| 5TH ISOS CONFERENCE SPEAKERS 2026 | |
 Prof Eric C. Leuthardt | Eric C. Leuthardt, MD, is a neurosurgeon who is currently a professor with the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He is Chief of the Division of Neurotechnology. He is also Director of the Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology and the Brain Laser Center. His research has focused on brain computer interfaces and brain mapping – using engineering approaches to decode the brain to create novel diagnostics and treatments for disease ranging from brain tumors, stroke, chronic pain, and spinal cord injury. Dr. Leuthardt uses an integrated approach by employing multiple domains of expertise ranging from biomedical engineering, clinical neurosurgery, mathematical modeling, complex signal analysis, and computer programming. In addition to numerous peer-reviewed publications, Leuthardt has numerous patents on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for medical devices and brain computer interface technologies. Neuroprosthetics – devices linked to the brain that may lead to cures for paralysis, allow patients to move artificial limbs or restore other neurological functions. |
 Prof Koichi Suda Professor & Head, Divisions of GI & HPB Surgery, Department of Surgery, Fujita Health University, Japan | Dr Koichi Suda was born in 1975. He graduated from Keio University and received his medical degree in 2000. He completed his residency in general surgery at Keio University Hospital and received his Ph.D. from Keio University in 2006. After finishing the postdoctoral fellowship program at University of British Columbia (2008-2010), he was recruited to Fujita Health University as Junior Assistant Professor in 2010. Then, he was engaged in developing and spreading the novel methodologies of minimally invasive surgery for esophageal and stomach cancer, finally assigned to be Associate Professor in 2014. In 2016, he returned to Keio University Hospital and launched not only laparoscopic gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer but also robotic gastrectomy and esophagectomy. In 2018, he came back to Fujita Health University, and has been serving as Professor & Head, Divisions of GI & HPB Surgery, Department of Surgery, since 2021. He serves on Councilor of the Japan Surgical Society (JSS), the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (JSES), the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association, and the Japan Esophageal Society (JES) as well as Senior Fellow of the JSS, the Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society, and the Japanese Society of Gastroenterology. He has been a certified proctor for robotic surgery and a qualified surgeon by the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System managed by the JSES, as well as Board Certified Esophageal Surgeons by the JES. His area of interest in medical practice and research has consistently been focused on minimally invasive upper GI surgery including laparoscopic surgery for advanced gastric cancer, prone thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, and robotic surgery. He has published more than 110 peer-reviewed articles. He serves as Editor of the Gastric Cancer and the Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery. |
 Prof Yin-Kai Chao Chief, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan | Dr Chao acquired his MD degree from Chang Gung university in 2001 and completed specialist training as thoracic surgeon in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2006. In 2010, he received PhD degree in Medical sciences at the Chang Gung University. He is now the full time attending staff in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovasvular Surgery in Chang Gung memorial hospital Linkou and a professor at Chang Gung University. Dr Chao is a board certified surgeon pioneering in minimal invasive esophagectomy. He accounts for more than 60% of the esophageal cancer operations performed annually at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou,Taiwan. Dr. Chao is a very strong patient advocate and very dedicated to our specialty, his talent in minimal invasive surgery is outstanding and exemplary and of the highest quality. In addition to his work , Dr Chao is also a well-known researcher . His areas of scientific investigation include the esophageal cancer research and development of biodegradable medical device . Being a recipient of numerous research awards since 2006, he has authored over 100 publications.Dr. Yin Kai Chao is a very well-known doctor in the esophageal cancer field. His innovative surgical methods as well as his experienced techniques have gained him recognition and praise in Taiwan.
