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Recently, Professor Sin-Yeang Teow (Ronald) of Wenzhou-Kean University was once again included in the annual “World’s Top 2% Scientists” list jointly released by Stanford University and Elsevier. This marks his fourth consecutive year on the list since 2022. The list is based on the Scopus database and employs a comprehensive assessment of multiple metrics, including research output, h-index, and citations, aiming to objectively reflect scientists’ long-term academic influence.Professor Ronald currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University. He received his PhD in Molecular Virology and Oncology from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2015 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at the National Institutes of Health, Malaysia, focusing on the pathogenic mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Prior to joining Wenzhou-Kean University in spring 2023, he served as an Associate Professor at Sunway University, Malaysia, and received the Vice-Chancellor’s Early Career Researcher Award. To date, he has published more than 76 peer-reviewed academic papers, along with one patent and several invited book chapters, and has long served as a reviewer for top journals such as Molecular Cancer and Carbohydrate Polymers.Dr. Ronald Teow’s research team is committed to establishing a comprehensive closed-loop research framework—spanning from basic material synthesis to pre-clinical translational validation. Their core research layout is primarily organized around three principal pillars:Advanced Nanotherapeutics: The team is dedicated to developing and optimizing novel nano-drug delivery systems. Key research areas include the design and application of nanocarriers such as layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and polymer nanogels.Translational Cancer Biology: To bridge the gap between basic research and clinical applications, his team employs not only conventional 2D cell cultures but also extensively utilizes 3D tumor spheroids, mouse xenograft models, and patient-derived colorectal cancer tissues to validate the efficacy of therapeutic strategies, thereby ensuring the clinical translational potential of research findings.Tumor–Microbe Association: The team investigates the complex regulatory mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment (TME), with particular focus on the interactions among gut microbiota, circulating bacteria, tumor angiogenesis, and necrotic regions during tumor initiation and progression.Furthermore, Dr. Ronald Teow leads a highly international and interdisciplinary collaborative team, comprising leading scholars from China, Malaysia, and Germany, and deeply integrating the expertise of basic scientists with that of clinical colorectal surgeons (e.g., Dr. Zhang Xiaodong at Wenzhou Medical University). This multidimensional cross-disciplinary background—integrating materials science, biology, and clinical medicine—is driving his team to achieve continuous breakthrough progress in nano-anticancer research and precision medicine.Professor Ronald’s research focuses on "engineered nanotherapeutics"—specifically, the development of potent nano-anticancer therapies and nanocarriers targeting solid tumors, with a particular emphasis on colorectal cancer, utilizing both in vitro and ex vivo culture models. In essence, the objective is to enable anticancer agents to target tumors more precisely and act more effectively, while minimizing collateral damage to normal tissues.Chemotherapy is a critical treatment modality for colorectal cancer; however, conventional chemotherapeutics lack tumor specificity, indiscriminately killing both tumor cells and normal cells. This results in severe side effects and the eventual development of drug resistance over time. The approach adopted by Professor Ronald's team involves encapsulating the conventional chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within nanoparticles to construct targeted drug-delivery "nanocarriers." These nanoparticles function as "dedicated vehicles" that transport and release the drug in the vicinity of the tumor. They are pH-responsive, enabling enhanced drug release at the tumor site while minimizing release in normal tissues, thereby improving therapeutic efficacy and reducing systemic toxicity.Experimental results demonstrate that this "nano-formulated" drug is more effective than free drug administration alone. His team's accumulated expertise in this field has yielded tangible outcomes: their paper published in the core journal Carbohydrate Polymers has an impact factor exceeding 11. In recent years, they have also successively reported studies on copper-aluminum layered double hydroxides (Cu-Al LDHs) loaded with 5-fluorouracil inducing oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, as well as the inhibitory effects of various nanosystems—such as silver complexes, copper complexes, and bismuth oxide nanoparticles—on colorectal cancer cells.Further investigations revealed that this nanomedicine can combat cancer cells through a multi-pronged approach: it not only "poisons" the cancer cells and disrupts their essential energy factories (mitochondria), but also induces active apoptosis and inhibits their proliferation. Furthermore, it attenuates the "survival signals" of cancer cells and reactivates the body's endogenous tumor-suppressive mechanisms, thereby suppressing tumor growth from multiple angles. To address the most formidable clinical challenge of drug resistance, the team specifically cultured drug-resistant cancer cell lines to observe how tumors gradually "adapt" and acquire resistance, which has paved the way for next-step strategies to overcome drug resistance. They have also attempted to develop this nanomaterial into a "multi-functional agent" that can inhibit various bacteria in addition to its anticancer properties.Professor Ronald stated that the team has also begun exploring the utilization of the tumor microenvironment (TME)—such as modulating commensal gut microbiota—to further enhance therapeutic efficacy. This could serve as a two-pronged strategy, holding the promise of simultaneously addressing the dual challenges of "precision" and "efficacy."Professor Ronald candidly acknowledges that translating laboratory findings into therapeutics that genuinely benefit patients is a lengthy yet urgent journey, one that is often fraught with various real-world challenges. Yet, he remains undaunted. “I have always believed that as long as we resolutely advance toward our goals, these challenges will not deter us. On the contrary, they will equip us with the experience and skills necessary to conduct research more efficiently.”In an era when teaching and research are frequently framed as mutually exclusive, he offers a different perspective: teaching does not impede research; rather, it is a valuable asset—imparting knowledge to students is simultaneously a process of deepening one's own understanding. In the classroom, he frequently encounters students with a genuine passion for research; with proper guidance, they can sometimes contribute refreshing, novel ideas that prove highly valuable to research projects. The courses he teaches encompass General Biology, Histology, Cancer Biology, as well as graduate-level courses such as Molecular Biology of Cancer and Molecular and Cellular Techniques. In his daily routine, teaching and research are by no means isolated, parallel tracks.Regarding the accolade of being named among the "World’s Top 2% Scientists," Professor Ronald maintains a commendable level of objectivity. He views this list as merely one of many metrics for gauging academic influence, rather than the ultimate benchmark of a scientist’s accomplishments. He places greater emphasis on the societal value of research, "More critically, it is whether our work can bring about meaningful societal change. For me, this entails striving to translate scientific discoveries into clinical applications."Looking ahead, he speaks with conviction, stating that he will continue to resolutely advance toward his goals—rigorously evaluating scientific questions, generating robust and compelling evidence, and continuously refining methodologies. He harbors a humble aspiration: "I hope that one day, some of our work will make a positive and tangible difference in the lives of patients."He is a scientist who transforms honors into motivation and weaves his ideals into everyday practice. Under the lights of the laboratory, behind the classroom lectern, and along the translational pathway to clinical application, Professor Ronald and the research team at Wenzhou-Kean University are leveraging the infinitesimal scale of nanotechnology to safeguard the profound weight of human life.

