Vijayaprakash Suppiah
Phone: +61 421 959 843 (Mobile)
Email: celan99@yahoo.com
Updated: August 2010
Interest: Genetics
I would like to be in the forefront of genetics/pharmacogenetics where the rapid evolution of
the technology is changing the way discoveries are being made.
Education
Institution
Medical Register of Australia
Degree
Dip (Helth Couns)
Year
2008
Queen’s University Belfast
National University of Singapore
Ph.D.
B. Sc. (Hons, 2nd Upper)
2006
2003
Field of study
Health
Counselling
Human Genetics
Pharmacy
Career History
Oct 2006 – present
Postdoctoral Scientist, Westmead Millennium Institute, Australia
Project: Genetics of disease outcomes in chronic hepatitis C infection
Achievement: GWAS confirming the association of IL28B to treatment outcome in genotype 1
hepatitis C patients published in Nature Genetics. Subsequently, identifying two other variants
which are acting in combination with the first identified gene. Skills acquired include patient
recruitment, ethics submission, using Illumina platform for genotyping, gene expression and
next generation sequencing and rtPCR. Setting up and successfully running a genetic
diagnostic service for potential treatment patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C infection.
June 2008 – present
Tutor, School of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Australia
Tutoring pharmacy practice to second year Pharmacy students mainly interaction with patients
in the community setting. This includes marking assessments and oral examination.
Oct 2003 – Sept 2006
PhD student, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast,
Northern Ireland
Project: A study of immune-regulatory genes: CTLA-4, IL-4, IL-4RA, SOCS3, IFNG and IL26 in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Achievement: PhD project resulted in 4 first author papers, 2 second author papers and 2 oral
presentations.
Oct 2003 – Sept 2006
Demonstrator for laboratory classes, School of Pharmacy,
Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Demonstrating mainly in Pharmaceutical technology and Pharmaceutical biotechnology classes
throughout the 3 years that I was at Queen’s University of Belfast. This includes marking
assessments and oral examination.
June 2003 – Sept 2003
Jan 1997 – May 1999
Relief teacher, Pioneer Secondary School, Singapore
Communications Specialist, Singapore Armed Forces
Patents
US Provisional Patent Application Number: 61/349793
Method of determining a response to treatment with Immunodeficiency composition
Australian Provisional Patent Application Number: 2010902565
Method of determining a response to treatment with Immunodeficiency composition
Two other records of invention has been filed and in the process of going through patent
application
Memberships in Scientific Societies
Genetics Society of AustralAsia (GSA)
Postgraduate Scholarships, Academic Awards and Grants
2010 – 2012 ARC Linkage Projects: Functional Genomics to Predict and Enhance Response
to Interferon. J George, JY Yang, FC McKay, V Suppiah, D Booth, G Stewart
and M Bahlo. 2009 for 3 years, $370,000 (LP0990067)
2005
Travel Award, International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research, SICR
Conference, Shanghai, China by ISICR
2003 – 2006 Queen’s University Belfast PhD studentship
2003
Dean’s List, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Research Skills
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism analysis using:
- Restriction digestion
- 5’ Nuclease assay using Taqman probes
- Template-directed dye terminator incorporation assay with fluorescence polarization
(FP-TDI) using Analyst AD
- Sequencing including next generation sequencing with Illumina platform
- Microsatellite analysis
- Illumina whole genome (HumanHap300 and CNV370-Quad) and custom-ordered
arrays (Goldengate)
Genetic Polymorphism analysis software:
- Transmission Equilibrium Test using TRANSMIT, UNPHASE and Haploview
software
- Haplotype analysis using Arlequin, FASTEH Plus, CHAPLIN, UNPHASE and
Haploview software
- Data management using Access, Excel and SPSS
Cell Culture
RT-PCR
Extraction of RNA/DNA
Gene expression using Illumina global gene expression arrays (Human ref8 and ref12)
Project management:
- Coordinating with nurses and research staff at various local and overseas centres for
sample and data collection.
- Working and overseeing 3 research assistants at various stages of the project.
