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Team Proton Therapy SG: Dr Wong Ru Xin and Dr Shaun Ho
Dr Shaun Ho Zhirui
Medical Director & Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Proton Therapy SG, Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine
Visiting Consultant Radiation Oncologist
Raffles Cancer Centre, Raffles Hospital
Icon Cancer Centre Singapore
Honorary Visiting Consultant Radiation Oncologist
National University Hospital Singapore
About Dr Shaun Ho
Dr Shaun Ho is a senior radiation oncologist and the Medical Director of Advanced Medicine Proton & Radiotherapy Centre (Proton Therapy SG) at the Singapore Institute of Advanced Medicine (SAM) — one of very few centres in Southeast Asia & Oceania offering proton beam therapy (PBT). With over 15 years of experience, he is known for combining clinical precision with genuine warmth toward his patients and their families.
Dr Ho’s philosophy is simple: every patient deserves a treatment plan designed around their life, not just their diagnosis. He brings this to every consultation — taking time to explain options, weigh side effects, and make complex oncology decisions feel human and understandable.
He is an MOH-accredited specialist in Radiation Oncology, a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Singapore (FAMS), and a Fellow of the UK Royal College of Radiologists (Clinical Oncology) (FRCR). He also holds Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (MRCS) and a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine — reflecting his commitment to holistic, compassionate cancer care.
Training & career
Dr Ho completed his radiation oncology residency at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), where he later served as a Consultant and Clinical Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. He also undertook a clinical fellowship at University College London Hospital (UCLH), one of Europe’s premier cancer centres — treating patients at the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and the London Sarcoma Service, one of the continent’s largest.
He pursued further specialist training in proton beam therapy at Kobe Proton Therapy Center in Japan and Taipei Medical University in Taiwan — bringing world-class expertise back to Singapore.
In 2020, Dr Ho established Raffles Hospital’s first radiotherapy programme from the ground up as Clinical Director, introducing SBRT, SRS, DIBH, and VMAT services for the first time at the institution. He has served on the executive committees of the Chapter of Radiation Oncologists and the Singapore Radiological Society, and received the SingHealth 10-Year Long Service Award for his contributions to patient care.
Beyond cancer care, Dr Ho has a dedicated interest in low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT) as a treatment for benign musculoskeletal conditions. This gentle, well-established technique uses very small doses of radiation to reduce inflammation and pain — often when other treatments have not provided lasting relief.
Musculoskeletal Conditions treated include: osteoarthritis (knee, hand, foot), tendinopathies (Achilles, patellar, tennis elbow / lateral epicondylitis), plantar fasciitis, bursitis, and related disorders. Many patients experience significant improvement with minimal side effects.
Conditions treated
Head & neck cancers
Lung cancer
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Gastro-intestinal cancers
(e.g. Colorectal, esophagus, liver, pancreas)
Brain tumours & metastases
Sarcomas
Lymphomas
Treatment techniques
Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)
IMRT & Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT)
Deep Inspiratory Breath-Hold (DIBH)
Electron Beam Therapy
Palliative RT
Low-Dose Radiotherapy (LDRT) – for musculoskeletal conditions
Contact: shaun.ho@proton.sg
Seeking a Specialist Radiation Oncologist in Singapore?
Dr Shaun Ho sees patients at SAM Proton Centre, Raffles Hospital, and Icon Cancer Centre Singapore (Mt Alvernia Hospital).
To book a consultation, contact Advanced Medicine Proton Centre directly.
Dr Brendan Chia is a Radiation Oncologist from Raffles Hospital.
In 2010, Dr Chia received his medical degree from the National University of Ireland, and subsequently underwent specialist training in radiation oncology at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Concurrently, he also completed his Master of Clinical Investigation at the National University of Singapore. In 2016, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists, and received an award to undergo training in clinical oncology at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.
During his time in London, Dr Chia received training in CyberKnife, brachytherapy, general clinical oncology, as well as prostate, gynaecological, breast, and lung oncology. In 2023, Dr Chia was awarded a proton therapy fellowship. He underwent training for the use of proton therapy for a variety of cancers at the National Centre of Oncological Hadrontherapy in Italy, and the Shizuoka Cancer Centre in Japan.
Prior to joining Raffles Hospital, Dr Chia was a consultant at National Cancer Centre Singapore and was the radiation subsite lead for Neuro-oncology. He was also the Clinical Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, and Principal Investigator for several clinical trials. As a keen educator, Dr Chia was actively involved in training medical students and doctors, and has presented at several international conferences. He is also a guest lecturer at Nanyang Polytechnic and Singapore Institute of Management for nursing and radiation therapy students.
Dr Chia serves on the Singapore Radiological Society’s executive committee, and is involved in the Leadership Development Program for the Federation of Asian Organisations for Radiation Oncology. He has also been awarded the SingHealth Gold Service Quality Award for consecutive years.
Dr Chia’s scope of practice is the use of radiotherapy to treat a variety of cancer patients. He is proficient in the use of advanced radiotherapy techniques such as proton therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy, and volumetric modulated arc therapy to improve patient outcomes, and minimise the side effects of treatment.
