Ghee T. Tan

Dr. Ghee T. Tan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo. She received her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Pharmacy from the National University of Singapore and her Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

• Education:
  • Ph.D. - University of Illinois at Chicago
  • B.Sc., Pharmacy - National University of Singapore

Her research focuses on natural products drug discovery for tropical diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis), cancer, and global health challenges. She has led NIH-funded projects, including the International Cooperative Drug Discovery Groups (ICBG) consortium in Vietnam and Laos, and authored reviews on natural products in book chapters.

Key trends in her publications include bioactive compound isolation, structure-activity relationships, and solid-phase peptide synthesis. Recent work explores antileishmanial agents, antiviral plant sources, and endophytic fungi in Noni and Taxus species.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Tuition Grant (NUS, 1983–1987)
  • Kilmer Prize (1990)
  • Phi Kappa Phi (1990–1998)
  • Sigma Xi (1992–1998)
  • NRSA AIDS Training Grant (1996–1998)
  • UH Research Council Travel Award (2011)
  • Teacher Recognition Award (GWIS, 2012)

Dr. Tan has mentored 9 doctoral students and supervised postdoctoral, predoctoral, and undergraduate researchers internationally. Her grants include NIH R25 GM113747-01A1 for the Students of Hawaii Advanced Research Program (SHARP)/RISE (2016–2021).