Professor Wong Chieh Lee

Professor Wong Chieh Lee

  • Clinical Professor in Medicine and Haematology
Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery
  • Sir Jeffrey Cheah ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Medical School
Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences

Biography

Professor Dr Wong Chieh Lee is an internationally recognised haematologist with extensive expertise in clinical practice, academic research, and medical education. She currently serves as a Senior Consultant Haematologist at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Medical Centre and a Clinical Professor in Medicine and Haematology at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University, Malaysia. In addition, she holds an honorary academic appointment as a Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College London, United Kingdom.

Professor Dr Wong obtained her PhD in Medicine from Imperial College London, where she conducted in-depth research on myeloproliferative neoplasms. She completed her undergraduate medical training (MB ChB) and earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc Hons) in Pathological Sciences from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. Her postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Haematology was completed in London, culminating in the award of the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Haematology. She is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath).

With over two decades of experience in haematology, Professor Dr. Wong specialises in the diagnosis and management of both malignant and non-malignant haematological conditions. She has held several prominent leadership roles in Malaysia and the United Kingdom, including Consultant Haematologist at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals in London. Upon returning to Malaysia in 2009, she was appointed Associate Professor in Haematology and Internal Medicine at the National University of Malaysia. She has also served as Clinical Director of the Clinical Research Centre and Head of the Genetics & Molecular Laboratory at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ Medical Centre.

Her research is focused on the molecular pathogenesis of haematological malignancies, with a particular interest in identifying genetic and epigenetic signatures across disease subtypes. Her work employs state-of-the-art genomic technologies such as microarray analysis and next-generation sequencing to bridge basic science with clinical application, driving forward the field of precision medicine in haematology.

Professor Dr Wong is deeply committed to innovation, international collaboration, and advancing haematology through education, research, and global knowledge exchange.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Imperial College London, United Kingdom (2016)
  • Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (MB ChB), University of Leeds, United Kingdom (1997)
  • Bachelor of Science in Pathological Sciences with Honours (BSc (Hons)), University of Leeds, United Kingdom (1995)
  • Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Haematology, Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, London, United Kingdom (2007)

Research Interests

  • Haematological malignancies
  • Translational research
  • Genomics
  • Transcriptomics
  • Epigenomics

Notable Publications

1.    G Haider, S Thomas, P Loubet, R Baker, T Benfield, J Boonyararatanakornkit, S Kiertiburanakul, AHJ Kim, EE Longbrake, JM Molina, R Paredes, D Tucker, A Uriel, J Weinmann-Menke, AA Aksyuk, LE Clegg, A Currie, H Yang, K Flyrin, M Gibbs, M Shroff, JL Perez, LJ Chang, TS Cohen, CL Wong et al. Efficacy and safety of sipavibart for prevention of COVID-19 in individuals who are immunocompromised (SUPERNOVA): a randomised, controlled, double-blind, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025.

2.    Harinder Gill, Radha Raghupathy, Hsin-An Hou, Xavier Cheng-Hong Tsai, Adisak Tantiworawit, Melissa G. Ooi, Gin-Gin Gan, Chieh-Lee Wong, Rita Yim, Lynn Chin, Paul Lee, Vivian W.K. Li, Lester Au, Qi Zhang, Garret M.K. Leung, Tony K.Y. Wu,
Carmen Y.Y. Lee, Wee-Joo Chng, Hwei-Fang Tien, Cyrus R. Kumana, Yok-Lam Kwong. Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Asian Consortium study of arsenic trioxide in newly-diagnosed patients: impact and outcome. Blood Advances 2025; 9(4): 862-876.

3.    Heng Joo Ng, Maaz Kamal Alata, Quang The Nguyen, Phu Huynh Duc Vinh, Jing Yuan Tan, Chieh Lee Wong. Managing and treating COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies: a narrative review and expert insights. Clinical and Experimental Medicine 2024; 24: 119.


