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Assoc Prof Zhou Lei

Assoc Prof Zhou Lei

​BSc, MSc, PhD

Principal Investigator I, Singapore Eye Research Institute

Research Interest:
  • Mass spectrometry based proteomics and metabolomics
  • Biomarkers of ocular diseases
  • Proteomics/metabolomics of tear fluid
  • Ocular drug pharmacokinetics
  • Antimicrobial peptides

Research Appointments

  • Principal Investigator I, Singapore Eye Research Institute
  • Senior Principal Research Scientist, Singapore Eye Research Institute

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Professor SingHealth Duke-NUS Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Programme

Profile

Associate Professor Zhou Lei is a Senior Principal Research Scientist. He was trained as a bio-analytical chemist. He applies cutting-edge mass spectrometry and proteomics/metabolomics technologies for eye research. He joined Singapore Eye Research Institute after completing his Ph.D. in Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore in 1998.

Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships

  • Senior Principal Research Scientist, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2012)
  • Principal Research Scientist, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2007)
  • Senior Research Fellow, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2004)
  • Research Fellow, Singapore Eye Research Institute (1998)

Education

  • PhD (1998)
  • MSc (1988)
  • BSc (1985)

Awards

  • Best Poster (Merit prize, Basic Science), 8th NHG Annual Scientific Congress (2009)

Research Studies

  • ​SERI-Santen IAF: Biomarkers in diabetic retinopathy (2018 – 2021)
  • DYNAMO: Diabetes study in nephropathy and other Microvascular complications (2017 - 2021)
  • SERI-IMCB programme in retinal angiogenic diseases (SIPRAD) (2015 - 2018)
  • Tear biomarkers for patients with thyroid orbitopathy (2014 -2016)
  • Quantitative proteomic analysis of human aqueous humor in patients with uveitis (2010 - 2013)
  • Engineering novel cationic antimicrobial peptides for eye diseases (2007 - 2010)
  • Proteomics of ocular antimicrobial proteins (2004 – 2007)

Publications

  1. Zhou L*, Chan JCY, Chupin S, Gueguen N, Desquiret-Dumas V, Koh SK, Li J, Gao Y, Deng L, Verma C, Beuerman RW, Chan ECY, Milea D*, Reynier P*. Increased Protein S-Glutathionylation in Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). International journal of molecular sciences. 2020. 21(8), 3027. (IF = 4.556). *Corresponding author.

  2. Gao Y, Teo KYC, Beuerman RW, Wong TY, Zhou L*, Cheung GCM*. A serum metabolomics study of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in response to anti-VEGF therapy. Scientific Reports. 2020. 10, 1314. (IF =4.122). *Corresponding author.

  3. Chan JCY, Soh ACK, Dorinda Y, Kioh YQ, Li J, Verma C, Koh SK, Beuerman RW, Zhou L*, Chan ECY*. Reactive Metabolite-induced Protein Glutathionylation Mechanistically Accounts for Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics. 2018. 17(10), 2034-2050. (IF = 6.540). *Corresponding author.

  4. Chen L, Gao Y, Wang LZ, Ning Cheung N, Tan GSW, Cheung CMG, Beuerman RW, Wong TY, Chan ECY, Zhou L*. Recent advances in the applications of metabolomics in eye research. Analytica Chimica Acta. 2018, Dec 11;1037:28-40. (IF = 5.977). *Corresponding author

  5. Chen G, Walmsley S, Cheung GCM, Chen L, Cheng CY, Beuerman RW, Wong TY, Zhou L*, Choi HW*. Customized consensus spectral library building for untargeted quantitative metabolomics analysis with data independent acquisition mass spectrometry and metaboDIA workflow. Analytical Chemistry. 2017. 89(9):4897-4906. (IF = 6.785). *Corresponding author

  6. Zhou L*, Beuerman RW. The power of tears: how tear proteomics research could revolutionize the clinic (Editorial).  Expert Review of Proteomics. 2017. 14(3):189-191. (IF = 3.849). *Corresponding author.

  7. Tong L, Zhou L, Beuerman RW, Simonyi S, Hollander DA, Stern ME. Effects of punctal occlusion on global tear proteins in patients with dry eye. Ocular Surface. 2017. S1542-0124(16)30285-3. (IF = 12.336).

