Gabriel Oon Chong Jin . Milestones 1939. Born in Bungsar Hospital
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Gabriel Oon Chong Jin . Milestones 1939. Born in Bungsar Hospital, Kuala Lumpur 1942, February. Evacuated from Singapore with my brother Chong Teik, Mum, Mui Chay and my aunt Koo Chay by the French Merchant ship Felix Rousell to Bombay , India. Of the three ships which sailed up the Straits of Malacca, our ship was the only ship which survived . We were bombed and chased by Japanese bombers. All ships going south to Indonesia and Australia were sunk outside the Singapore harbor. Read Neville Shute's Penguin book Sinister Twilight which mentions the last days of the British Empire in Singapore , and mentions of the ship.. Studies at St. Stanislaw High school, Bandra . June 1945 .when Japan surrenders return home with joyous families . Conditions very poor. Stay in Grand Mother Wong Bee Soo family home at 75 Keng Lee Rd, Singapore. She had passed away during the war after torture by Japanese Kempetai. Leave for Kuala Lumpur and studied at Batu Road School. 1952. Represent Victoria Institution(VI) in Badminton. We were then the second best school in Badminton. Watched how my uncle Wong Peng Soon, the World Champion trained in our home in Ampang Road. 1954. Leave VI for Perse School , Cambridge, with Chong Teik. I study for O levels , later A levels and entrance exam for Medicine . I passed my Organic Chemistry , O levels and A Levels, and the interviews for entry to Study Medicine at Downing College , Cambridge. 1958. First Malaysian to win the All England Junior Badminton Championship at Wimbledon Squash and Badminton court. We stayed with the Family Powel in Wimbledon during holidays and trained with the Malaysian Thomas cuppers , Eddie Choong, David Choong , the Heah brothers. With thirty county championships, in Men's Singles Doubles and Mixed Doubles, including the Irish, Scottish and Welsh Championships. On returning to K.L win the Selangor Open Junior Badminton Championships. Enter to study Medicine at Downing College. Stayed on the third floor K Block , and invited to be member of Cambridge University Badminton team and played against Oxford, thereby receiving my half blue colors. 1959. Secretary , Cambridge Badminton Team. Downing College wins the Badminton Cuppers from 1959-61. 1960. Captain, Cambridge University Badminton Club and member of elite Cambridge University Hawk's Club ..for sportsmen with blues/half blues. 1960-65 participate in All England Championships. Reached Men's Singles by the South African Champion Powel in first round, then Bernt Dahlberg , the Swedish No: 1 in the second followed later beating Ferry Sonneville ( Indonesia's No 1) . Lost in the quarterfinals to Danish No: 2, a 'runner' Kurt Nielsen. In 1965 partnering Erland Kops we win the Danish Men's Doubles, and were runner up in the All England Men's Doubles , then became the unofficial World No:2. 1965-71. Thereafter retired from Badminton to focus on Medical studies and training, at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. Trained in Pediatrics and passed my Diploma in Pediatrics (DCH) Did postings in Medicines, Surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery , Eyes, and accident and emergency medicine. 1971. Passed London MRCP( Member of the Royal College of Physician (London) 1974. Passed Cambridge MD Cantab., Research in Cancer immunology and use of the Blood Cell Separator. 1975. Elected as Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians , London and also the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. 12 April 1975 married to Susie Chu Yau Chi. June 1975. Return to Singapore as Lecturer in Medicine , at the National University of Singapore at the Singapore General Hospital. Start of Research on Liver Cancer by starting the Hepatoma Research Group at the attic of our department. 1979. Promoted to Associate Professor of Medicine. Become well know for Liver Cancer research 1981-85. Principal Investigator for the Ministry of Trade and Industry Research to make a hepatitis B Vaccine. 1984- 86. Appointed : Secretary General Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver Appointed Consultant to the International Agency for Research on Cancer , World Health Organization, for Hepatitis B Vaccine and Liver Cancer. Also appointed Consultant to WHO in Geneva for Biological standards for human usage. Appointed Director, WHO Collaborating Laboratories for Hepatitis B Vaccine in the University Department of Medicine I, at the Singapore General Hospital. Appointed Advisor, W.HO. Western Pacific Region and conducted three studies: The extent of Hepatitis B , Liver Cancer in the Asia Pacific Region. And developing hepatitis reagents for the region. 1983-85. Conduct clinical trials for novel hepatitis B vaccine manufactured from human plasma and later from recombinant Yeast Vaccine. Later countries from ASEAN, Oceania, Hong Kong , and other parts of the World learn from us on how to implement a National HBV vaccination program for all new borns and integrating this in the Extended Program of Immunization for Childhood. 1 October 1985. Appointed, Chairman of Ministry of Health Advisory Committee on Hepatitis and related Disorders, and start of the supervision of the National Hepatitis B Vaccination program . 1986. Donated a annual trophy to Perse School , Cambridge , for an outstanding academician in a racquet sports. 1985-2005 Monitor the effective of the HBV vaccination program . Discovery of Vaccine escape mutants with the first generation Plasma derived vaccines, but not in the yeast Recombinant vaccine. Developed research for antiviral treatments for HBV and screening for early Liver Cancer. 1996-2000. Owner of 5 industrial patents registered worldwide. 1985 Join the MOH new Department of Clinical Research at SGH, and continue research on Hepatitis viruses. Work on the development of a Hepatitis C vaccine with Dr. Choo Kui Lin at Chiron. Later discover the first cases of Hepatitis E in Singapore. Visit Downing College biennially for the Oon International Prize in Medicine for an outstanding scientist from anywhere in the world, whose research would lead to a prevention of a human disease. 1994 , August 15. Baptized by Rev Fr. Eagan , S.J in St. Ignatius Church. 2002. Appointed Archdiocese Scientific Advisor on Bioethics and campaign strong against the usage of living human embryos for experimentation. Invited by Archbishop Nicholas Chia to be a member of the Order of Malta. 23 February 2003. Installed as a Knight of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. Appointed as the Hospitaller of the Singapore Association. 8 December 2004. Initiated and organized the first Lourdes Experience, to bring the spirituality of Lourdes to Singapore for those who are unable to attend , and to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception. 10,000 parishioners and other denominations attend the Indoor Stadium event . Theme " Bring my people back to me " 20th December 2005. Installed the mosaic mural painting of our Lady with her Singapore children in the outer walls of the Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth, Israel, Holy Land. The second Lourdes Event was held on the 6 December 2008 June 2006 & 2008 Held the Musical Charity Chow of the Reprise of the Prodigal Son at the Esplanade Recital Studio. 8 November 2008. Elected as Chancellor of the Singapore Association, Order of Malta. March 2012. Retire from Office Holder of the Singapore Order of Malta , because of spinal surgery. 20th December 2013. Raised funds to have the first Singapore Chapel ( Jesus walks on water) in the new Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, Magdala, Holy Land. 26 May 2014. Meet Pope Francis in the Pontifical Institute of Notre Dame when he thanks all the benefactors and blesses the Tabernacle of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene. He also meets the two leaders President Abbas ( PLO) and President Simon Peres( Israel) to pray together at his Vatican Garden in June for Peace in the Holy Land. June 2014. Donated the Professor Gabriel Oon Chong Jin Prize to Downing College, Cambridge for an outstanding student from the College for outstanding achievements in academic studies as well as in a university sport. .