Dr Tira Tan's research interest is in the study of breast cancer and geriatric oncology. In particular, her focus is on triple negative breast cancer and the conduct of early phase clinical trials. Her academic training and clinical experience has provided her with a broad and solid foundation in medical oncology. Through her training, she has actively participated in research. In the field of geriatric oncology, her abstract on Malnutrition in Elderly Asian Cancer Patients submitted to the American Society of Oncology meeting in 2013 was award with a merit award. Following the completion of her training in October 2015, she joined the Breast team as well as the Phase 1 unit where she actively recruits and follow up on patients in several clinical trials for which she is a co-investigator. She has conceptualized and written several investigator-initiated protocols one of which has started actively recruiting patients. 

With a growing practice and accumulating experience in the treatment of triple negative breast cancers, she recognise that this represents an area in need for further research and drug development. In addition, Dr Tira Tan strongly believe in improving drug efficacy, toxicity profile and an individualized approach to cancer treatment through established and well-validated companion biomarkers.