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With Verena Tan

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Associate Professor

Verena Tan

Programme Leader, Bachelor of Science with Honours in Dietetics and Nutrition
Member, Cluster Applied Research Committee, Health and Social Sciences Cluster
Associate Professor
Ph.D. in Human Nutrition, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS, Singapore
Cluster:
Health and Social Sciences
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SIT Appointments

  • Associate Professor
    – Present
  • Programme Leader, Bachelor of Science with Honours in Dietetics and Nutrition
    – Present
  • Member, Cluster Applied Research Committee, Health and Social Sciences Cluster
    Present
  • Assistant Professor
    –

Education

  • Ph.D. in Human Nutrition
    Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS , Singapore
  • Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics
    University of Sydney , Australia
  • BSc (First Class Honours) Nutrition
    King's College London , United Kingdom

Achievements

  • SIT Fellowship (Research) Award
  • SIT Teaching Excellence Award (AY2022)

Professional Certification

  • Accredited Practising Dietitian
    Dietitians Association of Australia
  • Accredited Dietitian of Singapore
    Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association

Professional Memberships

  • Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association
    – Present

Corporate Experience

  • FrieslandCampina Development Centre AMEA
  • Abbott Nutrition R&D Asia-Pacific Center
  • Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR
  • Temasek Polytechnic
  • Tan Tock Seng Hospital
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Research Interests

  • Diet-intervention studies
  • Protein and amino acids in muscle health
  • Geriatric nutrition
  • Cancer nutrition
  • Cardiovascular nutrition
  • Novel food solutions for the Asian population

Current Projects

  • Softer Meals that Impact the Life of the Elderly (SMILE)
    – Present

    Principal Investigator, NMRC Healthy Longevity Catalyst Award ($199,940)

  • Delicious, Integrative, Good NutrItion and Fulfillment in Elderly Diet (DIGNIFIED) Programme (A*STAR FMC MTC IAF-PP)
    – Present

    Lead Principal Investigator, A*STAR MTC-FMG-IAF-PP ($7.3 million)

Past Projects

  • Development of Nutrient-Dense Ready-to-Eat Texture-Modified Local Snacks for Dysphagia
    –

    Co-Investigator, SIT Innovation Capability Development Grant ($99,980) 

  • Healthy snack for aging population with balanced nutrition and superior taste
    –

    Collaborator, Prima Group ($97,000)

  • Development of a novel Asian Mediterranean Diet and its acceptability in non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD): a pre-intervention study
    –

    Principal Investigator, MOE Academic Research Fund Tier 1 ($145,400)

  • Additive Manufacturing Enabled Shaping of Pureed Asian Foods
    –

    Co-Investigator, NAMIC grant ($27,600)

  • Effect of Probiotics on Amino Acid Absorption
    –

    Principal Investigator, SIT Ignition Grant ($170,000)

  • SCREEN II: Upstream identification of nutritional risks and its determinants amongst older adults in primary care in Singapore
    –

    Collaborator, NUHS Seed Grant ($48,000)

  • Towards Better Nutrition in Cancer Patients: a pilot study
    –

    Principal Investigator, SIT Ignition Grant ($100,000)

  • Development of Asian plant-based protein beverage with optimized amino acid profile
    –

    Principal Investigator, SIT Seed Grant ($10,000)

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Journal Papers

  • Suryawan, A., Jalaludin, M., Poh, B., Sanusi, R., Tan, V.M.H., Geurts, J., & Muhardi, L. Malnutrition in early life and its neurodevelopmental and cognitive consequences: A scoping review. Nutrition Research Reviews, 2021, 1-41. doi:10.1017/S0954422421000159

  • V.M.H. Tan, B.W.J. Pang, L.K. Lau, K.A. Jabbar, W.T. Seah, K.K. Chen, T.P. Ng, S.-L. Wee. Malnutrition and sarcopenia in community-dwelling adults in Singapore: Yishun Health Study. J Nutr Health Aging 2021, 25: 374-381

  • S. Atkinson, F.; A. Heruc, G.; M. H. Tan, V.; Petocz, P.; C. Brand-Miller, J. Extending the Overnight Fast: Sex Differences in Acute Metabolic Responses to Breakfast. Nutrients 2020, 12, 2173.

  • A. Ghosh, I. Shaikh, V. Satyavrat, P. Pote, S. Shinde, Y. Berde, Y.L. Low, V.M.H. Tan, D. Huynh. Effect of oral nutritional supplementation on growth and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in picky eating children at nutritional risk: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Internal Medical Research Jun 2018; 46(6): 2186-2201.

