Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS)

“By harnessing the power of genomic data, we are paving the way for ground-breaking advancements in patient care,” said Prof Patrick Tan, Executive Director, Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE). Last week, over 850 healthcare providers, clinicians, researchers and medtech innovators attended the ACE Value-Based Healthcare Conference organised by the Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE). The conference was a vital platform for exchanging insights and promoting the adoption of appropriate and value-based care (AVBC) approach across Singapore's healthcare landscape. At his plenary, Prof Tan shared how advancements in precision medicine have revolutionised patient care. He highlighted the clinical implementation pilots (CIPs) supported by PRECISE, which is assessing the health and economic feasibility of introducing genetic/genomic tests into clinical pathways for selected diseases. 💊 One such CIP is evaluating the value of Pre-emptive Pharmacogenomic Testing (PPGx), a pilot study, which aims to investigate the impact of incorporating pre-emptive multi-drug/multi-gene PPGx testing as a precision medicine clinical tool in routine clinical practice, for appropriate prescribing to maximise the benefits of treatment while minimising side effects. Next, the panel discussion moderated by Prof Han Chong Toh, which featured Dr Samantha Roberts, Prof Dean Ho, Prof Patrick Tan, Prof Pearse Keane and Prof Tim Shaw, delved into the topic of innovative technologies and their impact on value-based care. 🩺 Drawing from their rich experiences in clinical practice, the panel highlighted the importance  of implementing gradual and balanced integration of technologies into healthcare delivery. A strategic, phased implementation may ensure both cost-efficient and better patient outcomes overall. 👩💻 Expanding on these insights, the speakers highlighted the need for robust regulatory frameworks to guide the adoption of AI and new technologies into healthcare, ensuring that they not only support early disease detection for common conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, but also aligns with the broader goals of improving patient outcomes. Overall, it was an insightful afternoon as conference delegates gained valuable perspectives into how precision medicine and technologies can transform healthcare delivery. ✨ Check out highlights from the conference below! To find out more about PRECISE and the NPM programme, visit www.npm.sg

We had the pleasure of hosting Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Special Advisor to National Research Foundation Singapore, at our cell therapy facility last week. Adj A/Prof Danny Soon, CRIS CEO and ACTRIS Interim Executive Director, provided an overview of ACTRIS’ integral role in supporting clinical trials and clinical services for cell and gene therapies (#CGT) by providing manufacturing and process development services for our healthcare, research and biotech ecosystem. Dr Andre Choo, Deputy Executive Director, A*STAR Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI), and colleagues then provided an update on Singapore’s recent developments in R&D and biotech initiatives for CGT. By harnessing innovative manufacturing technologies and establishing strategic partnerships we are advancing forward in translating cutting-edge research into effective CGTs for better patient outcomes. Following this, SM Teo engaged in a meaningful discussion with the team on how Singapore can facilitate more public-private partnerships with companies looking to develop their CGT products in Singapore. The conversation also touched on strategies for enhancing capabilities to meet the growing demand for cell therapy development and manufacturing for cancer treatments and regenerative medicine, so that Singapore can continue to be relevant in this fast-evolving biomedical field. To culminate the visit, SM Teo toured the translational laboratories for a deeper understanding of the manufacturing process of at the facility for patients’ access in our local hospitals. It was an insightful afternoon of knowledge exchange with strategic partners. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead as we continue to explore synergies and push the boundaries of cell therapy together. Check out highlights of the visit below! #cellgenetherapy #cancerresearch #celltherapy #regenerativemedicine