Teaching Experience
Undergraduate teaching in School of Pharmacy, QUB from 2003-2006
- First yr Physiology Tutorial (30 students), 2005
- Second yr Pharmaceutical Technology (PMY206) (30+ students), 2003 - 2006
- Third yr Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (PMY372) (120 students), 2003 - 2006
- Fourth yr Responding to Symptoms (PMY403) (30 students), 2003
- Co-supervised 2 summer students and 5 honours year project students, 2003 – 2006
Undergraduate teaching in School of Pharmacy, USyd from 2008 - present
- Second year Pharmacy Practice 2 (PHAR2617) (21 students)
Oral Presentations
1. V Suppiah. Pharmacogenetics of Hepatitis C. Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference.
Melbourne. Sept 2010.
2. V Suppiah. Department of Pharmacology Seminar Series, University of Sydney. Topic
of presentation: Genetic Markers in Hepatitis C. August 2010.
3. V Suppiah. Keynote Speaker: State of Art lecture series by Schering-Plough. Topic of
presentation: Genetic Markers in Hepatitis C. Brisbane and Adelaide. April 2010.
4. V Suppiah. Pharmacogenetics: The Hepatitis C story. ADMET Symposium.
Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore. Sept 2009.
5. V Suppiah. Pharmacogenetics: Implications in healthcare setting. Invited lecture to
students. Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore. Sept 2009.
6. V Suppiah. Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor genes are
associated with chronic inflammatory arthropathies in Northern Ireland. Irish Society
for Rheumatology AGM 2005, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Oct 2005.
7. V Suppiah. The CTLA4 +49A/G*G–CT60*G haplotype is associated with
susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Flanders. 27th Joint Research Seminar, Trinity
College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. April 2005.
Publications
1. J Grebely, K Petoumenos, M Hellard, GV Matthews, V Suppiah, T Applegate, B
Yeung, P Marks, W Rawlinson, AR Lloyd, D Booth, JM Kaldor, J George, GJ Dore
for the ATACH Study Group. Potential role for the interleukin-28B genotype in
treatment decision-making in recent hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatol 2010 (Epub
ahead of print) (Impact factor: 10.84)
2. V Suppiah, M Moldovan, G Ahlenstiel, T Berg, M Weltman, ML Abate, M
Bassendine, U Spengler, GJ Dore, E Powell, S Riordan, D Sheridan, V Fragomeli, T
Müller, M Bahlo, GJ Stewart, DR Booth and J George for the Hepatitis C Study. IL28B
is associated with response to chronic hepatitis C interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy.
Nature Genet 2009; 41:1100-1104 (Impact factor: 34.284) Selected for Media
Release.
Editorial: O’Brien TR. Interferon-alpha, interferon-lambda and hepatitis C.
Nature Genetics 2009; 41: 1048-1050.
Review: May M. Variant predicts HCV response. Nature Biotechnology 2009;
27: 964.
Review: Borowski C. Picking hepatitis C virus treatment responders. AsiaPacific International Molecular Biology Network. 2009 (AIMBN)
A-IMBN Research highlights: Genetic analysis provides a means to predict
the response of individuals to standard treatment for chronic infection with
hepatitis C virus. Asia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network and
Nature Japan K.K (NPG Nature Asia-Pacific) 2009 (25/11/2009)
http://natureasia.com/A-IMBN/article.php?id=336
3. T Quirico-Santos, V Suppiah, S Heggarty, R Caetano, S Alves-Leon, K Vandenbroeck.
Study of polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and IL-4 receptor genes in a population of
Brazilian patients with multiple sclerosis. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria 2007; 65: 15–
19.
4. S Heggarty, V Suppiah, J Silversides, C O’Doherty, A Droogan, G McDonnell, S
Hawkins, C Graham, K Vandenbroeck. CTLA4 gene polymorphisms and their
influence on susceptibility and disease course of multiple sclerosis in Northern Ireland.
J Neuroimmunol 2007; 187: 187-191. (Impact factor: 2.88)
5. V Suppiah V, M Rooney and K Vandenbroeck. Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4
and IL-4 receptor genes and chronic inflammatory arthropathies in Northern Ireland.
