Following Her Heart's Calling

By Grace Lim

11/27/2024 2:27:00 PM | Stories from the Heart (NHCS)

The article is contributed/written by

Our emerging researcher, Vivian Lee, Research Associate from NHRIS.

While some may dream of a job that allows one to unveil new discoveries, not many get close to it. For Vivian Lee, Research Associate from National Heart Research Institute Singapore (NHRIS), this is not the case for she is now living out her childhood dream of being a researcher right here at NHCS!

A journey that is long and rigorous, Vivian’s hard work in cardiac research has paid off in a multitude of ways. Apart from recently publishing a paper examining the effects of fat distribution on cardiometabolic health, she has also received the Young Investigator Award (Clinical Research) at the 25th Singapore General Hospital Annual Scientific Meeting.

CardioConnect delves into Vivian’s inspiring story as an up-and-coming researcher.

Please bring us through your journey to becoming a researcher.

The human body as an enigma has always intrigued me even as a kid, but studying for my master’s degree gave me the final push into pursuing research as a career. Through this, I discovered the fascinating prospect of harnessing the power of technology in biological research, underpinned by my project exploring coronary artery disease with molecular biomarkers and computed tomography (CT) imaging. My passion for translational research continued when I was working in the diagnostic industry, developing biomarker testing for clinical use. Ultimately, I followed my heart’s calling, and now I work as a cardiac scientist at NHCS!

What are your research interests or pursuits, and how has that aligned with your work at NHCS?

Despite the advancements in cardiovascular care, there is still much to be done – especially when the modern lifestyle exacerbates metabolic complications. My interest in examining the heart through a multi marker approach hasn’t waned over the years. When I was given the opportunity to work under my mentor, Assoc Prof Calvin Chin, whose research direction aligns with my interest, I would say the stars certainly aligned!

Currently, we are working on using both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and molecular biomarkers to better understand cardiometabolic diseases, ultimately devising better risk stratification and management methods. Specifically, I am examining how the distribution of fat in our body relates to disorder and dysfunction of the heart muscle.

What is your proudest achievement at NHCS so far?

Being able to take on greater ownership and responsibilities in research fuels my sense of accomplishment and gratefulness. Similarly, arriving at compelling results from some of our studies such as the REMODEL study, REVERSE-LVH trial, and adiposity study brings me joy. The successful collaborations, publications, and awards that come along the way are the cherry on top, which would not have been possible without great teamwork!

We understand you work closely with our Corporate Communications team to simplify complex research for NHCS’s social media channels. Please share more about this with us!

Effective science communication is something I feel strongly for! I am very glad to be part of this initiative which started in late 2023. Working closely with the communications team to simplify and dissect complex research from recent publications or ongoing projects into easily digestible infographics, has allowed us to empower fellow NHCS researchers by acknowledging their good work, educating the readers, and opening doors for potential collaboration.

Examples of infographic research posts featured on NHCS LinkedIn.

I would like to thank our researchers for their active participation, and the communications team for their support. Follow #NHCSresearch on LinkedIn to show our researchers some love and reach out to showcase your work!

Do you have any tips for aspiring researchers?

I will sum it up in three points:

Perspective: I believe this career is a purposeful commitment to addressing critical and complex issues. However, as much as research is altruistic, you’ve got to do it for the joy! Remembering why you became a researcher will keep you grounded through the ups and downs.
Learning: Have a growth mindset - be brave in facing your weaknesses to become more confident in your subject matter. Learn from your mentors and peers, go to workshops and conferences, and think and try new things!
Self-care: Pace yourself! Sprint, jog or rest, we are in it for the long run. At the end of the day, can we really make the world a healthier place by becoming sick ourselves?

Vivians aims to develop an AI-aided method to streamline the fat quantification process if preliminary results of her study show clinical relevance. We are excited to see what the future holds for this promising researcher!