|
 Prof Matt Lechner | Matt Lechner, MD, PhD, FRCS, FHEA, Professor at University College London, directs a research programme into Rhinology, Smell Dysfunction, Sleep Surgery/Medicine and Head and Neck Cancer. His group's cancer research focuses on sinonasal cancers and HPV-associated and EBV-associated malignancies (viral oncology theme). Matt obtained his PhD from University College London and trained as an ENT Surgeon at University College London Hospitals, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and Barts Health in London. Before rejoining UCL, he completed a one-year surgical Instructorship/Fellowship in Rhinology and Advanced Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery under Drs. Peter Hwang, Zara Patel and Jayakar Nayak at Stanford University (Palo Alto, US). He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and was one of the first surgeons at UCL who was awarded a Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy in 2013. He has published more than 150 original articles covering smell, rhinology, cancer biology, tumor virology and experimental cancer medicine. He served as Co-Lead of the Head and Neck Domain of the 100000 Genomes Project (2016-2024) and has since taken on the role as Pan-Cancer and Molecular Oncology Co-lead. He has been awarded the title ‘Hunterian Professor’ by the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2020. |
| Ulrich Ronellenfitsch is Professor of Evidence-based Abdominal Surgical Oncology at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and consultant surgeon at the University Hospital Halle (Saale), Germany. He holds board certifications in general, vascular and abdominal surgery, and became a Fellow of the European Board of Surgery in Surgical Oncology in 2024. His academic career has included appointments in Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Halle. His
research focuses on multimodal treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies, soft-tissue
sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, perioperative care and health services research,
with particular expertise in systematic reviews with individual patient data meta-analyses and
clinical trial design. |
 Dr Clement Chia Luck Khng Senior Consultant and Head Breast Surgery Service, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital | Dr Clement Chia is Senior Consultant and Head of the Breast Surgery Service at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore. He is expert in the management of breast cancer, particularly in elderly women, and is highly skilled in both breast-conserving surgery and oncoplastic techniques. His clinical expertise also includes thyroid and parathyroid disorders, and the comprehensive management of all benign and malignant breast diseases. Dr Chia is dedicated to providing patient-centered care, utilising innovative approaches to enhance surgical outcomes and quality of life for his patients. Dr Chia was awarded the Team Human Manpower Development Plan Award by Ministry of Health Singapore and completed his overseas fellowship in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery at Royal Derby Hospital and Nottingham Hospital in the United Kingdom. In the UK, he also trained under Professor Kwok-Leung Cheung who is a world expert in breast cancer in older women and expanded his treatment repertoire to personalize care for older women with breast cancer. Dr Chia also spent significant time during his fellowship learning plastic surgery from reknown plastic surgeon Professor Visnu Lohsiriwat at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok where he incorporated various plastic surgery techniques to optimise the cosmetic and post-operative wound outcomes of his patients. Dr Chia is an outstanding clinician innovator and the recipient of the National Medical Research Council Research Training Fellowship Award in 2024. He was also awarded the Singapore Biodesign Innovation Fellowship in 2024, a national talent development program by A*STAR Singapore. In recognition of his contributions to advancing med-tech innovations, he received the Young Innovator of the Year Award 2024 from National Healthcare Group. One of his key innovation projects is REBORN (Redefining Education for Breast Oncology Reconstruction), a digital innovation that helps breast cancer patients make better informed choices for breast reconstruction. Dr Chia has also published over 60 research articles in medical journals and has been an invited speaker to conferences around the world. Locally, he has also written about breast cancer screening for Today Online and Lianhe Zaobao. In addition to his clinical and research work, Dr Chia holds adjunct Assistant Professor faculty positions at Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, where he has received numerous awards for his contributions to medical education, including the NUS Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence. His work in both clinical and academic spheres continues to shape the future of breast cancer treatment and surgical education. |
| Dr Joshua Tay completed his undergraduate medical training at the National University of Singapore, achieving a distinction in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme and winning the Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Prize. He underwent speciality training in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery in Singapore and was awarded the College of Surgeons Gold Medal for the best performing resident at the Otolaryngology Exit Examinations. Dr Tay was subsequently awarded the Ministry of Health Healthcare Research Scholarship, during which he completed a PhD in Cancer Biology at the Stanford University School of Medicine focusing on molecular subtypes of nasopharyngeal cancer, under the guidance of Professors John B. Sunwoo and Robert B. West. Dr Tay’s research involves classifying tumors based on their gene signatures and matching them with targeted therapies for personalized treatment. Together with A/Prof Thomas Loh, he leads a Head and Neck Cancer Genomics laboratory at NUS, with special expertise in microdissected gene expression profiling from paraffin specimens. |
