Dr Gary Peh

Dr Gary Peh completed his PhD with Professor Martin Pera (Monash University, Australia) in 2007, characterising early neural differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. He then undertook post-doctoral training with Professor Ariff Bongso at the National University of Singapore before joining Professor Jodhbir Mehta’s group at the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) in late 2009.

At SERI, Dr Peh’s research is focused on the biology and clinical translation of primary human corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs). He developed a patented dual-media culture system for the growth and expansion of CEnCs with the aim to develop these cells as a source for corneal endothelial cell therapy. In 2024, the research team obtained regulatory approval to conduct a Phase 1 first-in-man clinical trial using tissue-engineered corneal endothelial grafts for treating corneal endothelial blindness. Currently, Dr Peh is actively engaging regulatory authorities to advance both forms of cell injection therapies: cultured CEC-I and non-cultured SNEC-I towards clinical translation.

Dr Gary Peh has published over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 4 book chapters. He holds independent PI funding from the Lee Foundation and SNEC-SHF and serves as Co-Investigator on multiple collaborative NMRC grants including CSA-SI (SGD $1.35M), and NIH R01 (USD $325K).

• PhD (2008)
• Grad Dip (2001)
• BSc (2000)

• Junior Principal Investigator, Regenerative Therapy Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2017 – Present)
• Senior Research Fellow, Regenerative Therapy Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2012 – 2017)
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Regenerative Therapy Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute (2009 – 2012)
• Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore (2008 – 2009)

• COVID-19 Resilience Medal (2023)
• SERI Outstanding Young Researcher Award (2015)
• ARVO International Travel Grant (2011)
• Australian Stem Cell Centre Small Research Grant (2005)
• Australian Stem Cell Centre Travel / Conference Grant (2004)
• Commonwealth-funded Higher Degree by Research (Research Training Scheme) (2003)

1. Ting D*, Peh G*, Neo D, Ng X, Tan B, Wong R, Ong H, Mehta J. Cell Counting and Cell Cycle Analysis of Simple Non-cultured Endothelial Cell Injection (SNEC-I) Therapy. Cells. Jun 2025; 14(13): 986.
2. Sun F, Xi L, Luu W, Enkhbat M, Neo D, Mehta J, Peh G, Yim E. Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Cells. Mar 2025; 14(7): 505.
3. Enkhbat M, Mehta J, Peh G, Yim E. Biomaterial-based Strategies for Primary Human Corneal Endothelial Cells for Therapeutic Applications: From Cell Expansion to Transplantable Carrier. Biomater Sci. Feb 2025; 13(5): 1114–1130.
4. Ng X, Peh G, Morales-Wong F, Gabriel R, Soong P, Lin K, Mehta J. Towards Clinical Application: The Need for an in vitro Qualitative Assessment of Propagated Primary Human Corneal Endothelial Cells for Corneal Endothelial Cell Replacement Therapy. Cells. Dec 2024; 13(23): 2012.
5. Ng X, Peh G, Yam G, Tay H, Mehta J. Corneal Endothelial-like Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Cell Therapy. Int J Mol Sci. Aug 2023; 24(15): 12433. JIF: 4.9.
6. Peh G*, Bandeira F*, Neo D, Adnan K, Hartono Y, Ong H, Naso S, Venkatraman A, Gomes J, Kocaba V, Mehta J. Effects of Rho-associated Kinase (Rock) Inhibitors (Alternative to Y-27632) on Primary Human Corneal Endothelial Cells. Cells. May 2023; 12(9): 1307.
7. Wong E, Foo V, Peh G, Htoon H, Ang H, Tan B, Ong H, Mehta J. Early Visibility of Cellular Aggregates and Changes in Central Corneal Thickness as Predictors of Successful Corneal Endothelial Cell Injection Therapy. Cells. Apr 2023; 12(8): 1167.
8. Bhogal M, Ang H, Lin S, Lwin C, Adnan K, Peh G, Mehta J. Near Infra-red Labelling and Tracking of Corneal Endothelial Cells in vivo. Sci Rep. Apr 2022; 12(1): 6338.
9. Ting D, Peh G, Adnan K, Mehta J. Translational and Regulatory Challenges of Corneal Endothelial Cell Therapy: A Global Perspective. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. Feb 2022; 28(1): 52–62.
10. Soh Y, Poh S, Peh G, Mehta J. New Therapies for Corneal Endothelial Diseases: 2020 and Beyond. Cornea. Nov 2021; 40(11):1365-1373.
11. Soh Y, Peh G, Naso S, Kocaba V, Mehta J. Automated Clinical Assessment of Corneal Guttae in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. Am J Ophthalmol. Jul 2020; S0002-9394(20)30387-1.
12. Ong H*, Peh G*, Neo D, Ang H, Adnan K, Lwin C, Morales-Wong F, Bhogal M, Kocaba V, Mehta J. A Novel Approach of Harvesting Viable Single Cells from Donor Corneal Endothelium For Cell-injection Therapy. Cells. Jun 2020; 9(6): 1428.
13. Frausto R, Swamy V, Peh G, Boere P, Hanser M, Chung D, George B, Morselli M, Kao L, Azimov R, Wu J, Pellegrini M, Kurtz I, Mehta J, Aldave A. Phenotypic and Functional Characterization of Corneal Endothelial Cells During in vitro Expansion. Sci Rep. May 2020; 10(1): 7402.
14. Wahlig S, Peh G, Adnan K, Ang H, Lwin C, Morales-Wong F, Ong H, Lovatt M, Mehta J. Optimisation of Storage and Transportation Conditions of Cultured Corneal Endothelial Cells for Cell Replacement Therapy. Sci Rep. Feb 2020; 10(1): 1681.
15. Lovatt M, Adnan K, Kocaba V, Dirisamer M, Peh G, Mehta J. Peroxiredoxin-1 Regulates Lipid Peroxidation in Corneal Endothelial Cells. Redox Biol. Dec 2019; 30: 101417.
16. Malhotra D, Jung M, Fecher-Trost C, Lovatt M, Peh G, Noskov S, Mehta J, Zimmermann R, Casey J. Defective Cell Adhesion Function of Solute Transporter, SLC4A11, in Endothelial Corneal Dystrophies. Hum Mol Genet. Nov 2019; pii: ddz259.
17. Peh G, Ong H, Adnan K, Ang H, Lwin C, Seah X, Lin S, Mehta J. Functional Evaluation of Two Corneal Endothelial Cell-based Therapies: Tissue-engineered Construct and Cell Injection. Sci Rep. Apr 2019; 9(1): 6089.
18. Lovatt M, Adnan K, Peh G, Mehta J. Regulation of Oxidative Stress in Corneal Endothelial Cells by Prdx6. Antioxidants. Dec 2018; 7(12): 180.
19. Soh Y, Peh G, Mehta J. Evolving Therapies for Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy. Regen Med. Jan 2018; 13(1): 97–115.