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Straits Times
a day ago
- Health
- Straits Times
NUS Medicine's focus on research leads to better patient care, raises school's standing globally
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine has come far in 120 years. The Straits Times takes a look at some of its achievements and where it is headed. The school secures more than $100 million in research grants each year to fund impactful research and breakthroughs. SINGAPORE – Research is a very important facet of working at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and almost every member of its faculty is involved in scientific or clinical studies. The school secures more than $100 million in research grants each year to fund impactful research and breakthroughs that shape the future of healthcare, with the money coming from a variety of sources, including the university, the Government, industry partners and private foundations. In 2024, NUS Medicine researchers published 3,865 papers, which were cited 21,829 times, and this intense focus on research has borne fruit, both in discovering better ways to treat patients and raising the school's standing in the world, said Professor Roger Foo, vice-dean of research. There are at least 220 laboratories in NUS Medicine, each of them helmed by a group leader or principal investigator, distributed among 10 translational research programmes and 15 faculty research centres. All these programmes and centres are led by prominent and world leaders in their research area. There is also dedicated research administrative staff who support the school's research mission, through often complex approval processes, sometimes involving collaborations with multiple institutions all at one time. 'Without this contingent of professional research administrators, none of us would be able to do the research smoothly,' said Prof Foo. An example of better patient care is the development in 2019 of the world's first molecular blood test for early gastric cancer detection. The team was led by Professor Jimmy So, a senior gastrointestinal surgeon at National University Hospital (NUH) and the National University Cancer Institute; Associate Professor Too Heng-Phon from the department of biochemistry at NUS Medicine; and Professor Yeoh Khay Guan, a former dean and currently a senior consultant at the division of gastroenterology and hepatology at NUH and chief executive at the National University Health System (NUHS). Gastric, or stomach, cancer is the fifth-most common cancer globally, with Asians being the most prone to it. In Singapore, it is the fourth-most common cause of cancer death in men, and fifth-most in women. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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It closed its first day of trade as a new biotech unicorn, with a market capitalisation of HK$8.29 billion (S$1.34 billion). The school also uses artificial intelligence to search available data to see where patient care can be improved. NUS Medicine gained permission in early 2025 to duplicate the National University Health System's (NUHS) Electronic Medical Records. In the CardioSight-Horus platform, records are anonymised so patient identities are not revealed, and researchers from various departments have been able to mine the data to see where the gaps are in patient care. Within three months, the school had found 2,000 patients in the NUHS cluster with high cholesterol levels who were not being treated for it. Given the medical ramifications of uncontrolled cholesterol levels, the researchers received the green light to identify and alert the patients. Hotlines were set up so that these patients could seek advice. There will be follow-ups in the coming months to see if these patients have brought their cholesterol levels to within acceptable limits. If they have, it would prove that by acting on available data, 'we can move the needle' in directly improving patient care, said Prof Foo. With regard to international recognition, Prof Foo said research findings from the school are now frequently cited. He added: 'As demonstrated by robust, quantifiable growth in research performance, NUS Medicine's Field-Weighted Citation Impact has climbed from 1.04 in 2000, to 2.59 in 2024.' A citation impact of 1 reflects the global average. An impact of 2 means the article or research is cited twice as often as similar publications in the field. The school's 2.59 impact puts it near the pinnacle. In 2024, the impact factor among top medical schools was 3.07 at Oxford, 2.81 at Stanford, 2.38 at Johns Hopkins, and 2.4 at Harvard. A major turning point came in 2005 with the National Medical Research Council's Clinician Scientist Award, which offered funding to secure protected research time, thus giving clinicians an incentive to embark on studies. At about the same time, Singapore launched initiatives to train clinician-scientists on how to carry out high-level research, while also bringing in some of the best foreign talent to augment the local pool. Prof Foo said getting research funding is competitive but overall, the most meaningful and innovative research projects do get funded. 'The money is there,' he said. 'But the bar for getting a research project awarded has been going up over the years.' The school decides on the projects to support based on several factors. One factor is the researcher's achievements. Prof Foo said: 'Track record is very important. Like when you see a person has a great idea now, and you can see that he's had a previous great idea that he took to great places, then you kind of think that, wow, this person has the capability to do the same again.' But the school is also conscious that everyone has to start somewhere, so 'we don't want to have so high a bar where people without a track record cannot even get on the escalator'. For those starting on research, the school looks at commitment and 'a certain level of sacrifice and readiness to go through the grind'. Someone who is willing to pursue a PhD, for instance, would be missing out on three or four years of getting a higher salary as a clinician. Another factor is research that is important to the country. 