Vivien Lim Singapore

Dr Vivien Lim is an endocrinologist practicing at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore. - Graduate of the National University of Singapore MBBS - MRCP Royal Colleges of Physicians (UK) - Masters in Internal Medicine (Singapore) - Advanced Specialist Training in Endocrinology (Singapore) - Executive committee member of the International Society of Endocrinology - Chairperson education working group of the International Society of Endocrinology - Past President of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies - Past President of the Endocrine Metabolic Society of Singapore - Executive Committee Osteoporosis Society Singapore (2012-2025) - Chairperson of ICE/AFES/AOCE in Aug 2022 held in Singapore. - Chairperson 7th EMSS-Mayo Course Singapore 2018 - JCEM case reports editorial board - Healthcare Humanity Award, Singapore 2014 - Doctors without borders – association member

20 MARCH

Time Session
10:30
12:00
[Symposium] Diabetes Mellitus (1)
Future Management in Diabetes Mellitus
Edy KorneliusTaiwan Moderator Anxiety in Patients with Thyroid Nodules: What Clinicians Need to KnowThyroid nodules are commonly encountered in endocrine practice, and while the majority are benign, the diagnostic and surveillance process often imposes a substantial psychological burden on patients. Anxiety related to fear of malignancy, uncertainty surrounding ultrasonographic findings, fine-needle aspiration results, and long-term follow-up is frequently underestimated and insufficiently addressed in routine clinical care. Emerging evidence suggests that anxiety in patients with thyroid nodules may persist even after reassurance of benign disease and can significantly affect quality of life, healthcare utilization, and decision-making preferences. Cancer-related worry is often disproportionate to the actual risk of malignancy and may be exacerbated by repeated imaging, indeterminate cytology, ambiguous terminology, and lack of clear follow-up strategies. Heightened anxiety has been associated with increased demand for diagnostic interventions and preference for aggressive management, potentially leading to overtreatment. This presentation reviews current evidence on the prevalence, determinants, and clinical consequences of anxiety among patients with thyroid nodules, integrating published literature with real-world clinical experience. Practical approaches for identifying psychological distress in outpatient settings and strategies for improving communication and expectation management will be discussed. Recognizing and addressing anxiety as an integral component of thyroid nodule care is essential for delivering holistic, patient-centred, and value-based endocrinology.
Vivien LimSingapore Moderator The Danger of Obesity in South East Asia and Practical Tips in the Clinic Obesity is steadily increasing in South East Asia (SEA) and with it comes complications naturally follow from it - metabolic, physical and mental. The talk will touch on the following: - the prevalence of this and the changes over time - the rising burden of it - practical tips that can aid in the clinic including busting myths and misconceptions that hamper its management
  • Advancing Toward a Cure for Diabetes: Insights from iPSC-Derived Islet Cell Transplantation Trial
    Daisuke YabeJapan Speaker Advancing toward a Cure for Diabetes: Insights from iPSC-Derived Islet Cell Transplantation TrialType 1 diabetes is characterized by absolute insulin deficiency and marked glycemic variability, creating a constant challenge for individuals who must maintain strict glycemic control to prevent complications and severe hypoglycemia. To address these persistent unmet medical needs, transplantation of pancreatic islet–like cells derived from embryonic stem (ES) or induced pluripotent stem (iPSC) cells has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. Encouraging advances have recently been reported from the United States and China. Notably, a world-first autologous transplantation of patient-specific iPSC-derived islet-like cells in China achieved insulin independence with near-normal glycemic control. Despite its promise, concerns remain regarding long-term safety, durability, and broad applicability, underscoring the need for further rigorous clinical evaluation. This lecture will provide an overview of current progress and ongoing challenges in β-cell replacement therapy aimed at curing type 1 diabetes. In addition, I will introduce the study design of our clinical trial at Kyoto University Hospital evaluating allogeneic transplantation of iPSC-derived islet cell sheets (OZTx-410). Through these insights, we aim to highlight both the steady steps already taken and the horizon of possibilities ahead in the pursuit of a functional cure for diabetes.Incretin-Based Therapeutics: Bridging