🌟 Day 3 of the PRECISE-IHCC Conference ended on a high note, with an engaging continuation of our journey through genomic advancements! Here’s the recap: The afternoon began with the segment titled From Cohorts to Data Validation, where Prof Nicola Mulder, Dr Fatima Qafoud, and Prof Andrew Morris provided in-depth perspectives on the complexities of cohort data management. A big thank you to Prof Sarah Bauermeister PhD CPsychol for moderating this session. 👥 In Genetic Counselling & Community Engagement - Yasmin Bylstra, Mary-Anne Young, and Sook Yee Yoon shared their experiences in integrating genetic counseling with community engagement, moderated by Breana C. Their insights are crucial for enhancing translational research. 📊 Genomic Science in Cohorts provided a thorough analysis of cohort-based genomic research, with contributions from Prof Jianjun (JJ) Liu, Dr Max Lam, Dr Nicolas Bertin, moderated by Dr Ines Atmosukarto. 🌍 Last but not least, the Population Health session dived into how population-level data is shaping clinical practice and precision medicine, with moderator Mr Peter Goodhand, and speakers Prof E Shyong Tai, Prof Eimear Kenny and Dr Arash Etemadi. 🏅The conference wrapped up on a celebratory note, as A/Prof Tan Ee Shien acknowledged the oral presenters and poster presenters for their insightful presentations and abstract submissions. A well-deserved congratulations to Sara Tasmin for clinching the best ECI poster and to Dr Ives Lim for the best general poster! 💬This was followed by a closing address by Mr Peter C. Goodhand, reflecting on the strength of collaboration and partnerships, which give rise to unlock the power of cohorts, and he expressed his utmost appreciation to everyone for their invaluable role in making the conference a great success! A big thank you to everyone who attended the conference! Your enthusiastic participation, vibrant ideas, and engaging discussions made it an enriching experience for all. #CohortstoClinics #npm_sg Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

🌟 Day 3 and final day at the PRECISE-IHCC Conference was packed with exuberant discussions and thoughtful insights into genomic diversity and emerging research! ☀️We started the day with an inspiring plenary by Prof Vajira Dissanayake, who shared his vision for integrating genomic medicine towards universal health coverage for all. 🧬 Genomic Diversity: Asst Prof Biju Viswanath, Dr Paul Thompson, Dr Andres Moreno-Estrada, and moderator Dr Gabriela Repetto delved into diverse topics, from psychiatric disorders and global neuroimaging to the latest in Latin American genomics. 🌍 Research in LMICs: Dr Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz, Dr Janewit Wongboonsin, Prof Nicki Tiffin, and moderators Ms Mengji Chen and Prof Gunadi explored the unique challenges and opportunities of genomics research in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). 🍎 Industry Insights & Early Career Presentations: During lunch, attendees sat in on informative sessions from Novartis and Nightingale Health, and inspiring presentations from emerging researchers on topics such as COVID-19 susceptibility, dietary risks, and breast cancer risk. 🎉 Attendees had a fantastic time exploring the interactive booths of our industry sponsors, gaining hands-on experience on the latest technology, connecting over hearty conversations! They also enjoyed reading through the hand-drawn illustrations, detailing the key takeaways from the valuable sessions into easy-to-digest graphics! A big thank you to our speakers, moderators, and participants for another enriching day of learning and networking. Stay tuned for our next update on the highlights from Day 3’s afternoon sessions! 🚀🔍 #CohortsToClinics #npm_sg Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

🌟 All ready for the third and final day of the PRECISE-IHCC conference! But before that, catch up on scenes from the second half of Day 2! We wrapped up some truly inspiring sessions: 🌍 Biobanks for Precision Medicine: Moderated by Dr Geoffrey Ginsburg, esteemed speakers Prof John Chambers, Prof Chen Zhengming, and Dr Lin Yen-Feng highlighted the pivotal role and positive impact of biobanks in Asia and shared insights into the transition from cohort studies to clinical application. 🦠 Rare Diseases: Moderated by Prof Duangrurdee Wattanasirichaigoon, speakers Dr Saumya Jamuar, Dr Claudia Gonzaga-Jauregui, Dr Gabriela Repetto presented the unique challenges and complexities of rare diseases, and on driving innovation in research and patient care. 🚀 Fireside chat: Dr Mark McCarthy, Prof Martin Delatycki and Prof Nicki Tiffin, together with Prof Sarah Bauermeister PhD CPsychol and Dr Michele Ramsey, shared about mentorship, their early career experiences and valuable advice for early career investigators on shaping their paths towards a successful career. 🧬 Genomic/Precision Medicine for Therapeutic R&D: From discussions on expanding genomics research with Dr Lyndon J. Mitnaul to insights in drug discovery with large scale genomics from Dr Guillermo Del Angel, and embedding multimodal discovery in pharma R&D with Dr Mark McCarthy, the grand ballroom was buzzing with innovation. 🌐 🔬 Training/Early Career Scientists: A big thank you to Dr Sharon Plon, Prof Richard Haspel, and Dr Vicky Nembaware for their invaluable advice and support for emerging scientists, shaping brighter futures in healthcare with their guidance. 💼 Industry Talk: The panel by NalaGenetics provided thought-provoking perspectives on industry trends and advancements. We’re energised by the knowledge shared, and it was a fantastic opportunity for conference attendees to connect, share ideas, and build collaborations. 🤝  Looking forward to more insights and discussions on Day 3! #CohortstoClinics #npm_sg Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