'We pay attention to what's happening at the country level, what the Health Ministry wants to see, what are the important trends going forward, such as an ageing population.' (Clockwise from top left) Professor Dario Campana, Professor Roger Foo, Professor Chong Yap Seng, Professor Jason Lee, Professor Nick Watts, and Professor Zhang Cuilin all contributed significant research efforts to NUS Medicine. PHOTOS: ST FILE, NUS, CHONG JUN LIANG Some significant research efforts from NUS Medicine include: CAR-T Cell therapy: Using a technology developed in Professor Dario Campana's laboratory under the Department of Paediatrics at NUS Medicine, a team comprising Dr Esther Chan, Dr Bernice Oh, and Professor Allen Yeoh at the National University Health System successfully treated both children and adults suffering from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who have exhausted all other forms of treatment. Of the 17 patients treated between 2019 and 2023, 16 had complete remission within a month – with no cancer cells detected, even through ultra-sensitive tests. Eleven of these patients were foreigners who had sought the treatment at NUH. The first patient, who was treated when he was 10 years old, has not needed chemotherapy or a bone marrow transplant for five years. Project Reset: The aim of this project led by Prof Roger Foo is to find the best way to prevent heart disease, which is the cause of one in five deaths here. One in three people with underlying heart disease in Singapore does not know it, and hence does not get early treatment, which could lead to better outcomes. The project, launched in 2023, is still recruiting participants, who will have their heart, liver and metabolism assessed. Of the 10,000 people that researchers plan to recruit, 3,000 will have follow-ups over five years to pilot new treatments, including lifestyle changes. Project Reset is one of the initiatives that will be piloted at Health District @ Queenstown, which was launched in 2023. There, the study team will work closely with policymakers, urban planners and community leaders to support the community's physical, social and mental well-being, and reduce environmental factors that contribute to heart disease. Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (Gusto): This comprehensive longitudinal study started in 2009 by Professor Chong Yap Seng, an obstetrician and gynaecologist who is dean of NUS Medicine, is ongoing. It aims to understand how conditions in pregnancy and early childhood influence the health of women and children. Findings from Gusto have led to changes to policy and practice – such as the routine testing now of all pregnant women for gestational diabetes after the study discovered that half of them, especially those who were not overweight, went undiagnosed. Investigators have published 420 articles on various findings over the years since 2012. Heat resilience: Project HeatSafe was set up in 2021 to investigate the impact of rising temperatures on the health and productivity of people in South-east Asia. The combination of high heat and humidity in the region inhibits the body's ability to cool down through sweat evaporation, leading to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Findings from the project, led by thermal physiologist Jason Lee, have demonstrated that thermal distress has detrimental impacts and consequences – from compromised decision-making and productivity, to affecting fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Anchored at the Heat Resilience & Performance Centre, the Global Heat Health Information Network South-east Asia Hub was established in January to advance partnership, collaboration and advocacy in the region to protect and prepare for the impacts of heat on human health and well-being. Sustainable medicine: The practice of healthcare leaves a huge climate footprint, accounting for 5 per cent to 8 per cent of total global emissions. NUS Medicine set up the Centre for Sustainable Medicine in 2023 aiming to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions healthcare in Singapore and around the world. The centre is the first-of-its-kind institution in Asia and the largest in the world. Its head, Professor Nick Watts, a medical doctor who led the UK National Health Service's response to climate change, is pioneering clinically relevant and solutions-focused research that supports high-quality and low-carbon care. The healthcare system produces as much as 8 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions – more than shipping and aviation combined. The centre has embedded the need for sustainability in a medical school and offers the first-in-the-world master's degree in sustainable medicine. Women's health: Global health research generally focuses on men and non-Asians. The Global Centre for Asian Women's Health (GloW) hopes to address knowledge and practice gaps in women's health especially among Asians, emphasising cardio-metabolic and reproductive health, ageing and longevity, cancer screening and prevention, and mental health and wellness. GloW also aims to shift the paradigm of women's health from conventional sick care to preventive care. In March 2025, the school and Harvard University jointly launched the NUS Medicine-Harvard T.H. Chan Women's Health Initiative to promote women's health and improve global health outcomes for Asian women. The initiative is led by Professor Zhang Cuilin, a clinical epidemiologist who is director of GloW.


