Joseph Sung

Senior Vice President (Health & Life Sciences) 
Dean, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
Distinguished University Professor

Professor Joseph Sung is the Senior Vice President (Health & Life Sciences) of the Nanyang Technological University and Dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.

Professor Sung’s research interests include intestinal bleeding, Helicobacter Pylori, peptic ulcer, hepatitis B, colorectal cancer, and other cancers related to the digestive system. Professor Sung and his team proved the relationship between H. Pylori and peptic ulcer diseases. They were first in demonstrating that a course of antibiotics lasting a week can cure H. Pylori infection and successfully treat peptic ulcers and minimize their relapse. At the same time, he and his research team pioneered the use of endoscopic treatment for ulcer bleeding to reduce the need for operative surgery. These research results have a major impact on and have changed the practice of gastroenterology worldwide. In recent years, his research portfolio has extended into studies of gut microbiome and digestive diseases. He is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence in clinical medicine. 

Professor Sung is a renowned researcher in gastroenterology and hepatology. He led a group of experts from 15 Asia-Pacific countries to launch colorectal cancer screening research in 2004, and has laid down clear guidelines and promoted colorectal screenings in the region. Because of his work in cancer screening and prevention, he was honoured by the Prevent Cancer Foundation of the United States with the Laurel Award in 2008. In 2009, his seminal lectures on peptic ulcer bleeding won him the Marshall and Warren Lecture Award.

Professor Sung has published over 1000 full scientific articles in leading medical and scientific journals. He was listed as “Highly Cited Researchers”, released by the Clarivate Analytics, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. He has edited and authored around 30 books, as well as many chapters in major textbooks including the Oxford Textbook of Medicine (5th Ed.), Fordtran and Slanginger Textbook of Gastroenterology (7th Ed) and Yamada’s Textbook of Gastroenterology (4th Ed).