FOR nearly two decades, Professor Mimi Yu has been tracking the lives of more than 60,000 Chinese subjects in a groundbreaking research study that has shed new light on diseases such as breast and lung cancers.

But yesterday, the 58-year-old epidemiologist announced that she was stepping down as head of the Singapore Chinese Health Study, which she called her 'third and youngest child'.

'After almost 20 years of being the principal investigator, it is time to leave it in capable hands,' said Prof Yu, who is retiring from academia.

Read Judith Tan's full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.