The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Experts urge SST delay to ease transition pains
PETALING JAYA: With the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) set to take effect tomorrow, economists are calling for a postponement to ensure a smooth transition for businesses and the public amid ongoing adjustments. While there is a need for a clear and stable implementation process for all parties to come on board, they said the government must also manage its spending effectively, facilitating reforms aimed at easing the cost of living. Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology Centre for Business and Policy Research chairman Assoc Prof Dr Foo Lee Peng said delaying the expanded SST's implementation would allow both businesses and consumers to adjust their finances. 'A delay on the implementation date to January 2026 could provide greater policy clarity and administrative readiness, especially if aligned with the Budget 2026 announcement in October. 'This would give stakeholders time to adjust systems, pricing and contractual obligations, while ensuring a more consistent rollout. 'This could help businesses better navigate the combined pressures of SST expansion and the compulsory EPF contributions in October for foreign workers, potentially minimising inflationary pressure,' she said. To help manage deferred revenue collection if SST is delayed, Foo said the government could manage this by adjusting its fiscal strategies or enhancing other revenue streams until next year. Economist Carmelo Ferlito said the current planned SST rollout could cause more issues than it solves, especially due to several last-minute announced exemptions. 'A good tax framework needs to be simple and easily understood, but when it is complicated and full of exemptions to navigate, it will likely only add problems rather than act as a solution. 'It seems that what is going on with SST is just adding confusion and therefore compromising its efficiency and creating loopholes that people may be able to exploit,' said Ferlito, who is also Centre for Market Education chief executive officer. He said the government should introduce controls and limitations on its own spending if it wants to ease the cost of living for the people. 'Taxes do not create inflation. Government spending does,' he added. Meanwhile, Sunway University economist Prof Dr Yeah Kim Leng said implementing the expanded SST would likely result in slightly higher prices for consumers and businesses. 'With the planned SST implementation exempting most basic items and essential services, the rise in living costs for low and middle-income families should be capped. 'This means the consumer price index should only see a slight uptick, especially with inflation hovering at 1.9%, unemployment remaining low at 3.1% and growth outlook expected to be moderate,' he said. He added that implementing SST this year would provide the government with a better financial position ahead of a recent global environment fraught with elevated uncertainties. He said an early SST implementation would likely help to reduce the revenue-expenditure gap for this year, increasing the likelihood of the government achieving its 3.8% fiscal deficit target. 'A lower deficit will also result in reduced borrowings, thereby keeping the government's total debts and debt servicing burden in check. 'This improves national fiscal performance, which will then boost investor confidence and shore up the ringgit. 'We must remember that a gradual pace of tax adjustment would always be preferable to a sharp or crisis-driven tax hike,' he added.


The Star
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Experts: Adopt diesel template
Scheme's success shows benefits of phased, well-planned rollout PETALING JAYA: With the impending rationalisation of the RON95 petrol subsidy, experts from the economic and industry sectors have called on the government to draw lessons from diesel rationalisation to ensure inclusive and widespread acceptance. They stressed the need for clear criteria and a robust verification system to avoid public confusion. With this rationalisation impacting a broader section of society, continuous feedback and transparent processes are vital to ensure the subsidies reach those most in need. Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology's Centre for Business and Policy Research chairman Assoc Prof Dr Foo Lee Peng said the phased introduction of the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 helped reduce leakages and refine delivery mechanisms. 'The pilot rollout in February, followed by expansion in March, gave the government time to adjust its approach and manage disruptions,' she said. However, she noted that reforming RON95 subsidies will require stronger public engagement, clearer messaging and inclusive delivery. 'Digital platforms like the Central Database Hub (Padu) can support targeting, but must be complemented by offline support to avoid excluding rural and low-income communities,' she said. Prof Foo urged the government to reframe subsidy rationalisation not as cost-cutting, but as part of a broader national strategy to strengthen governance, reduce the fiscal deficit and pave the way for reforms such as a carbon tax. She proposed a hybrid model that combines income-based eligibility, vehicle profiling and digital systems. She said digital delivery must be integrated with existing databases from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Statistics Department, while offline channels should remain available to ensure no one is left behind. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the diesel rollout offered a strong example of how good governance and planning can support targeted assistance. 'Producers, suppliers and retailers must fully understand the mechanism and be equipped to deliver it effectively,' he said. He said a combination of needs- and income-based criteria could help strike a fair balance between reducing government spending and easing the cost-of-living burden on vulnerable groups. He added that the choice of delivery mechanism – whether through petrol cards, MyKad-based systems or direct cash transfers – must be evaluated for ease of implementation, cost-effectiveness, administrative efficiency and its ability to minimise abuse and leakages. Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams described the diesel rationalisation as 'completely successful'. 