Jason Kai Wei Lee, Ph.D.
Sports Science for Public Health – Challenges and Opportunities
Jason Lee is an Associate Professor at the Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. He directs the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre and co leads the Human Potential Translational Research Programme. Jason completed his 12-year tenure at the DSO National Laboratories in 2018 by directing the Human Performance Programme in his final appointment. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine since 2012. He serves in various national and international panels related to human performance and safety. Jason’s main research interests are in fluid balance, thermoregulation and mitigation strategies for improving human performance. He studies the physiological demands associated with passive and exertional heat stress and how humans adapt to ensure optimum performance and survival. A key outcome of his research is the formulation of a holistic heat management system. This is achieved through profiling the associated heat strain in humans under various settings, designing and evaluating heat mitigation strategies (physical conditioning regimes, heat acclimatisation, pre-activity cooling, work-rest cycles and hydration). Over the past 2 decades, knowledge gained from his research has translated to several local and international polices across various governmental agencies. Jason chaired the Scientific Committee on Thermal Factors at the International Commission on Occupational Health (2018 to 2024) and currently co-chairs the Heat Injury Clinical Practice Guidelines at the Ministry of Health in Singapore. He is on the management committee at the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) and leads the WHO-WMO GHHIN Southeast Asia Heat Health Hub to scale up efforts in managing the complex health risks posed by rising ambient temperatures.
Academic Qualifications
2006 PhD in Exercise Physiology, Loughborough University, UK
2003 BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Sciences, 1st Class, Loughborough University, UK
Research Interests
Fluid balance, thermoregulation and mitigation strategies for enhancing human performance, health and safety. Studies the physiological demands associated with passive and exertional heat stress and how humans adapt to ensure optimal performance and survival.
Professional and Advisory Appointments (only listed those that are active)
- Member, Expert Advisory Group, Rockefeller Foundation (2025 to present)
- Member, Technical Advisory Panel, Think City Sdn Bhd Penang, Malaysia (2025 to present)
- Member, Advisory Committee, Outward Bound Singapore (2025 to present)
- Member, Steering Committee, Global Climate Health Summit (2025 to present)
- Member, Medical Committee, Football Association of Singapore (2024 to present)
- Chair, WHO-WMO GHHIN SE Asia Heat Health Hub (2024 to present)
- Co-Chair, ACE Heat Injury Workgroup, Ministry of Health Singapore (2024 to present)
- Representative for MINDEF, National Heat Resilience Working Group (2024 to present)
- President, Asian Nutrition Society for Sports and Health (2023 to present)
- Member, Two-Way Advisory Board, La Isla Network Project (2022 to present)
- Member, Management Committee, Global Heat Health Information Network (2022 to present)
- Member, Scientific Advisory Panel, Food and Nutrients in Health and Disease Science Cluster, ILSI Southeast Asia Region (2019 to present)
- Member, Faculty of the IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition (2011 to present)