Yiing Yng Chow (Stefanie)

Course: Bachelor of Science Honours (Biotechnology), 2014 and Doctor of Philosophy (Biotechnology, Genetics and Mycology), 2018
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: CEO, SuperDNA

Please tell us about your entrepreneurial journey that led up to being CEO of SuperDNA.

It all began with my lifelong interest in genetic technology and its versatility in helping people in different ways. I envisioned a career that could help people with the use of genetic tools. I started my first job as a science communication specialist at a sole distributor company for Illumina Inc. — the world-leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of genetic technologies from the United States. I was involved in developing and implementing strategic go-to-market plans to penetrate a new market for genetic testing – “Consumer Genetic Testing.”

From there, I learnt that many healthcare industry players are heavily outsourcing genetic tests to overseas genetic testing companies due to a lack of genetic expertise and local genetic testing service providers, which results in long report delivery times and low beneficial impacts on the patients. This experience fueled my desire to revolutionize the world of genetic innovation by offering the most advanced, accurate, and accessible DNA analysis solutions to healthcare players and the public.

That's when I was appointed as the CEO of SuperDNA Sdn Bhd. In the early days, my team and I took a long time to develop a non-invasive genetic test report that was accurate and comprehensive yet layman for people to understand their genetic predisposition and identify their inherited health risks. Through sheer hard work and dedication from our team, SuperDNA is officially awarded by the Malaysian Book of Records for providing the "Most Comprehensive and Insightful Reports from a Single Genomic Test" in Malaysia in January 2024, as we successfully developed a genetic test report using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) that screens 1,838 health traits of an individual. This achievement proves that, as a Malaysian company, we are capable of developing accurate and comprehensive genetic test reports locally.

Being CEO of SuperDNA is an incredibly rewarding experience. It allows me to make positive impacts on people’s lives and ultimately improve their health outcomes using the knowledge and skills that I have learnt so far. If you're interested in learning more about SuperDNA, you can visit our website at www.mysuperdna.com.

What drew you to the field of genetics or biotechnology?

From a purely analytical standpoint, the field of genetics has always fascinated me. The idea of unlocking the mysteries encoded within our DNA and its potential to revolutionise various industries, from medicine to agriculture, is truly awe-inspiring. The constant stream of new discoveries and the potential to develop personalized treatments for diseases is an area where I see immense potential for positive impact.

Please tell us briefly about your postgraduate research at Monash

Being at the mycology group under the supervision of Professor Adeline Ting at Monash University Malaysia, the research group focuses mainly on the application of microorganisms (with a special interest in endophytes) such as plant diseases control, toxic metal and dye removal, hydrocarbon degradation, compost management and also natural products production. My postgraduate research is an interdisciplinary research that contributes to two strands of significant knowledge: the knowledge on how fungal endophytes colonize and proliferate inside the host plant tissues and the biological control expression of fungal endophytes when applied in the oil palm field.

We had the great opportunity to work with Applied Agricultural Resources (AAR) – the leading plantation crops research and development center in Malaysia. Throughout my PhD journey, I successfully integrated the qPCR, RT-PCR, and FTIR methods into detecting and quantifying the introduced endophytes into plant tissues as a measure of their colonization efficiency. The outcome? We successfully published four papers in quarter one journals from my PhD project.

Do you think your studies at Monash helped you in your working life? What are some qualities or practices/skills you’ve gained at Monash and carried with you until today?

While learning the core biotechnology-related knowledge and skills in my undergraduate program, I participated in the Monash Toastmaster Club. The experience in Monash Toastmaster Club not only brushed up my public speaking skills but also built my confidence and sparked my interest in pursuing a career that is related to commercial applications of genetic technology. This led me to continue my studies in the Doctor Of Philosophy (PhD) program to develop time management, critical thinking, and leadership skills.

I was honoured to receive the opportunity through the Cross-Campus Initiative Fund (CCIF), which was awarded in 2017, to network with the Australian research community and exchange research knowledge. I was also a secretary of the Monash University Postgraduate Association (MUPA) and an organising committee member for the Monash Science Symposium. All these activities helped me to develop independence, resourcefulness, and skills to communicate with others. This whole experience at Monash University is invaluable and amazing.

What is your biggest career goal, or what difference would you like to make?

By continuously learning and developing new skills throughout my career, I envision staying at the forefront of my field and making significant social impacts through my work.