Can virtual nature ease anxiety? How might climate change affect our emotional well-being? And how can technology help young people cope with emotional exhaustion?These questions drive the research of Dr. Jingni Ma, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Wenzhou-Kean University’s College of Liberal Arts. Named to Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the first time, Ma explores how digital technologies can expand access to psychological support. Her work focuses on virtual reality (VR)-based interventions, climate anxiety, and brief cognitive behavioral interventions, with the goal of making mental health care more accessible and effective.Bringing the Restorative Power of Nature Into Virtual Reality“Learning that I had been included on the World’s Top 2% Scientists List, I felt encouraged that the area of research I have chosen to pursue is receiving growing attention", Ma says.Ma’s interest in nature-based interventions began during her doctoral studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her research found that mindful walking in natural settings could reduce anxiety and low mood while promoting positive psychological well-being.Translating these findings into practice in China, however, presented challenges. Extreme summer heat, seasonal rainfall, and typhoons can limit outdoor activities, while regional differences in natural environments make interventions difficult to standardize.To overcome these barriers, Ma turned to virtual reality (VR). “Nature is like a charger for the mind, but not everyone has the opportunity to recharge in a natural setting,” she says. “Combining VR with nature-based mindfulness allows us to bring that experience to more people, regardless of their physical environment.”Drawing on Attention Restoration Theory, her team developed immersive VR programs that combine virtual natural environments with guided mindfulness exercises. Covered by three Chinese national patents, the systems allow users to interact with virtual settings—such as tending flowers or boating on a lake—rather than simply watching nature videos.In a controlled study involving cancer patients experiencing pain, participants received standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while the intervention group also completed a six-week VR-based mindfulness program. Researchers observed favorable trends in white blood cell counts and inflammation-related indicators in the intervention group. The findings suggest potential benefits from integrating psychological support into cancer care, although further research is needed to establish their clinical significance.From Research Findings to Real-World ImpactMa’s work has attracted attention beyond academia. Her research has been referenced by TIME magazine’s Living section, featured by the Oxford Mindfulness Centre and shared through three invited opinion pieces aimed at mindfulness researchers and clinical practitioners worldwide.For Ma, however, the ultimate value of research lies not in citations alone, but in whether its findings can improve people's lives.Her team has established clinical collaborations with Wenzhou Seventh People's Hospital and is conducting trials involving adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety. The team also plans to introduce the program as a pilot experience for faculty and students at WKU, with local middle schools expressing interest in using the approach to help students manage exam-related stress.Meanwhile, the research framework is informing work across several disciplines. Researchers are examining the feasibility of VR-based interventions among adolescents and university students, while scholars in human-computer interaction and environmental psychology are investigating how the design of virtual natural environments and levels of immersion influence mindfulness outcomes. Public health researchers are also exploring how accessible digital tools could be integrated into mental health services on campuses and in communities.Expanding the Frontiers of Digital Mental HealthSince joining WKU in fall 2025, Ma has also involved undergraduate students in her research, encouraging them to participate in literature reviews, study design, data collection and analysis.Students from psychology, computer science and statistics contribute different skills to the team, learning from one another as they work across disciplinary boundaries. For Ma, this collaborative process allows students to broaden their expertise while gaining hands-on research experience.Her team's work is also expanding into climate anxiety, an emerging concern as extreme weather events become more frequent and visible.To better understand how environmental change affects emotional well-being, the team has developed an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach that captures people's emotions in real time. The project combines VR-based nature experiences with environmental science education, aiming both to alleviate negative emotions and to strengthen people's sense of agency in the face of environmental change.Initial pilot studies have been launched in Zhejiang province, with plans to extend the research to regions vulnerable to extreme weather, including parts of Australia. The longer-term ambition is to make the intervention available through a public-facing application platform.Ma also sees potential for VR-based interventions to help people with social anxiety and children with autism spectrum disorder practice social interactions in controlled, low-pressure environments. Further research will be needed to determine their effectiveness across different populations.Research Begins With CuriosityFor young researchers, Ma has a simple message: stay curious, explore boldly and learn to embrace uncertainty.In an academic environment where success is often measured through numerical indicators and measurable outcomes, students can become discouraged when their findings are not statistically significant. Ma encourages them to see such results not as failures, but as part of the process of scientific discovery.“The primary goal of research is to seek the truth, not to pursue statistical significance,” she says.She often compares research to detective work: once incorrect explanations have been ruled out, the remaining possibility — however unexpected — deserves careful examination and further verification.As psychology becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, she hopes to strengthen collaboration across fields and translate rigorous research into practical solutions. Her ultimate goal is to use technology not as an end in itself, but as a means of making mental health support more accessible to those who need it.