'It reset the system by requiring re-registration, which alone was enough to eliminate misuse by ineligible individuals,' he said. He said there was 'almost no pushback' and strong stakeholder buy-in, while savings were nearly double what was anticipated. 'This equates to 2.2% of operational expenditure or 8.7% of development spending – a major contribution,' he said. For RON95, he recommended a tiered pricing system similar to electricity tariffs. 'Consumers receive full subsidy for small volumes. As usage increases, the subsidy tapers off. Beyond a set threshold, they pay full market price,' he said. This approach, he added, is simpler, fairer and mostly spares low-income groups, while encouraging more efficient fuel use – which also benefits the environment. Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders president Datuk Tony Chia called for a review of the outdated traditional income categories like B40, M40 and T20 to reflect the current cost of living. Reflecting on the Budi Madani scheme for diesel, Chia said logistics players had to ensure accurate vehicle registration, which, while administratively burdensome, improved transparency and fleet management. 'Similar controls for RON95 could affect the private transport and ride-hailing sectors. Early engagement with stakeholders is crucial to ensure smooth transitions,' he said. Chia recommended using income tax data to determine subsidy eligibility, urging readiness to identify relevant individual data. He cautioned against state-level implementation due to worker mobility, which could complicate matters. To encourage responsible usage, Chia suggested capping the subsidy at RM1,000 for those commuting long distances, with market prices applying beyond this limit. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Faculty of Education, Language and Communication senior lecturer Chuah Kee Man suggested leveraging lessons from the Budi Madani scheme to enhance the RON95 subsidy system. 'By linking RON95 subsidies directly with MySejahtera or e-wallets, we could reduce fraud and expedite payments,' he said. This integration, he said, could facilitate rapid verification and instant notifications, benefiting both the government and users by tracking fuel usage patterns effectively. With the broader use of RON95 compared to diesel, Chuah said it raised significant data accuracy concerns. 'Some people might fall through the cracks or misuse the system,' he said, recommending cross-referencing data with LHDN or JPJ databases. He also cautioned that using MyKad at petrol stations might create bottlenecks, disadvantaging households with shared resources. Advocating for a hybrid approach, Chuah also proposed automatic eligibility for known low-income households alongside an appeal system for others, such as gig workers or those recently retrenched. 'Digital tools must be backed with human checks to ensure no one deserving is left out,' he said, underscoring the need for manual reviews and compassionate discretion for cases that algorithms might overlook.


The Star
20-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Youth want answers on matriculation entry change
PETALING JAYA: The government's silence on the new matriculation entry requirement for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) school leavers has put the life of students on hold besides causing them a lot of frustration. Hafsah Yaseer, 17, from Petaling Jaya said any changes in grading should be announced long before the exams to prepare students on what they can achieve and target. She said even though matriculation is a fast-track programme costing less, the issue should not have been brought up at this time. 'I have appealed but I don't have high hopes. I'm currently applying to Universiti Malaya through Saluran Satu,' said Hafsah, who obtained 8As in total, including A+ and A- for SPM. 'I'm not sure if they truly understand our feelings or what we went through while studying for our SPM and looking for placements,' she added. As for a Johor Baru top scorer who only wants to be known as Foo, failing to get into matriculation has left her feeling regretful. 'I scored 9A+ and a merit point of 98, yet I still did not get accepted despite putting in all that hard work. Many of my classmates who got all As except for one A- also did not get in. 'I have submitted an appeal but I have not heard back from the Education Ministry. 'From what my seniors told me, it is tough for those who get in after their appeals are accepted because by then, about five weeks would have passed and the students will have to catch up on the lessons,' the 18-year-old said. Foo considered herself lucky because shortly after getting rejected, she received a full scholarship at a private university to study pharmaceuticals, which is her choice course. 'My classmates however are willing to put their life and future on hold, in hopes of getting in because of their family's financial situation. Not everybody can afford private universities as an alternative,' she said, adding that they also have to worry about living expenses besides tuition fees. Another SPM leaver Teng Chin Hoon, 18, from Johor Baru also voiced her frustration 'After receiving my SPM results of 3A+, 5A and 2A-, I felt that the possibility of entering matriculation was slim, especially after the Education Ministry suddenly changed the requirement of not recognising A-. 'They should have told us earlier,' she said, adding that she decided to enrol in Form Six after weighing her chances. The Education Ministry stated that matriculation applicants who were not offered a place may submit an online appeal until tomorrow. The results of the appeal will be announced on June 30. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong had criticised the Education Ministry's revised entry criteria, which no longer recognises A- as equivalent to an A. Under the new policy, only students with 10 straight A+ and A grades will be automatically offered matriculation places for the 2025/2026 session. Dr Wee said the change marks a major shift from last year's policy, which considered students with 10As and above for matriculation, following a commitment made by the Prime Minister. The Ayer Hitam MP said students had prepared based on last year's criteria, only to find the goalposts had shifted, a move he described as unfair. He added that MCA has received hundreds of appeals from students and parents who are confused and disheartened by the change.