4.    Harinder Gill, Garret M. K. Leung, Melissa G. M. Ooi, Winnie Z. Y. Teo, Chieh-Lee Wong, Chul Won Choi, Gee-Chuan Wong, Zhentang Lao, Ponlapat Rojnuckarin, Ma. Rosario Irene D. Castillo, Zhijian Xiao, Hsin-An Hou, Ming-Chung Kuo, Lee-Yung Shih, Gin-Gin Gan, Chien-Chin Lin, Wee-Joo Chng, Yok-Lam Kwong. Management of classical Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms in Asia: consensus of the Asian Myeloid Working Group. Clinical and Experimental Medicine 2023; 23(8): 1-19.

5.    Harry Gill, Radha Raghupathy, Hsin-An Hou, Adisak Tantiworawit, Melissa G. Ooi, Priscella S. Chia, Gin Gin Gan, Chieh-Lee Wong, Lynn Chin, Rita Yim, Paul Lee, Lester Au, Vivian Li, Man Kit Garret Leung, Wee Joo Chng, Wen Chien Chou, Hwei-Fang Tien, Cyrus Kumana, Yok Lam Kwong. Oral-ATO/ATRA/Ascorbic acid (AAA)-based induction or maintenance of first complete remission improved outcomes in newly diagnosed APL: A multicentre analysis of the APL Asian consortium (APLC). HemaSphere 2023; 7(S3): 834

6.    Yock Ping Chow, Norziha Zainul Abidin, Ken Siong Kow, Lye Mun Tho, Chieh Lee Wong. Analytical and clinical validation of a custom 15-gene next-generation sequencing panel for the evaluation of circulating tumor DNA mutations in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. PLOS One 2022;17(10): e0276161.

7.    Jaymi Tan, Yock Ping Chow, Norziha Zainul Abidin, Kian Meng Chang, Veena Selvaratnam, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Yang Ming Poh, Abhi Veerakumarasivam, Michael Arthur Laffan, Chieh Lee Wong. Analysis of genetic variants in myeloproliferative neoplasms using a 22-gene next-generation sequencing panel. BMC Medical Genomics 2022; 15(10).

8.    Jaymi Tan, Yock Ping Chow, Norziha Zainul Abidin, Abhi Veerakumarasivam, Chieh Lee Wong. From Driver Mutations to Genomic Classification: Current & Future Perspectives on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021; 17(1): 170-183.

9.    A. Innes, M. Robinson, G. Gerrard, N.Z. Abidin, S.-K. Cheong, C.F. Leong, P.C. Bee, J. Sathar, L. Foroni, M. Laffan, C. Wong. Granulocytes and mono-nuclear cells from patients with myeloproliferative disorders harbour persistent evidence of DNA damage and TP53 pathway activation that correlates with JAK-STAT activation. HemaSphere 2019; 3(S1): 400.

10.    Madzlifah Ahadon, Suria Abdul Aziz, Chieh Lee Wong, Chooi Fun Leong. Plasma-derived microparticles in polycythaemia vera. Malaysian Journal of Pathology 2018; 40(1): 41-48.

11.    E Yap, NR Tumian, RZ Azma, NA Sharifah, S Salwati, NH Hamidah, MH Elias, CL Wong. Primary imatinib resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia patients in a developing country: BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations or BCR-ABL independent mechanisms? Malaysian Journal of Pathology 2017; 39(2): 107-113.

12.    E Yap, ZA Norziha, A Simbun, NR Tumian, SK Cheong, CF Leong, CL Wong. MicroRNAs that affect the Fanconi Anemia/BRCA pathway are downregulated in imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia patients without detectable BCR-ABL kinase domain mutations. Leukemia Research 2017; 59: 32-40.

13.    Chieh Lee Wong, Andrew Innes, Baoshan Ma, Gareth Gerrard, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Jameela Sathar, Siew Fen Lye, Letizia Foroni, Tim Aitman, Liming Liang, Jesus Gil, Michael Laffan.
Differential Expression of Genes Associated with Oncogene-Induced Senescence and Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype in the Absence of Differential Expression of High Molecular Risk Genes and Genes Associated with JAK-STAT Pathway in Sorted Cells of Patients with Polycythemia Vera and Primary Myelofibrosis. Blood 2016; 128(22): 4283.

