Round-up of our latest news and views

Tracking the pulse of our innovators and leaders

From accolades and high-impact research to new courses and meaningful community service, staff, faculty and students at Duke-NUS have been busy. New learning experiences were created as our students supported young adults with disabilities as they transition from their school years into adulthood and the next generation of scientists were introduced to new career opportunities. Just as our students and innovators forged new paths, our faculty continued to advance our understanding of diseases. Their commitment to impactful research was evident in the strong showing in international rankings. Faculty members Wang Linfa and Daniel Ting added to this with top honours, while individual clinician-scientists and teams from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) were feted for their medical excellence. In a show of unity, the three medical schools in Singapore also renewed their alliance to further medical students’ interests and activities. And our alumni continue flying the flag high for their alma mater as they raise the bar of care through innovations.

Get the latest news and features delivered to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE TO MEDICUS

Global recognition: Duke-NUS scientists among world’s top researchers

Nearly 100 clinician-scientists and researchers from Duke-NUS and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre secured spots on the prestigious 2024 World’s Top 2% Scientists list by Stanford. Moreover, ten researchers were recognised in the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list, published in November 2024.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues, an achievement made possible by their commitment to excellence in research. What makes this year’s results particularly gratifying is growth of our impact as senior scientists are joined on these lists by the next generation. Their contributions have not only advanced our knowledge in science and medicine but have also inspired us to dream bigger in our quest to transform medicine and improve lives.
Prof Patrick Tan

Prestigious accolades for Duke-NUS’ Wang Linfa and Daniel Ting

Prof Wang Linfa receives the University Research Recognition Award

“To receive this recognition from the big NUS family means a lot to me because, like all families, it can sometimes be harder to be recognised by those closest to us. But that makes the honour all the sweeter.”
Prof Wang Linfa

Wang, who is a professor with Duke-NUS’ Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme, received the NUS University Research Recognition Award for his work on bat-borne viruses and contributions to pandemic response efforts. The award, bestowed by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, also recognises Wang’s pioneering work in bat biology that could yield new treatments for common conditions including inflammation. He is the second scientist from Duke-NUS to receive this honour, joining Professor Patrick Tan, who received the award in 2023.

Earlier this year, Wang also received the Global Virus Network’s 2024 Robert C. Gallo Award for Scientific Excellence and Leadership in recognition of his exceptional leadership and innovation in virology.

Vitreo-retinal surgeon, AI innovator and Duke-NUS Associate Professor Daniel Ting received the President’s Young Scientist Award for “his significant contributions to AI in ophthalmology and healthcare, and his pioneering work in deep learning, generative AI, and trustworthy AI, advancing global ocular health.”

Duke-NUS graduates first cohort of new commercialisation course

Course participants and course organisers pose for a group photo in front of a Duke-NUS backdrop

On 11 November, the 22 participants of the inaugural edition of the Duke-NUS Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship course celebrated receiving their certificate of completion at an event held in the Duke-NUS Amphitheatre. They were joined by course faculty, commercialisation partners, and SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC leadership.

The 75-strong crowd were united by a shared interest in exploring projects or even careers at the interface between academic research and commercialisation. Speaking at the event, Vice-Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Duke-NUS Associate Professor Christopher Laing said:

“Singapore needs more life sciences innovators, more serial entrepreneurs. Whether they jump into industry jobs, or they go out and they launch new startup companies or they stay in academia and collaborate with the private sector, these are the people who are willing to take strategic risks in envisioning the future of health.”

A Caucasian man speaking into a microphone

Project Dolphin unites youths and elders in community care

Four individuals of different ages are playing a game

The inaugural edition of Duke-NUS’ Project Dolphin, a newly conceptualised community service project to support young adults with disabilities, made a splash this July as 10 Duke-NUS medical students facilitated a day of fun activities for young adults with disabilities from the Rainbow Centre and elderly residents from St Andrew’s Nursing Home.

“Although the elderly and young adults with disabilities might not have interacted with each other in the past, it only took them a moment to warm up to each other. There were many heartwarming moments shared between both parties and I have learnt so much from them! It is a privilege for my classmates and I to learn more about how we can better care for these individuals through sustainable long-term projects.”
Student facilitator Mr Tan Wei Hong (Class of 2027)

AMC clinicians honoured at National Medical Excellence Awards

On September 24, the National Medical Excellence Awards recognised the exceptional contributions of three senior clinicians, who were honoured with individual clinician and clinician-scientist awards, while two teams from SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC also received awards. These awards highlight the AMC’s commitment to advancing medical science and patient care at the highest levels.

TriMedSoc Alliance renews commitment to medical student collaboration

The presidents of the three medical societies pose for a photo after signing a MOU

Student bodies from Singapore’s three medical schools renewed their partnership on 17 August, three years after the TriMedSoc Alliance was first established. The Alliance unites Singapore’s medical student community, enhancing cooperation and advocacy through a formal platform for collective action.

“We are witnessing a growing trend of close collaboration between the student bodies of the three medical schools, not only in academic student interest groups but also through joint community service initiatives and advocacy efforts.”
Mr John Joson Ng, 16th Duke-NUS Student Council President

Duke-NUS alum and mentor develop new tool for liver cancer prognosis

Duke-NUS alumnus Dr Marjorie Hoang (Class of 2023) and her mentor, Professor Pierce Chow, have brought clarity to the complex decision-making process patients diagnosed with intermediate-stage liver cancer and their doctors face by creating an algorithm that accurately calculates the likely overall survival and recurrence-free survival following surgery.

Called the Modified Metroticket, this algorithm accurately predicted overall survival and recurrence-free survival in the Singapore training cohort and US validation patient cohorts. In the Singapore cohort of patients with liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC, the Modified Metroticket even outperformed the standard staging system by the American Joint Committee on Cancer used currently.

An Asian woman and man discuss information displayed on a computer

“For early-stage HCC patients, the Milan criteria is often used to choose patients who are eligible for surgical resection. [But] surgery also remains a widely used therapy in intermediate-stage HCC although there has been no good model to prognosticate survival after resection among patients in this group.”
Dr Marjorie Hoang (Class of 2023)

Compiled and edited by Nicole Lim.