POV: 🌤️ Midway through the PRECISE-IHCC Conference, and here are the key highlights earlier today! 🌟 In her plenary, Prof Kathryn North highlighted the Acute Care Genomics programme as a case study, demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and profound impact of implementing ultra-rapid genomic testing in clinical practice on both workforce education and patient families. She also shared the importance of working with international healthcare partners to enhance digital infrastructure and deliver a global network that develops frameworks for sharing genomic data. 🔎 Engaging and Thought-Provoking Discussions: ‘Biobanks for Precision Medicine’ by Prof Aarno Palotie, Dr Geoffrey Ginsburg, Prof Masayuki Yamamoto and Prof Nahla Afifi, examined the transformative role of biobanks in Asia, Europe, and the USA, highlighting crucial contributions in bridging the gap between translating data insights from extensive cohort studies into practical clinical applications. The international panel comprising Dr Elaine Lo, Prof Collet Dandara, Prof Chonlaphat Sukasem and Mr Grant M. Wood, FHL7 detailed the transformative outcomes of integrating Pharmacogenomics into clinical practice and its significant impact on both clinicians and patients in their respective countries. 📰 Learn more about how Dr Lo and a team of researchers are looking into how pre-emptive pharmacogenomics can make an impact on patient care in this article by The Straits Times: https://lnkd.in/gPEQ8qEp 🤝 Networking Opportunities: Presentations by our Early Career Investigators (ECIs) covered a range of critical topics including the role of statin lactone metabolism in determining cardiovascular outcomes independent of cholesterol levels and the economic impact of pre-emptive pharmacogenetic panel testing in a diverse Asian cohort. Through the networking experience, our ECIs received invaluable feedback from their peers and industry leaders and gained new connections. 💬 Lunch Time Industry Talks: Our industry speakers discussed the application of deep learning for drug target discovery, use of plasma proteomics for screening and risk prediction and the new era of genomic sequencing technology. For our attendees, these lunchtime sessions served up a satisfying taste of the latest breakthroughs in precision medicine! 📊 We also have ~128 poster abstracts up on display. Dr Michał Marek Hoppe, Data Analyst from one of our sister programmes, the Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC) presented his poster on the STCC Unified PD1/PDL1 Evaluation of Response (SUPER) study. ✨ What an action-packed morning! We are heartened by your insightful discussions and the collaborative opportunities that may emerge from the conference. Stay tuned to more engaging sessions tomorrow! #CohortstoClinics #npm_sg Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

As we wrap up the second half of an inspiring first day of the PRECISE-IHCC Conference, here are some key highlights! 🌟 Plenary by Prof Patrick Tan, who shared how Singapore’e National Precision Medicine (NPM) Programme plays an important role in value creation for Health and the Economy. 🔎 Engaging Discussions: The session on Ethics and Policy by Prof Julian Savulescu Michaela Th. Mayrhofer, PhD, Dr Angela Ballantyne and Prof Nicki Tiffin ignited discussions on views and considerations on ethical, legal and social issues for polygeneic risk scores and reproduction, diversity representation, and governance.  💬 Lunch Time Industry Talks:  Conference guests enjoyed hearing from industry speakers on how they empower and enable insights, working with academic and research institutions to advance precision medicine.  🤝 Networking Opportunities: Early Career Investigators had a fantastic connecting with fellow professionals and thought leaders in the field, and presenting their work. 💡 Data Driven Discovery session: Speakers Dr Raghib Ali, Dr Rob Yang and Dr Heidi Rehm, together with Dr Thomas Keane dived deep into discovery and translational research, decoding cellular intelligence, and global data sharing and collaboration. 🧬 Complex Traits and Variant Resolution session: Moderated by Dr Weng Khong Lim, speakers Prof Limsoon Wong, Dr Jimmy Lee and Dr Ammira Al-Shakeeb Akil discussed traits and diseases that are affected by multiple genes and environmental influences, as well as the analysis techniques and application of precision medicine in this area.  👥The day ended off with two exciting tracks - Cancer Genetics and Genetic Screening, where Prof Joanne Ngeow, Dr Philip Awadalla, Dr Weang Kee Ho and Dr Arash Etemadi discussed the use of diagnostic treatment tools and cancer discoveries in various populations.  🔬Genomic Screening: Clinical A/Prof Tan Ee Shien moderated the popular session with speakers Dr Yin-Hsiu Chen, Prof Martin Delatycki and Prof Thong Meow-Keong on using genomic analysis technologies to deliver prognoses for common and rare genetic diseases. A big thank you to all the moderators, speakers, industry sponsors and conference guests who are making this conference a success, and stay tuned to more engaging sessions tomorrow! #CohortstoClinics #npm_sg Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