Wenzhou-Kean University recognizes faculty and staff members who have completed ten years of service. Through Moments at WKU, a series featuring recipients of the university’s 2026 Ten-Year Service Award, we share the stories of those who have grown alongside WKU, reflecting on their career choices, perseverance, challenges and achievements.In the first installment, we speak with Jing Ma, a tenured associate professor in the College of Business and Public Management, about her decision to join WKU, how the university has shaped her teaching philosophy, and the role encouragement can play in a student’s growth.In 2017, Ma made a career move that would reshape her professional path. After eight years of teaching at a university specializing in finance and economics that was part of China’s former Project 211 initiative, she left a secure position to join WKU, then a newly established university. For Ma, the decision was about more than changing jobs. It was an opportunity to embrace a different educational philosophy and explore new possibilities in her career.“I saw a strong connection between the university’s educational philosophy and my own aspirations,” she said.Ma moved to Wenzhou in August 2017 and officially joined WKU the following month. At the time, the campus was still under construction. Only a few buildings were in use, the College of Business and Public Management building had yet to be completed, and many administrative and academic processes were still taking shape.Over the years, Ma has witnessed WKU’s development firsthand while finding new opportunities to challenge herself and broaden her horizons.chatting with the studentIn 2017, Ma made a career move that would reshape her professional path. After eight years of teaching at a university specializing in finance and economics that was part of China’s former Project 211 initiative, she left a secure position to join WKU, then a newly established university. For Ma, the decision was about more than changing jobs. It was an opportunity to embrace a different educational philosophy and explore new possibilities in her career.“I saw a strong connection between the university’s educational philosophy and my own aspirations,” she said.Ma moved to Wenzhou in August 2017 and officially joined WKU the following month. At the time, the campus was still under construction. Only a few buildings were in use, the College of Business and Public Management building had yet to be completed, and many administrative and academic processes were still taking shape.Over the years, Ma has witnessed WKU’s development firsthand while finding new opportunities to challenge herself and broaden her horizons.with Jinze Yu, alumnus in the NetherlandsFor Ma, learning also means becoming comfortable with uncertainty and developing the confidence to find one’s own way forward.That belief is reflected in her interactions with students. One student had left medical school before enrolling at WKU and struggled with self-doubt as she began her undergraduate studies. Ma encouraged her, helped her participate in research projects and urged her to attend academic conferences. Today, the student is working in the Netherlands with greater confidence in her abilities.“Sometimes, a teacher’s understanding and encouragement can make a real difference in a student’s journey,” Ma said. “That is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.”Ma has witnessed similar growth among other WKU students. Some arrive with relatively modest scores on China’s national college entrance examination but go on to make significant academic progress and gain admission to leading universities around the world.For Ma, these experiences demonstrate the importance of giving students room to grow. An entrance examination score does not define a student’s future, nor does a difficult start determine how far they can go. With the right support and opportunities, students can discover strengths they may not have recognized in themselves.WKU’s diverse academic community has also broadened Ma’s own outlook. The university brings together more than 300 faculty and staff members from 46 countries and regions, creating opportunities for people with different backgrounds and experiences to learn from one another.Outside the classroom, conversations with international colleagues have encouraged Ma to step beyond her comfort zone. Hearing about their experiences with activities such as skydiving and bungee jumping has prompted her to reconsider her own limits. Although she is somewhat afraid of heights, she has become more willing to challenge herself and try new things.She has also participated in faculty clubs and activities, including gardening, tai chi and dragon boat racing. These experiences have enriched her life beyond teaching and research, while broadening her perspectives and introducing her to new interests.participating in dragon boat team trainingReflecting on her years at WKU, Ma sums up her journey in three phrases: staying true to her original aspirations, growing alongside the university, and moving forward together through challenges and change.Over the past decade, Ma has found answers to many of the questions that once occupied her, but she remains convinced that learning and exploration never truly end. Her journey at WKU has been one of mutual growth, shaped by challenges, new experiences and the opportunity to help students discover their potential. As the university continues to evolve, she looks forward to continuing that journey in the years ahead.English Translation: Chenyang Shi