Drinking coffee or tea may be beneficial for physical function in ageing   

25 Mar 2025

Study confirms accuracy of blood test for early Alzheimer’s detection in Asian populations

A study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a leading journal in dementia research, has demonstrated the high accuracy of plasma p-tau217 as a blood-based biomarker for detecting abnormal brain beta-amyloid (Aβ) pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). More significantly, the study validates its effectiveness even in individuals with cerebrovascular disease (CeVD), which is highly prevalent in Asian populations. This finding can enhance early diagnosis, improve patient risk stratification, and facilitate better clinical management of AD in diverse populations. The study was led by Dr Mitchell Lai, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacology, NUS Medicine, in collaboration with local and international experts from the National University Health System (NUHS), University of Gothenburg, Institute of Neurology at University College London, and Banner Sun Health Research Institute. While blood biomarkers like p-tau217 have been extensively studied in Western populations—where CeVD is less common—this study uniquely focuses on a Singapore-based cohort, reflective of broader Asian demographics with a high CeVD burden. The results confirm that higher plasma p-tau217 levels correlate with faster cognitive decline, reinforcing its role not just as a diagnostic tool but also as a potential predictor of disease progression.

24 Mar 2025

Breaking antibiotic-resistant bacteria’s protective shields opens door for immune system response, offers insights for managing pneumococcal diseases

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious public health threat. Understanding the biology of these bacteria—such as how they synthesise their protective capsules—is essential for developing new strategies to counter antibiotic resistance. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a bacterium commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of humans. While it can exist harmlessly in some individuals, it is also a major pathogen responsible for severe illnesses, particularly in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Diseases caused by this bacterium, such as pneumonia and meningitis, are life-threatening. The bacterium’s ability to evade the immune system and cause disease is largely due to its capsule, which serves as a protective shield. As a result, this capsule is a primary target for vaccine development. Researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have made progress in uncovering how Streptococcus pneumoniae constructs its capsule. Their findings reveal that the adaptability of both the capsules and their transport mechanisms may play a crucial role in the bacteria's ability to evolve and diversify, offering insights for managing pneumococcal diseases.

21 Mar 2025

Duke-NUS and NUS Medicine join forces to launch Systems Metabolomics Centre for precision medicine

In a strategic move for medical research and innovation, Duke-NUS Medical School and the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) have launched the Systems Metabolomics Centre (SysMeC), their first-ever joint research centre. This groundbreaking initiative is set to drive cutting-edge metabolomics research, unlocking new ways to detect diseases earlier and tailor treatments for better patient outcomes using precision medicine. By studying cells, tissues and whole organisms using metabolomics – the large-scale study of small molecules known as metabolites – scientists can gain a deeper understanding of how diseases develop and find ways to stop them before they start. From complex metabolic diseases, like diabetes, to single-gene disorders, metabolomics holds a key to shaping precision medicine.

17 Mar 2025

New NUS study: Poor sleep health linked to increased Type 2 diabetes risk in high-risk women with history of gestational diabetes

Underscoring the critical role of sleep in diabetes prevention, investigators from the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, based at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), in collaboration with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, has identified a significant link between sleep health and the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) among women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM).

18 Feb 2025

2nd APIC-ADVA Summit: To Drive Discussions on Infectious Diseases and Immunization In the Era of Polycrises

The Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition (APIC) and the Asia Dengue Voice & Action (ADVA), in collaboration with the Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions (BISI) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), convened the 2nd APIC-ADVA Summit from 11 February to 13 February 2025.

18 Feb 2025

NUS Medicine pioneers ground-breaking technique to deliver drugs directly to the brain

Scientists at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have developed a ground-breaking technique to deliver therapeutic molecules directly to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Led by Dr Haosheng Shen, lead researcher from the Synthetic Biology Translational Research Programme, NUS Medicine and the NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI) this novel approach utilises a naturally occurring nasal bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp), which was genetically engineered to produce therapeutic compounds and release them through a specific nose-to-brain pathway. Their research was published in leading life sciences journal, Cell.

12 Feb 2025

NUS Medicine study: Inability of cells to recycle fats can spell disease

Accumulation of fat molecules is detrimental to the cell. Researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), have made a breakthrough in understanding how our cells manage to stay healthy by recycling important fat molecules. Their study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveals how a protein called Spinster homolog 1 (Spns1) helps transport fats out of cell compartments known as lysosomes.

11 Feb 2025

NUS Medicine launches new centre to bolster global pandemic preparedness and response to infectious disease emergencies

NUS Medicine announced the official launch of the Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (CIDER) on 10 February 2025, an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing pandemic preparedness and strengthening responses to infectious disease emergencies. The launch was attended by over 15 ambassadors and other country representatives.

04 Feb 2025

Metastatic cancers: How targeting a protein that fuels treatment-resistant tumours may be key to better outcomes

One of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment is addressing the ability of cancer cells to adapt and become resistant, reducing the effectiveness of therapies over time. While treatments like chemotherapy or targeted therapies may initially shrink tumours, they often lose their effectiveness after a period. This resistance often emerges in metastatic tumours, because cancer cells can evolve in ways that allow them to survive, such as developing new ways to communicate with one another.

28 Jan 2025

Transforming longevity research: AI paves the way for personalised treatments in ageing science

A collaborative study between researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), and the Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany and published in the leading review journal Ageing Research Reviews investigated how advanced AI tools, like Large Language Models (LLMs), can make it easier to evaluate interventions for ageing and provide personalised recommendations.