  • A. Ghosh, Kishore, B., I. Shaikh, V. Satyavrat, A. Kumar, T. Shah, P. Pote, S. Shinde, Y. Berde, Y.L. Low, V.M.H. Tan, D. Huynh. Continuation of oral nutritional supplementation supports continued growth in nutritionally at-risk children with picky eating behaviour: A post-intervention, observational follow-up study. Journal of Internal Medical Research Jul 2018; 46(7): 2615-2632

  • D.S.Q. Ooi, V.M.H. Tan (co-first), S.G. Ong, C.K. Heng, Y.H. Chan, Y.S. Lee. Differences in AMY1 gene copy numbers derived from blood, buccal cells and saliva using quantitative and droplet digital PCR methods: flagging the pitfall. PLoS One Jan 2017; 12(1): e0170767

  • V.M.H. Tan, S.Q. Ooi, J. Kapur, T. Wu, Y.H. Chan, J. Henry, Y.S. Lee. The role of digestive factors in determining glycemic response in a multi-ethnic Asian population. European Journal of Nutrition Jul 2016; 55 (4): 1573-81.

  • V.M.H. Tan, Y.S. Lee, K. Venkataraman, E.Y.H. Khoo, E.S. Tai, M.K.S. Leow, C.M. Khoo. Ethnic differences in insulin sensitivity, post-meal glycemic and insulin responses: The Singapore Adults Metabolism Study. Nutrition and Diabetes Jul 2015; 5 (7): e173.

  • V.M.H. Tan, T. Wu, C.J. Henry, Y.S. Lee. Glycaemic and insulin responses, glycaemic index and insulinaemic index values of rice between three Asian ethnic groups. British Journal of Nutrition Apr 2015; 113 (8): 1228-36.

  • Y. Lee, M.F.F. Chong (co-first), J.C.J. Liu, C. Libedinsky, J.J. Gooley, S. Chen, T. Wu, V. Tan, M. Zhou, M.J. Meaney, Y.S. Lee, and M.W.L. Chee. Dietary disinhibition modulates neural valuation of food in fed and fasted states. American Journal Clinical Nutrition May 2013; 97 (5): 919-925

  • J.Y. Toh, V.M.H. Tan, P.C.Y. Lim, S.T. Lim and M.F.F. Chong.  Flavonoids from Fruit and Vegetables: A Focus on Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Current Atherosclerosis Reports 2013; 15 (12): 368

  • Tan, H. T. S., Kong, H. Z. M., Lim, I. Y., & Tan, V. M. H. Nutritional quality, purchase predictors, and sensory acceptance of plant-based meat alternatives. Academia Nutrition and Dietetics, 2026; 3(1). https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadNutr8156

  • Tan HM, Goh LH, Liew SJ, WH Tan, V Tan, R Teh, YH Chan, JM Valderas. SCREEN-II: upstream identification of nutritional risks and its determinants among older adults in primary care in Singapore. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2025; bmjnph-2024-000992. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2024-000992

Conferences

  • V.M.H. Tan, G.T.L. Chiah, J.Z.Y. Ang, C. Lay, S.Y.Y. Goh, S.S. Dhaliwal, P.P. Lim, W.Y. Mah. Nutritional insights among older adults in Singapore: findings from the DIGNIFIED programme. (ILSI Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity 2025, Singapore; poster and shortlisted for rapid fire oral presentation).

  • VMH Tan, GTL Chiah, YW Lee, IY Lim, GBB Goh. Developing an Asian Mediterranean Diet: nutritional analysis and adherence in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients. (Poster presentation at Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology 2025, Busan, South Korea)

  • G. Chiah, Y.W. Lee, I.Y. Lim, M.C.C. Cheah, G.B.B. Goh, V.M.H. Tan. Adapting the Mediterranean Diet for Asians: sensory evaluation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) participants. (Oral presentation at International Congress of Nutrition 2026, Paris, France)

  • V.M.H. Tan, M.Y. Wang, A. Jain. Acceptability of high-protein plant-based instant beverages among Asian cancer patients.  (E-poster presentation at Singapore Allied Health Conference 2022, 14 Oct 2022)

  • X.Y., Lee, W.Q.Y., Chia, R., Challander, V.M.H. Tan, P.L., Chng, P.S., N. Nutrition Surveillance on Nutrition Adequacy and Eating Behaviour amongst Toa Payoh Residents. (Best e-poster at 8th Obesity, Endocrine & Bariatric Societies Scientific Congress, 10-11 Nov 2023) 

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Teaching Modules

Dietetics and Nutrition, BSc (Hons)

  • DTN2001 - Nutrition Assessment
  • DTN2002 - Nutrition, Health and Disease
  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives
  • HSC2007 - Health Promotion and Population Health

Diagnostic Radiography, BSc

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives

Nursing, BSc (Hons)

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives

Occupational Therapy, BSc

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives

Physiotherapy, BSc (Hons)

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives
  • HSC2007 - Health Promotion and Population Health

Radiation Therapy, BSc (Hons)

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives

Speech and Language Therapy, BSc (Hons)

  • HSC1006 - Health Systems - Singapore's Perspectives
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