NUS Medicine Inspire120 Professorial Lecture: Transforming research into real-world impact
Published: 05 Jan 2026
Prof Chong Yap Seng, Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean, NUS Medicine, delivering his lecture at the second edition of the NUS Medicine Inspire120 Professorial Lectures.
On 28 November 2025, Professor Chong Yap Seng, Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, delivered a lecture Bringing Research Insights to Practice & Policy, highlighting the need for academic research to move beyond university walls to shape policy and improve lives, through close collaboration among academia, philanthropy, and government. This was the second lecture in a special professorial series celebrating the School’s 120th anniversary and commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Lien Ying Chow Professorship in Medicine.
(Left to Right) NUS Medicine students Rachel Wong (Year 3), Raeanne Wong (Year 2) and Claire Ho (Year 1) opened the lecture with a short performance.
The GUSTO Journey: From data to decisions
Prof Chong, also the lead Principal Investigator of the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study, shared insights from this landmark 16-year longitudinal research. Since 2009, GUSTO has tracked over 1,200 mothers and their children, producing one of Singapore’s richest datasets on early-life health and development.
While GUSTO produced the expected academic outputs, Prof Chong emphasised that its most meaningful success lies in its translation into practice and policy. “What we are most proud of is how our findings have influenced practice and policy to optimise human potential in Singapore,” he said.
The research identified specific gaps and opportunities across an expectant mother’s pregnancy and her child’s life course, enabling evidence-informed interventions. Key outcomes include mandatory screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for all pregnant women, and routine maternal mental health screening at NUH and KKH following findings that 40% of expectant mothers experienced high levels of depression, which could affect infants’ neurodevelopment and school readiness.
Reflecting on the lecture, Guest-Of-Honour Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health, described GUSTO as a gift that keeps on giving. She praised the study as a model of Singapore’s outcome-driven partnership between government and academia, where evidence is actively sought and translated into interventions that are both implementable and scalable.
The fireside chat included distinguished panellists (left to right) – Prof Chong Yap Seng, Dean, NUS Medicine; Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information & Ministry of Health; Mr Laurence Lien, Chairman of the Lien Foundation; Prof Nick Sevdalis, Executive Director, Centre for Holistic Initiatives in Learning and Development (CHILD); A/Prof Robyn Mildon, Co-Director, Centre for Behavioural & Implementation Science Interventions (BISI) at NUS Medicine; and Prof Roger Foo, Vice-Dean (Research) at NUS Medicine.
CHILD: Building foundations for lifelong health
Building on GUSTO’s insights, Prof Chong introduced the Centre for Holistic Initiatives for Learning & Development (CHILD), established at NUS Medicine in 2019 through a S$30 million donation from the Lien Foundation. CHILD applies research findings to practical initiatives supporting child development, such as screen time management, caregiver sensitivity training, and establishing healthy eating habits from infancy—laying a strong foundation for lifelong health.
Mr Laurence Lien, Chairman of the Lien Foundation, emphasised the critical role of philanthropy in bridging research and real-world implementation. “Funding pilot interventions and supporting their translation into practical action is the whole purpose of CHILD,” he said. The Foundation acts as a neutral convenor, helping coordinate stakeholders and catalyse impactful change.
The 3Ps for impact: Professors, Philanthropists, Policymakers
In Professor Chong’s concluding remarks, he outlined the 3Ps—a clear framework for translating science into societal benefit: Professors, Philanthropists, and Policymakers. He shared,” Professors, look beyond publications and make it your job to make it happen. Philanthropists, step into the gap, as the Lien Foundation has. Policymakers, Singapore is in a position to lead. We’ve demonstrated in the pandemic that we can take sensible action, and so we must.”
The lecture underscored a distinctly Singaporean approach to evidence-driven progress, where collaboration, action, and research converge to create population-level impact. It turns scientific discovery into real change that benefits mothers, children, and families nationwide.
Watch the full lecture here and the fireside chat here. Watch the student performance here.
Background to NUS Medicine Inspire120 Professorial Lectures
Introduced as part of the School’s 120th anniversary celebrations, the NUS Medicine Inspire120 Professorial Lectures celebrate over a century of excellence in medical education, research, and health, while recognising the transformative impact of academic philanthropy in advancing medical breakthroughs. The lecture by Prof Chong marks the 30th anniversary of the Lien Ying Chow Professorship in Medicine, established in 1995 with the support from the Lien Foundation, to mark the retirement of Dr Lien Ying Chow as Group Chairman of the Overseas Union Bank Limited, which he founded in 1947. It honours Dr Lien, one of Singapore’s pioneers, for his achievements in business and banking, as well as his contributions to the advancement of education in Singapore and his service to the nation. The Professorship aims to provide leadership in medical research and education in shaping Singapore’s healthcare landscape.