🧬 The countdown is over and the conference has begun! Our programme, Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) and International Health Cohorts Consortium (IHCC) launched the conference today to advance global precision medicine research in Singapore! From Cohorts to Clinics: The New Landscape of Global Healthcare, the PRECISE-IHCC Conference, assembles leaders from prominent population cohort study programmes worldwide who come together to create a nexus in Asia that spans the Americas and European regions. Guest of Honour, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health, graced the conference together with over 500 delegates, thought leaders, clinicians, scientists, and companies from across the globe who are at the forefront of precision medicine and healthcare innovation. In his speech, Dr Janil highlighted the data release of the first batch of anonymised clinical, phenotypic and genomic data of 50,000 participants from the PRECISE-SG100K study in November 2023, which marks a pivotal moment in Singapore’s precision medicine programme. In the same month, PRECISE launched an “Open Call for Proposal” inviting scientists and physicians in Singapore to submit proposals that utilise the rich PRECISE-SG100K resource to translate research findings into precision health care approaches.  As a result, a total of 36 projects – 8 flagship and 28 driver projects were selected this year, to work closely with PRECISE to discover new insights and to advance precision medicine in Singapore. Dr Janil expressed appreciation to all participants who have participated in the PRECISE-SG100K study. Their contributions have enabled research teams to uncover patterns and correlations to identify disease risk factors, understand genetic variations, enabling more accurate diagnoses and targeted therapies. Our full press release is available at https://lnkd.in/gD-p6hPd In the next two days, the conference line-up will present an excellent opportunity for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and forging of new pathways towards advancing precision medicine for the benefit of patients worldwide, with a stellar line-up of over 50 speakers from Singapore and the international community. ✨ Stay tuned as we bring you conference updates till 23 August 2024! #npm_sg #CohortstoClinics Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (GGMC)

🔬 🧪 Thank you for joining us at our SCRI Clinical Trials Symposium!   It was truly inspiring to see so many thought leaders, industry partners and clinical research professionals come together to share knowledge and practical insights into how clinical trials not only improve patient lives but also contribute to positive health and economic outcomes in Singapore and beyond.   Your engagement in thoughtful discussions on topics such as the integration of real-world data with clinical development, the benefits of decentralised clinical trials and the crucial role of patient advance in trial design, was invaluable.    Let us continue on this journey together to tap on the potential of clinical trials to improve patient outcomes and transform tomorrow’s health!   “We must seize the opportunities we have today to advance clinical research as we strive to create a healthier tomorrow. In particular, we must invest more in trials centred on upstream prevention, leverage new health-tech innovations, and tap on clinical trials to advance more sustainable healthcare systems,” said Guest-of-Honour DPM Heng in his Opening Address.   In addition, read more about the launch of clinical trials portal, CTSG, in this article by The Straits Times. CTSG aims to provide key information for patients, and to guide clinical investigators and trial sponsors.  https://lnkd.in/gCPJTDRF   ✨ Stay tuned for the event highlights video!   For more info on SCRI, please visit www.scri.edu.sg   #SCRIClinicalTrialsSymposium2024 #TransformingTomorrowsHealth #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch

📢 Calling all aspiring clinician researchers and scientists! Register to secure your spot in this 16-week “The Essentials of Clinical Trials for Investigators” online course. In this self-paced eLearning programme, find out how you can lead your clinical trial towards success, understand the regulations of the clinical trial landscape, master the protocols for seamless patient recruitment and navigate these clinical research activities with confidence. What you will learn: 🔍 Effective participant recruitment and follow-up strategies – Learn how to maintain participant engagement throughout the trial through trust and relationship-building 🔍 Data collection – How to ensure accurate and meticulous data collection which will secure the reliability and integrity of your research findings 🔍 Leading a study team – Understand the dynamics of building a strong study team and fostering a collaborative environment The Essentials of Clinical Trials for Investigators: https://lnkd.in/gbC8hrM2 🔗 Sign up by 25 August 2024: https://lnkd.in/g4-Y5gTQ