Issue 49
Feb 2024
DOSSIER
Poised to become a major global research centre that adopts a holistic and systematic approach to Asian women’s health and well-being, the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), was officially launched by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office at the inaugural Singapore Women’s Health conference, on 10 November 2023.
Women face distinct and various challenges throughout different stages of their lives, one of them being conception and childbirth.
Facing unparalleled risks through these stages of their lives, some outcomes include conditions such as hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, and more.
Hence, it is undeniable that the health of women is a pivotal topic that needs to be studied closely, with close ties with the family and society. Investing in women’s health ensures healthier and more productive individuals, happier families, and a better society in general. Yet, much remains to be done in the field of research on women’s health and well-being.
A global centre dedicated to furthering the cause of women’s health
Dedicated to the advancement of women’s health and longevity, the inaugural conference organised by GloW was held from 9 to 11 November 2023.
Established under the auspices of NUS Medicine, GloW is a major research centre based in Asia, focusing specifically on health issues of Asian women worldwide. Through embracing a holistic and systematic approach to health, it aims to tackle emerging public and family concerns.
It conducts cutting-edge research on the health and well-being of women and their families and aims to narrow the gaps between research, policy and practice.
Prof Zhang Cuilin, Founding Director of GloW at NUS Medicine.
“At GloW, we have the privilege to explore cutting-edge research, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and form collaborations that can shape the future of women’s health. Our ultimate mission is to improve women’s health in Asia and beyond,” said Professor Zhang Cuilin, Founding Director of GloW at NUS Medicine.
The four primary missions of GloW are:
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Addressing common and important clinical and public health problems concerning women, children, and their families. |
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Identifying modifiable risk factors of common disorders related to women’s health by examining the complex interplay of factors, which range from dietary and lifestyle, to psychosocial, behavioural, environmental, genetic, and epigenetic. |
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Translating scientific knowledge into clinical and public health practices that can lead to advancements in early prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of common disorders concerning women’s health and well-being across their life courses and generations. |
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Training a new generation of medical and public health professionals to become leading transdisciplinary investigators and future leaders in women’s health with a life-course approach to health education. |
The centre was officially launched by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development at its inaugural three-day Singapore Women’s health conference.
Chef Dalton Fong, Cluster Head Chef of LINO, Singapore, will also be working with GloW for their upcoming diet and lifestyle intervention trial, which aims to improve women’s cardio metabolic profile and gut microbiome using an Asian-forward Mediterranean diet.
Themed “Promoting Women’s Health and Healthy Longevity: from Laboratory TO KITCHEN”, the conference gathered leading international and local scientists, experts, and practitioners in women’s health, maternal and child health, healthy longevity, public health, omics technology, and nutrition together to examine the myriad and unique health challenges women face across their lifespan, including cardiometabolic health, cancer, and more.
Left: Prof Michelle Williams, Former Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted the importance of prioritising and investing in women’s health and well-being.
Right: Prof Frank Hu, Chair of the Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, provided valuable insights into eastern and western dietary patterns, underscoring their respective health advantages.
From topics on fetal and maternal health to diet and nutrition, the discussions homed in on the associations between healthy dietary patterns and major women’s health and reproductive health outcomes such as pregnancy complications, risk of infertility, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The three-day conference spanned a wealth of riveting discussions that added heft and direction to the current conversation on women’s health.
The conference also touched on the role of omics in the etiology and prevention of diseases. Some topics include how metabolomics and microbiome can facilitate personalised dietary assessments and intervention strategies for health, as well as their role in the prediction of maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
One conference highlight for a programme that looked at advances in food technology, mindful eating and sustainable menus saw Chef Mai Pham from California conducting an on-site cooking demonstration to showcase several easy and palatable dishes using ingredients common to an Asian diet.
Continue reading Bringing a Healthy Lifestyle and Diet to the Fore.
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