14.    Chieh Lee Wong, Gareth Gerrard, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Jameela Sathar, Liming Liang, Tim Aitman, Letizia Foroni, Michael Laffan. Germline Calr exon 9 Variant and Somatic JAK2 V617F Mutation in a Patient with Polycythemia Vera Associated with Late Presentation and Severe Clinical Phenotype. Blood 2016; 128(22): 5485.

15.    CL Wong, G Gerrard, ZA Norziha, NR Tumian,SK Cheong, CF Leong, PC Bee, GG Gan, J Sathar, B Ma, L Liang, L Foroni, T Aitman, M Laffan. A prospective multicentre study of the demographic, molecular and clinical landscape of myeloproliferative neoplasm in a developing country. British Journal of Haematology 2016; 173(S1): 135.

16.    Chieh Lee Wong, Gareth Gerrard, Martyna Adamowicz-Brice, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Gin Gin Gan, Jameela Sathar, Baoshan Ma, Liming Liang, Tim Aitman, Letizia Foroni, Michael Laffan. Targeted Sequencing of Sorted Peripheral Blood Cells Reveals Novel Germline and Somatic Variants in the Polymorphonuclear and Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia, Polycythemia Vera and Primary Myelofibrosis. Blood 2015; 126(23): 5213.

17.    Chieh Lee Wong, Baoshan Ma, Gareth Gerrard, Martyna Adamowicz-Brice, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Gin Gin Gan, Jameela Sathar, Siew Fen Lye, Letizia Foroni, Tim Aitman, Liming Liang, Michael Laffan. Gene Expression Profiling of Sorted Peripheral Blood Cells Using Microarray and Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Distinct Molecular Signatures in the Polymorphonuclear and Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Polycythemia Vera and Primary Myelofibrosis. Blood 2015; 126(23): 5201.

18.    Chieh Lee Wong, Baoshan Ma, Martyna Adamowicz-Brice, Gareth Gerrard, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Gin Gin Gan, Jameela Sathar, Letizia Foroni, Tim Aitman, Liming Liang, Michael Laffan. DNA Methylation Profiling of Sorted Peripheral Blood Cells Using Microarray and Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Distinct Molecular Signatures in the Polymorphonuclear and Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Essential Thrombocythemia, Polycythemia Vera and Primary Myelofibrosis. Blood 2015; 126(23): 5204.

19.    Chieh Lee Wong, Gareth Gerrard, Zainul Abidin Norziha, Nor Rafeah Tumian, Soon Keng Cheong, Chooi Fun Leong, Ping Chong Bee, Gin Gin Gan, Jameela Sathar, Baoshan Ma, Liming, Liang, Letizia Foroni, Tim Aitman, Michael Laffan. JAK2 V617F mutation in combination with ASXL1, DNMT3A, TET2, U2AF1 and RUNX1 variants is associated with severe clinical phenotypes in primary myelofibrosis. Haematologica 2015; 100(S1): 531.

20.    Nor Rafeah Tumian, Chieh Lee Wong.  Pregnancy-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with cytomegalovirus infection: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2015: 54(4): 432-437.

21.    Nor Rafeah Tumian, Ming Wong, Chieh Lee Wong. α-thalassemia-associated hydrops fetalis: A rare cause of thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy.  Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research 2015: 41(6): 967-970.

22.     Chieh L Wong, Richard Szydlo, Simon Gibbs, Mike Laffan. Hereditary and acquired thrombotic risk factors for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis 2010; 21(3): 201-206.

 

Professional Associations

1.    Fellow of Royal College of Physicians
2.    Fellow of Royal College of Pathologists
3.    Member of British Society of Haematology
4.    Member of American Society of Haematology
5.    Member of Malaysian Society of Haematology