diagnostic platforms, and fostering cross-functional collaborations. Her unique blend of scientific acumen and extensive project management experience allows her to adeptly adapt and implement in-depth strategic approaches for translating technological advancements into tangible outcomes.

Cher is Portfolio Manager at NATi, where she oversees RNA technology programs from early discovery to clinical translation. She brings over 12 years of experience in drug development, biotech strategy and advanced therapeutics, with roles across global corporations, local biotechs and academia, including Hummingbird Bioscience, IQVIA, Autolus Therapeutics and Imperial College London.

Cher holds a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from Imperial College London and an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham.

Dr Kathy Rivett-Carnac has over ten years of experience in life sciences innovation, covering biotech venture creation, portfolio management, and translational research. She is the Acting Deputy Director at the Nucleic Acid Therapeutics Initiative (NATi), where she works on advancing RNA-based therapeutics and developing national biotech strategy. Kathy’s background combines scientific research and investment analysis. As a Venture Fellow at EVX Ventures, she participated in early-stage biotech company development, evaluated scientific opportunities, and supported portfolio companies. Her previous experience includes research in developmental biology and genomics, with positions such as the Lee Kuan Yew Fellowship at the National University of Singapore and a PhD from a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) institute and Université Aix-Marseille. Kathy has experience across science and business and is involved in applying research to translational development. She has worked within academia, government, and venture sectors. She also possesses multilingual skills and international experience.

Mun Foong is a Manager at NATi’s Portfolio Management Team, overseeing funded projects with a focus on strategic execution and impact. She brings four years of experience from an AI startup in the semiconductor industry, where she developed a strong foundation in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and technology commercialisation. Her interdisciplinary background enables her to bridge technical innovation with business strategy. At NATi, she manages high-impact portfolios, drives innovation, and fosters partnerships that accelerate growth across emerging technologies.

Tommy Dong supports strategic planning and operational execution at NATi, ensuring cross-functional alignment, organizational scheduling, and the delivery of high-impact initiatives such as laboratory infrastructure and internal planning systems. With over seven years of experience across biotech, healthcare, and clinical research, he brings a strong foundation in scientific operations, process optimization, and institutional coordination. He holds a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Science and Technology from the National University of Singapore. Tommy is PMP-certified, GLP-trained, and holds a Certificate in Medical Affairs from Duke-NUS Medical School.

Dr Kelvin Ng is Director (Coordination) of NATi where he oversees all operations and policies to guide and implement NATi’s overall strategy. He brings diverse experience across public- and private-sector research, commercialisation, venture capital investment, and grant administration. This includes an executive role in a USD 250M agri-food tech fund, a founding role in the SGD 144M Singapore Food Story 1.0 R&D programme, and strategic roles in several multimillion-dollar programmes in biologics, cell therapy, and alternative proteins. Dr Ng helmed several roles at A*STAR and was formerly Chief Scientific Officer at Bloom8 venture capital. Dr Ng holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from a joint programme between the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School.

Lay Hong is the Senior Assistant Director at NATi, where she leads alliance and partnership management to support strategic collaborations and drive impactful initiatives. She is an accomplished professional with over 10 years of experience in drug discovery and development, with a strong focus on business development and project management in the biotechnology sector.

Driving strategic alignment and operational excellence at NATi, Vanessa, Senior Assistant Director, plays a key role in the organisation’s strategic operations. Her experience spans drug development, research, lab management, and project management in both public and private sectors, and was involved in the setup of various laboratories, including a GLP-compliant facility to support preclinical workflows. At NATi, she leads initiatives that streamline internal processes, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, and support long-term planning to achieve the organisation’s mission. Vanessa holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Western Australia.