• Key Research Areas
• Research Projects
• Research Reports

Key Research Areas

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Disease
• General Medicine & Therapeutics
• Haematology & Oncology
• Nephrology
• Neurology
• Respiratory & Critical Care
• Rheumatology

Cardiology

Cardiology runs active research programs investigating the mechanics of cardiac function, pathophysiology of valvular heart disease, clinical importance of cardiac biomarkers especially natriuretic peptides, genetics of atrial fibrillation and detection of premature atherosclerosis. A number of prospective studies investigating the importance of vascular stiffness and ventriculovascular coupling in the pathogenesis of heart disease were initiated. Apart from multidisciplinary collaborations within NUS and NHG, the Division also conducts research with investigators at Singapore General Hospital, Bioengineering, NTU and partners in industry.

Endocrinology

Endocrinology division continues to investigate ethnic differences in the patterns and complications of Diabetes. Importantly, an exciting and new collaboration has been started with the Department of Surgery and the Department of Immunology on the immunology of umbilical cord stem cells, and potential gene therapy of diabetes.

Gastroenterology

The Gastroenterology research focuses on hepatitis B, gastrointestinal cancer, functional gastrointestinal disorders, and novel investigative applications such as robotic diagnostic devices. The programs stretch from basic research to clinical research and clinical trials. For hepatology, research is mainly on hepatitis B with focus on the immunopathology (structural biology of core particle, cccDNA, splice variants are all being investigated). Clinical research focus includes the natural history of HBV with characterisation of viral activity following HBeAg seroconversion, and the outcome of therapy in treated patients.

Gastroenterology contributes to the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, a national coalition of leading clinicians and scientists working in gastric cancer research. The specific research projects are:

1. Improving early detection of gastric cancer;
2. Improving biologic understanding of gastric carcinogenesis;
3. Molecular epidemiology of gastric cancer risk.
4. Improving treatment by well-designed clinical trials combined with gene expression profiling of tumours. International collaborations include the International Cancer Biomarker Consortium and the Asia-Pacific Working Group on Gastric Cancer.

Infectious Disease

The Infectious disease group at NUS is part of the Infectious Diseases Themed Group and the Infectious Diseases Interdisciplinary Program which involves extensive collaboration across NUS (with Departments of Mathematics, Computer Science, Biological Sciences and Microbiology) and Research Institutes (IMCB, IBN, GIS), together with industry. The main areas of interest are antimicrobial resistance, device associated infections, emerging infectious diseases including avian and pandemic influenza.

General Medicine & Therapeutics

Both clinical and laboratory research occurs in (a) hypertension and diastolic heart failure, (b) vascular biology (mediators and signal molecules in endothelium and smooth muscle). Division members collaborate with physician scientists in other Divisions (eg Cardiology and Endocrinology) and other Departments (eg Pharmacology), to carry out studies in the two interrelated streams within cardiovascular medicine. Prof Oh leads the research on hypertension and diastolic heart failure, whereas Emeritus Prof. George D Webb PhD directs vascular biology via his collaboration with Prof. Philip Moore's vascular biology research group in the Centre for Life Sciences Building of NUS. A distinct clinical research effort looks at drug treatment compliance and adverse drug reactions in collaboration with Dr Grant Sklar from the Deaprtment of Pharmacy, NUS Faculty of Science.

Haematology & Oncology

The Division of Haematology & Oncology has a very active research programme on cancer therapeutics. The projects include:

1. In vivo characterization of drug efficacy, sensitivities and resistance for A741439 alone or in combination with chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia
2. The Development of an early phase clinical trials oncology program at The Cancer Institute (National Healthcare Group-NHG), in conjunction with the Cancer Therapeutics Research Group (CTRG)
3. Cancer Therapeutic Animal Model Program for Pre-Clinical Testing in NUS/NUH
4. Development of the Transplant Medical Research Centre NUS/NUH: Therapeutic Applications in Haematological Malignancies and Solid Tumours with Non-Myeloblative Transplantation

Nephrology

The current focus in Nephrology Research is on clinical research in several areas related to the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in Singapore. We are investigating malnutrition in dialysis patients, epidemiology of chronic kidney disease - especially in causes and of mortality and hospitalisation.

We are also validating and deriving glomerular filtration rate estimating equations for different ethnic groups: an urgent and crucial area of study for the accurate identification and follow-up of chronic kidney disease patients participating in clinical trials. We also aim to determine if newer biomarkers of renal injury are suitable for use (Cystatin C) in Asian patients and in the process, establish a bio-specimen bank to improve the efficiency of biomarker research in kidney disease. Additionally, we are involved in a collaborative study using RNA microarray analysis of blood specimens in active lupus patients in UK and Singapore (Cambridge-Singapore Lupus Collaboration).

Another area of research in the Division of Nephrology is on the functional genomic characterization of TRIP-Br integrator function and the impact of absence of TRIP-Br2 on growth and development: characterization of TRIP-Br2 knockout mouse as a model for common human disease(s).

Neurology

The division of Neurology has achieved success in "niche-related" work in the field of peripheral nerve disease diagnostics and treatment and is poised to deliver important translational work in this area in the field of diabetic and other polyneuropathies. There is a thriving collaboration with bioengineering as well as clinical and basic science departments. Stroke research has a strong base in clinical trials and is starting to implement promising new treatments with sophisticated transcranial Doppler techniques which are linked to diagnostics of brain embolism in ischemic stroke.

Respiratory & Critical Care

Respiratory & Critical Care division has put in place several active research programs:

1. rapid molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis,
2. optimal management of pleural sepsis,
3. improving asthma control in a national intervention program,
4. bundle interventions in to improve clinical outcomes in COPD,
5. minimally and most cost-effective diagnosis and staging of lung cancer,
6. optimal liberation from mechanical ventilation, and
7. cost-effective management of pneumonia in the elderly (minimizing mortalities & hospital days).

Rheumatology

The Division of Rheumatology provides tertiary outpatient and inpatient care to patients with rheumatic, soft tissue and metabolic bone disease; and is also actively involved with undergraduate and postgraduate education.