Theory and Practice, and Exploring New HorizonsThe landscape of type 2 diabetes management has been transformed by the advent of incretin-based therapies, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. In Japan—where more than 70% of individuals with diabetes are aged 65 years or older and commonly present with a non-obese phenotype and reduced insulin secretory capacity—DPP-4 inhibitors continue to serve as a fundamental treatment option, offering effective glycemic control with minimal risk of hypoglycemia. In contrast, among younger adults with obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists have emerged as essential agents that not only improve glycemic control but also promote weight reduction and confer cardiovascular and renal benefits. A major advance in 2023 was the approval of tirzepatide, a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist that engages both receptors. Tirzepatide has demonstrated robust glucose-lowering and weight-reducing effects in both clinical trials and real-world practice in Japan, further expanding therapeutic opportunities across the region. However, incretin-based therapies are not without challenges: gastrointestinal adverse events remain common, and potential associations with pancreatic and biliary diseases continue to require caution. In older adults, concerns regarding their impact on frailty and sarcopenia demand careful clinical judgment. Furthermore, inappropriate discontinuation of insulin therapy after initiating incretin treatment has occasionally resulted in severe clinical consequences, highlighting the critical need for decision-making that extends beyond the evidence from controlled trials. In response to these issues, the Japan Diabetes Society (JDS) Committee for the Safe Use of Medications released the Recommendations for the Safe Use of Incretin-Related Agents, Second Edition in 2024. Disseminating these recommendations across East Asia and the broader Asia–Oceania region will be essential to ensure the safe and effective application of incretin-based therapies in diverse clinical settings. In this plenary lecture, I will explore strategies to optimize type 2 diabetes management in Asia by harnessing the therapeutic potential of incretin-based agents while proactively mitigating associated risks. Together, we aim to build a future in which innovation, safety, and patient-centered care advance hand in hand.
  • AI-Driven Precision Drug Therapy: Tailoring Personalized Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes
    Kang-Chih FanTaiwan Speaker AI-Driven Precision Drug Therapy: Tailoring Personalized Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a highly heterogeneous syndrome where "one-size-fits-all" algorithms often fail to address individual pathophysiological variations. While recent guidelines prioritize cardiorenal protection, the choice between second-line agents—particularly SGLT2 inhibitors versus GLP-1 receptor agonists—remains largely empirical. This "trial-and-error" paradigm frequently results in therapeutic inertia and suboptimal glycemic durability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer a paradigm shift from population-based guidelines to precision diabetology. By integrating high-dimensional data from electronic health records (EHR), continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and routinely available clinical features, AI models can now quantify heterogeneous treatment effects (HTE) at the individual level. In this presentation, I will discuss: 1. Phenotypic Stratification: Moving beyond classic classification to identify data-driven clusters (e.g., severe insulin-resistant vs. age-related clusters) that dictate distinct disease trajectories. 2. Predictive Pharmacotherapy: Reviewing recent evidence where ML algorithms predict individual glycemic response, cardiorenal outcomes, and weight loss outcomes for specific drug classes. We will highlight how AI-driven decision support can optimize the selection between SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, maximizing efficacy while minimizing adverse events. 3. Real-World Implementation: Discussing the potential of leveraging large-scale longitudinal datasets, such as Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), to build robust, population-specific prediction models and facilitate the clinical adoption of explainable AI (XAI). Bridging the gap between data science and clinical practice, this session aims to demonstrate how AI can empower clinicians to prescribe the right drug for the right patient at the right time, fundamentally transforming T2D management.Anti-Obesity Medications: Clinical Use Obesity is a chronic, relapsing neurobehavioral disease requiring long-term management. Recent guidelines have shifted the treatment goal from BMI-centric weight loss to a "health-centered" approach, focusing on the remission of weight-related complications. With the advent of nutrient-stimulated hormone-based therapies, we have entered an era where pharmacotherapy can achieve double-digit weight loss comparable to bariatric surgery, offering systemic organ protection. In this session, we will navigate the clinical use of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) through three key dimensions based on the latest evidence: 1. Efficacy and Organ Protection: We will review the landmark trials establishing GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists as the cornerstone of treatment. Highlights include Semaglutide (STEP, SELECT, ESSENCE) and Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT, SUMMIT, SURMOUNT-OSA), demonstrating not only 15–20% weight loss but also breakthrough benefits in cardiovascular outcomes (MACE), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). 2. Comorbidity-Directed Strategy: A practical framework for drug selection will be proposed, distinguishing between "Fat Mass Disease" (e.g., OSA, osteoarthritis), which benefits primarily from mechanical weight reduction, and "Sick Fat Disease" (e.g., T2D, CVD, MASH), which requires correction of adipose dysfunction. We will discuss how to prioritize agents like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for high-risk profiles, while utilizing Naltrexone/Bupropion for emotional eating or Orlistat for patients requiring non-systemic options. 3. Asian Perspectives & Practical Management: We will present data confirming that Asian populations, who are highly sensitive to metabolic risks, achieve weight loss efficacy comparable to Western populations with Semaglutide and Tirzepatide (STEP-7, SURMOUNT-CN/J). Finally, we will address practical strategies for dose titration to mitigate GI adverse events and emphasize the necessity of chronic treatment to prevent weight regain. This presentation aims to equip clinicians with a precision medicine approach, ensuring the right AOM is prescribed to maximize both weight reduction and holistic health outcomes.
  • Closing the Type 2 Diabetes Gap in Cardiovascular and Renal Disease
    Jenny GuntonAustralia Speaker Closing the Type 2 Diabetes Gap in Cardiovascular and Renal DiseasePeople with type 2 diabetes die, on average, 6-7 years earlier. This is mostly due to excess cardiovascular events. This presentation will discuss options for lowering cardiovascular and renal risk in people with type 2 diabetes.Managing Hyperglycaemia in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint InhibitorsIt is estimated that >20% of people treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) for their cancer will experience new or worsening hyperglycaemia. This presentation will discuss the differential diagnoses for the cause of hyperglycaemia in people treated with ICI and treatment strategies
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21 MARCH

Time Session
11:10
11:50
Plenary 3
Vivien LimSingapore Moderator The Danger of Obesity in South East Asia and Practical Tips in the Clinic Obesity is steadily increasing in South East Asia (SEA) and with it comes complications naturally follow from it - metabolic, physical and mental. The talk will touch on the following: - the prevalence of this and the changes over time - the rising burden of it - practical tips that can aid in the clinic including busting myths and misconceptions that hamper its management
  • Update in Osteoporosis
    Dolores ShobackUnited States Speaker Update in OsteoporosisMany issues in osteoporosis management are challenging in clinical practice. Factors in fracture risk assessment include those in the FRAX algorithm as well as imminent fracture risk in the next 1-5 years. Highest risk individuals benefit most from aggressive therapies targeted to increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce fracture rates as rapidly as possible to enhance bone strength. Sequential therapeutic strategies with repeated courses of both anabolic and antiresorptive treatments are becoming the norm for highest risk patients. Yet clinicians are often without trial data to predict clinical outcomes. Bisphosphonate treatment holidays are often employed to allow for a return of bone remodeling with the goal of microdamage repair and avoiding oversuppression of turnover. Yet the duration and monitoring of such treatment interruptions have not been rigorously established. The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of anabolic agents in the lifespan of a patient have not been well studied. The biologic basis for achieving effective BMD responses in sequential therapy is not known. Despite the long use of denosumab and bisphosphonates in clinical care, how to interrupt safely, and how to sequence these therapies most effectively are not known. Rebound