  8. Nättinen J, Jylhä A, Aapola U, Enríquez-de-Salamanca A, Pinto-Fraga J, López-Miguel A, González-García MJ, Stern ME, Calonge M, Zhou L, Nykter M, Uusitalo H, Beuerman RW. Topical Fluorometholone Treatment and Desiccating Stress Change Inflammatory Protein Expression in Tears. Ocular Surface. 2017. 16(1):84-92. (IF = 12.336).

  9. Chen L, Cheng CY, Choi HW, Ikram MK, Sabanayagam C, Tan GS, Tian DC, Zhang L, Venkatesan G, Tai ES, Wang JJ, Mitchell P, Cheung CM, Beuerman RW, Zhou L*, Chan ECY*, Wong TY*. Plasma metabonomic profiling of diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes. 2016, Apr;65(4):1099-108. (IF = 8.474). *Corresponding author

  10. Chen L, Li J, Guo T, Ghosh S, Koh SK, Tian D, Zhang L, Jia D, Beuerman RW, Aebersold R, Chan EC, Zhou L*. Global metabonomic and proteomic analysis of human conjunctival epithelial cells (IOBA-NHC) in response to hyperosmotic stress. Journal of Proteome Research. 2015. 14, 3982-3995. (IF: 5.001). *Corresponding author

  11. Tong L, Zhou XY, Jylha A, Aapola U, Liu DN, Koh SK, Tian D, Quah J, Uusitalo H, Beuerman RW, Zhou L*. Quantitation of 47 human tear proteins using high resolution multiple reaction monitoring (HR-MRM) based-mass spectrometry. Journal of Proteomics. 2015. 115, 36-48. (IF: 5.001). *Corresponding author

  12. Fan Q, Verhoeven V, Wojciechowski R, Barathi VA, …Zhou L, …. Cheng CY, Hammond C, Klaver C, and Saw SM. Meta-analysis of gene-environment-wide association scans accounting for education level identifies additional loci for refractive error. Nature Communications. 2016, Mar 29;7:11008. (IF: 11.470). 

  13. Barathi VA, Chaurasia SS, Poidinger M, Koh SK, Tian D, Ho C, Iuvone MP, Beuerman RW, Zhou L*. Involvement of GABA transporters in atropine-treated myopic retina as revealed by iTRAQ quantitative proteomics. Journal of Proteome Research. 2014, Nov. 7; 13(11): 4647-4658. (IF: 5.001). *Corresponding author

  14. Zhou L, Beuerman RW Tear analysis in ocular surface diseases. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 2012. 31(6), 527-550. (IF: 14.860)

  15. Zhou L*, Zhao SZ, Koh SK, Chen L, Vaz C, Tanavde V, Li XR, Beuerman RW. In-depth analysis of the human tear proteome.  Journal of Proteomics. 2012. 75(13), 3877-3885. (IF: 5.080) *Corresponding author

  16. Chen L, Zhou L*, Chan E, Neo J, Beuerman, RW. Characterization of the human tear metabolome by LC-MS/MS. Journal of Proteome Research. 2011, Oct 7;10(10):4876-82. (IF: 5.617). * Corresponding author

  17. Zhou L, Beuerman RW, Chan CM, Zhao SZ, Li XR, Yang H, Tong L, Liu SP, Stern ME, Tan DTH. Identification of tear fluid biomarkers in dry eye syndrome using iTRAQ quantitative proteomics. Journal of Proteome Research. 2009, 8(11), 4889-4905. (IF: 5.737).

  18. Zhou L, Beuerman RW, Chew AP, Koh SK, Cafaro TA, Urrets-Zavalia EA, Urrets-Zavalia JA, Li SFY, Serra HM Quantitative analysis of N-linked glycoproteins in tear fluid of climatic droplet keratopathy by glycopeptide capture and iTRAQ. Journal of Proteome Research. 2009. 8(4), 1992-2003. (IF: 5.737).

  19. Zhou L, Beuerman RW, Huang LQ, Liu SP, Barathi A, Foo YH, Li SFY, Chew FT, Tan D Proteomic analysis of rabbit tear fluid: Defensin levels after an experimental corneal wound are correlated to wound closure. Proteomics. 2007. 7(17) 3194-3206. Figures on Front Cover page. Featured article in this issue. Podcast internationally. (IF: 5.809).

  20. Zhou L, Huang LQ, Beuerman RW, Grigg ME, Li SFY, Chew FT, Ang L, Stern ME, Tan D Proteomic analysis of human tears: Defensin expression after ocular surface surgery. Journal of Proteome Research. 2004. 3(3): 410-416. (IF: 6.917).