The Star
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
G-Dragon concert ticket bots and scalpers kept at bay
G Dragon also announced a world tour to go along with his new album. — Handout PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia's concerts and events continue to generate substantial profits, they are increasingly attracting the attention of unscrupulous parties seeking to exploit the booming industry. During South Korean singer G-Dragon (pic)'s three-day concert ticket sale, over 600 million attempts, suspected to be from ticket bots and scalpers, were thwarted by the event organiser. In response to the huge traffic and malicious attempts to breach its ticketing platforms, Star Planet managing director Datuk Alan Foo said they implemented advanced bot detection and verification measures, including Captcha, to safeguard the integrity of the sales process. 'Our ticketing platform's global security and traffic management system – including Cloudflare and Queue-it – successfully blocked over 600 million malicious or suspicious requests,' he said. Foo acknowledged that due to the overwhelming demand of over 4.5 million users entering the virtual waiting room, some scalpers managed to get through the security measures put in place. For this, he said Star Planet had identified transactions associated with unauthorised resale and invalidated those tickets. 'We strongly advise fans not to purchase tickets from unofficial sources to avoid the risk of cancellation and disappointment,' Foo added. He also confirmed that there may be another round of ticket sales once the unauthorised tickets were identified and cancelled by the organiser. G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong and a member of South Korean idol group BigBang, is widely known as the King of K-Pop. The singer's entertainment agency Galaxy Corporation said in a statement that fraudulent tickets or tickets resold at a price exceeding the official sale price will be invalidated. Checks on social media found that scalpers were selling his concert tickets in Kuala Lumpur for more than RM20,000. For the record, the most expensive ticket for the artiste's tour in Malaysia, scheduled next month, is about RM1,300, which includes exclusive perks. This prompted backlash from fans, calling out the organiser for allegedly failing to curb the problem, and demanding accountability and transparency. One of them was Siti Aishah Hashim, 29, who was devastated after she could not buy pre-sale tickets despite joining his fan club. She found them resold at inflated prices online by scalpers. Another fan Shahril Nazdi, 30, urged the organiser to take action against those found securing the tickets through illegal channels. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations chief executive officer Saravanan Thambirajah said a law to oversee the scalping issue should be expedited, referring to a proposal in 2023 when a similar problem occurred during British rock band Coldplay's concert ticket sales. 'Countries like the United Kingdom and Singapore have already enacted targeted legislation to deal with this issue effectively. Malaysia, too, must move in this direction,' he said. In 2023, the government, through the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Communications Ministry, said it would study the legal provisions to prevent scalping. Pertubuhan Mesra Pengguna vice-president Azlin Othman advised consumers to always go for recognised channels when buying concert tickets. She also urged the government to expedite the enactment of a law to curb scalping and further protect consumers. Meanwhile, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said it is actively looking into specific legislation to curb the issue and is committed to taking into account the interests of stakeholders. 'This is to ensure that enforcement could be done effectively and this approach is important before a legal framework is finalised,' it said in a statement to The Star. The ministry advised consumers to lodge complaints against scalpers through its official channels.