Exp Mol Pathol 2006; 81:239–44. (Impact factor: 1.38)
6. V Suppiah, C O’Doherty, S Heggarty, CC Patterson, DA Savage, K Vandenbroeck.
Analysis of the CTLA4 +49A/G and CT60 polymorphisms in chronic inflammatory
arthropathies in Northern Ireland. Exp Mol Pathol 2006; 80: 141-146. (Impact factor:
1.38)
7. V Suppiah, I Alloza, S Heggarty, A Goris, B Dubois, H Carton and K Vandenbroeck.
The CTLA4 +49A/G*G–CT60*G haplotype is associated with susceptibility to multiple
sclerosis in Flanders. J Neuroimmunol 2005; 164: 148-153. (Impact factor: 2.88)
8. V Suppiah, A. Goris, I. Alloza, S. Heggarty, B. Dubois, H. Carton, A. Antigϋedad, M.
Mendibe, C. Graham, G. McDonnell, A. Droogan, S. Hawkins and K. Vandenbroeck.
Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and IL-4 receptor genes and multiple sclerosis: a
study in Spanish-Basque, Northern Irish and Belgian populations. Internatl J
Immunogenet 2005; 32: 383-388. (Impact factor: 1.33)
Abstracts and Presentations
1. V Suppiah, S Heggarty, C O’Doherty, M Rooney and K Vandenbroeck. CTLA-4 gene
polymorphisms in chronic inflammatory arthropathies in Northern Ireland. Irish Society
for Rheumatology AGM 2005, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. Oct 2005.
2. V Suppiah, I Alloza, S Heggarty, C O’Doherty, A Goris, B Dubois, A Antigϋedad, M
Mendibe, S Hawkins, C Graham, M Rooney and K Vandenbroeck. Cytokine gene
polymorphisms and their association with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The
2005 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine
Research, Shanghai, China Cell Research 2005; 15: S259-S259.
3. K Vandenbroeck, I Alloza, S Heggarty, A Goris, V Suppiah and M Rooney. Highresolution identification of an interferon-gamma gene haplotype associated with
rheumatoid arthritis in male but not female patients. American College of
Rheumatology (ACR) 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, USA Arthritis and
Rheumatism 2005; 52: S148-S148.
4. V Suppiah, S Heggarty, I Alloza, C Patterson, M Rooney and K Vandenbroeck.
Polymorphisms in the interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor genes are associated with
chronic inflammatory arthropathies. American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 69th
Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, USA Arthritis and Rheumatism 2005; 52: S147S147.
5. V Suppiah, S Heggarty, C O’Doherty, M Rooney, K Vandenbroeck. CTLA-4 gene
polymorphisms in chronic inflammatory arthropathies. American College of
Rheumatology (ACR) 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, USA Arthritis and
Rheumatism 2005; 52: S147-S147.
6. V Suppiah, S Heggarty, A Droogan, G McDonnell, S Hawkins, A Goris, B Dubois, A
Antiguedad, M Mendibe, I Alloza and K Vandenbroeck. Interlukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-4
receptor (IL-4R) polymorphisms: Influence on clinical course of multiple sclerosis.
Association of British Neurologists – Spring Meeting, Belfast, March 30–April 1, 2005.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2005; 76: 1320-1320.
7. V Suppiah, I Alloza, S Heggarty, C O’Doherty, A Goris, B Dubois, A Antigüedad, M
Mendibe, S Hawkins, C Graham, M Rooney and K Vandenbroeck. Polymorphisms in
cytokine genes and their association with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
International Symposium on new approaches to understanding the basis of Multiple
Sclerosis, Valencia, Spain, June 26 -27, 2005.
8. V Suppiah, A Antigüedad, M Mendibe, B Dubois, A Goris, C Graham, S Hawkins, A
Droogan, G McDonnell and K Vandenbroeck. Interleukin-4 and its receptor: role for
disease modification in multiple sclerosis? MS Frontiers, Birmingham, UK, May 10–
11, 2004.
Referees
1. Prof Brian Walker
Director of Research
McClay Chair in Biomedicinal Chemistry
School of Pharmacy
97 Lisburn Road
Belfast BT9 7BL
Northern Ireland
Email: brian.walker@qub.ac.uk
2. Associate Prof Chan Sui Yung
Head of Department
Department of Pharmacy
National University of Singapore
Science Drive 4
Singapore 117543
Email: phacsy@nus.edu.sg
3. Dr Shirley Heggarty
Laboratory Manager
Genomics Core Facility
c/o Regional Genetics Centre
Floor A, Belfast City Hospital
Email: s.heggarty@qub.ac.uk