Education
FRCR Clinical Oncology (UK) 2016 - MCI (Singapore) 2016
- MB ChB BAO (Ireland) 2010
Professional Appointments and Committee Memberships
- Consultant. Department of Radiation Oncology, NCCS 2019 – present
- EXCO Member, Singapore Radiological Society 2017-present
- Member, Code Blue Committee, NCCS 2018-present
Awards
Masters of Clinical Investigation NMRC Sponsorship, 2013 - SingHealth Overseas Training Award 2016
Research Interests
Lung Radiotherapy - Biomarkers in Lung Cancer
- Brain Metastases Management
Publications
Thoracic intervention and surgery to cure lung: an overview of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy in early and oligometastatic lung cancer. J R Soc Med. 0(0) 1-7 2018 Jan 1:141076818763334. - Study protocol for the SARON trial: a multicentre,randomised controlled phase III trial comparing the addition of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and radical radiotherapy with standard chemotherapy alone for oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Conibear J, Chia B, Ngai Y, et al. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 17;8(4):e020690.
- Pitfalls in lung stereotactic body radiotherapy—a review of organ toxicities and dose constraints. Chia B and Zubin M. J Xiangya Med 2018;3:36. doi: 10.21037/jxym.2018.09.04
Research Trials
- Treatment outcomes in Lung Radiotherapy
- CPAP use for Simulation in Radical Lung Radiotherapy
- Hippocampal Whole brain radiotherapy with or without Simultaneous intergrated boost in the management if multiple brain metastases.
Insurance Panels:
Main panel: HSBC Life, Great Eastern, Income, Prudential
Extended panel: Singlife (pre-authorisation), AIA (pre-authoristion)
Memberships & Affiliates:
- Singapore Radiological Society (SRS)
- Royal College of Radiologists UK (FRCR)
- Southeast Asia Radiation Oncology Group (SEAROG)
- European Society Radiation Oncology ( ESTRO)
- Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society (PROS)
Biography:
Education:
Dr Wong Ru Xin graduated from the National University of Singapore on the Dean’s list in 2009 and started residency training at National Cancer Centre Singapore. She obtained her MRCS (Member Royal College of Surgeon) in 2010 and FRCR (Fellow Royal College of Radiologist in clinical oncology) in 2016.
Work experience:
Dr Wong worked at the National Cancer Center of Singapore for more than 10 years before leaving for private practice. As part of her training in proton therapy, she received the Ministry of Health Manpower Development Program to spend time at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and observed at Provision Cares Proton Center, and Kobe Proton Center. She is currently treating patients at Mount Alvernia and Farrer Park Hospital.
Specialised areas:
Her practice includes radiation therapy technology and the treatment of breast, head and neck, paediatric, brain, skin cancer and sarcoma. Dr Wong is skilled in the use of electrons, 3D, IGRT, VMAT, SBRT and Proton Beam Therapy in treating cancer.
Training courses:
She has attended relevant courses like Winter School in Particle Therapy, ESTRO Particle Therapy, ESTRO Radiobiology and physics, ESTRO brain, ESTRO Head and Neck, and ESTRO Stereotactic Radiosurgery.
Research:
Dr Wong was the principal investigator in a few clinical trials and studies while in public institutions.
Dr Wong has published local and regional papers on cancer prognostication, outcomes, and using novel techniques. Dr Wong concluded a clinical trial using hypo-fractionated radiotherapy in sarcomas. She also received grants to implement open-faced masks and silicon grip rings for patient comfort, electronic patient-reported outcomes, and study repeat MRI for adaptive radiotherapy in intracranial malignancies. While in National Cancer Center Singapore, she implemented new clinical technologies like pulsed low dose rate radiotherapy and collaborated with her colleagues to implement paediatric interstitial brachytherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma.
She published papers on multi-national outcomes of intra-cranial germ cell tumours, head and neck sarcomas, retroperitoneal sarcomas, brain tumours, proton beam therapy for whole-lung irradiation, dyspnea at the end of life, breast phyllodes tumours, breast cancer prognostication and breast cancer socio-demographics and mammogram screening patterns, Human Papilloma Virus vaccination knowledge, attitudes and practice amongst teenagers in Singapore etc.
See google scholar for more research publications.
Grants obtained:
- Duke-NUS Singhealth Academic Grant Proton Beam Therapy $50, 000 for short-course neoadjuvant radiotherapy in retroperitoneal liposarcomas with margins at risk.
- Onco-ACP Pediatric Research Grant Proton Beam Therapy $100,000 to utilise electronic patient reported outcomes.
- Duke-NUS Pediatric Cancer Charity Grant $40,000 to implement open-faced masks, silicon grip rings and investigate adaptive radiotherapy by repeating MRI for brain cancers.
Education:
Dr Wong was clinical teacher at Lee Kong Chian school of medicine, and clinical assistant professor at DUKE-NUS medical school. She also taught medical students and residents and continues to teach oncology nurses. She has organised various webinars and symposiums in the past for local and international faculty.
Awards & Honours:
Dean’s list 2009 NUS
ENT book prize, General surgery book prize
Human Manpower Development Program 2018
Long service award (10 years) Singhealth
Singhealth-Duke NUS Academic Research Grant 2021, 2022
Insurance Panels