increases in bone remodeling after stopping treatment with the RANK-ligand inhibitor denosumab and the challenges of treating patients with advanced chronic kidney disease with denosumab remain unsolved. The bifunctional monoclonal antibody to sclerostin romosozumab, while potent at increasing BMD due to its anabolic and antiresorptive actions, may have off-target cardiovascular adverse effects. Patients who are obese or with diabetes using GLP1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors have risks to bone health with rapid weight loss and or direct effects on bone. Ultimately, clinicians must make decisions on patient management based on individual risk assessment and anticipated pathophysiology of the low BMD and risk in that patient.Challenging Parathyroid CasesThis session will review cases of primary, secondary and tertiary hyperparathyoidism and their management. The recommendations for screening patients with possible MEN1 and its manifestations will be reviewed. The role for parathyroid autotransplantation in the management of MEN1 hyperparathyroidism and in postsurgical hypoparathyroidism will be reviewed. A newly released form of parathyroid hormone (PTH) replacement will be discussed in the setting of chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults. Palopegteriparatide has been released for the treatment of chronic hypoparathyroidism and has shown strong efficacy on the control of the biochemical parameters (serum and urine calcium levels, serum phosphate, the Ca x phosphate product) as well as on the quality of life. Updated guidance on considering the use of PTH replacement is being developed and will be discussed. Additionally, the role combined functional and structural localization of parathyroid tissue(s) in the setting of recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism will be reviewed.
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22 MARCH

Time Session
11:00
12:30
[Symposium] Obesity (2)
Perspectives on Obesity in Asia-Oceania
Hiroshi ArimaJapan Moderator Network of AOCE could contribute to the development of ISEThe mission of the International Society of Endocrinology (ISE) is to promote endocrine and metabolic science, education, practice and advocacy worldwide. Around 50 national endocrine societies and 27, 000 representatives belong to the ISE, around 50% of whom are from Asia and Oceania countries. The number of board members in the ISE is proportional to that of membership in each region. Thus, Asian and Oceanian Endocrine societies play an important role in the ISE. I had served as the president of the Japan Endocrine Society (JES) from 2021 to 2025. During the period, the Korean Endocrine Society (KES) and JES signed the memorandum of understanding, and we just published the Guideline for Cushing disease this year, which were published in Endocrine and Metabolism and Endocrine Journal, the official journals of the KES and JES, respectively. I believe we should extend the collaboration between the KES and JES to other societies in Asian and Oceania Endocrine Society, which will lead to the development of the ISE.
Kathryn TanHong Kong, China Moderator Lipoprotein(a): What Endocrinologists Need to KnowLipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a cholesterol-rich LDL-like particle with apolipoprotein(a) covalently linked to apolipoprotein B100 via a disulfide bond. Lp(a) is synthesized within the liver and there is a general inverse correlation between Lp(a) isoform size and plasma Lp(a) concentrations. About 90% of plasma Lp(a) concentration is genetically determined and plasma levels can modestly rise after menopause in women, and in conditions like hypothyroidism, nephrotic syndrome. It has been shown that elevated Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and calcific aortic valve stenosis. Although Lp(a) concentration does vary with ethnicity, relationships between Lp(a) concentration and ASCVD risk remain similar across different ethnic groups. Elevated Lp(a) is considered a cardiovascular risk-enhancing or amplification factor, and recent guidelines and consensus have increasingly recommended universal screening for Lp(a). There are as yet, no approved therapies for elevated Lp(a). Current management focuses on intensifying control of concurrent risk factors, particularly LDL-C, to reduce ASCVD risk. Amongst existing lipid-lowering drugs, only proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors can lower Lp(a) levels modestly. Emerging RNA-based and small-molecule therapeutics are under development and are showing promising Lp(a)-lowering effects up to 80-90%. Ongoing phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trials will determine whether effectively lowering Lp(a) can translate to cardiovascular benefit.
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