LICR-Singapore
LICR is exploring the possibility of expanding its global reach into Asia. Last month, a non-binding memorandum of understanding was signed by LICR and three Singaporean institutions—the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine of the National University of Singapore (YLLSoM-NUS), and the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS GMS)—the ultimate objective of which is to make Singapore the eleventh of the Institute’s international sites, with the creation of a facility dedicated to translational and clinical cancer research.
About seven years ago, Singapore launched a state-administrated program to develop first-class capabilities in biomedical science with the aim of creating a global hub for research and development in Asia. The quality of laboratory research quickly reached a high international standard, attracting leading scientists across the world to join Singapore’s academic institutions and encouraging numerous biotech companies to establish operations in Singapore.
Last year, the Singapore Health Ministry and the Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR)—Singapore’s primary establishment for municipal research—launched a national initiative to build effective infrastructure for translational research. The Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS) was formed within A*STAR to connect the basic research undertaken by its institutions with clinical research programs in public hospitals and universities. Translational research programs have been developed in several disease areas: cancer, neuroscience, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.
The idea of an LICR site in Singapore began to arise as the number of contacts between LICR investigators and Singaporean research institutes grew. Dr. Webster Cavenee (Director, San Diego Branch) serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the National University of Singapore’s Oncology Research Institute, and Drs. Xin Lu (Director, Oxford Branch) and Lucy Shapiro (LICR Scientific Advisory Committee) are both on the Scientific Board of A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology. Dr. Sandro De Souza at the São Paulo Branch is engaged in a cancer genomics project in collaboration with Dr. Edison Liu, Executive Director of the Genome Institute of Singapore of A*STAR. Last year, Dr. Liu put forward the idea of launching an LICR site in Singapore in discussion with Drs. Cavenee and De Souza, and representatives from A*STAR visited the LICR New York Office in January 2007 to discuss the form of a potential joint venture.
According to Mr. Edward McDermott (LICR President), the Singaporean authorities’ initiative presented LICR with an exceptional opportunity. “We are flattered by the interest of the Singaporean authorities in having a Ludwig Branch organized there and by their identification of LICR as an institution that could help facilitate their translational research ambitions. The government’s enthusiasm and backing, and the impressive resources and facilities already on the ground, provide a solid foundation on which to build an effective and enduring partnership.”
The intent of establishing an LICR Branch in Singapore was announced by the city-state’s Minister of Health, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, at the Opening Ceremony of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Centennial Conference in Singapore on November 4. The Institute was represented by Dr. Andy Simpson (LICR Scientific Director). “The news was received with great enthusiasm. LICR’s mission is highly respected within the Singaporean cancer research community, and our mode of operation fits splendidly with Singapore’s integrated research model. There is also a great anticipation that our global reach will support Singapore’s effort in being an international hub for research and education.”
The forthcoming extension into Singapore is expected to equip the Institute with new and advanced capabilities for clinical investigation. Dr. Pedro Romero (Lausanne Branch), was invited to Singapore earlier this year by Dr. Jean Pierre Abastado at the A*STAR Centre for Molecular Medicine, where he met with several head investigators at A*STAR, NUS-YLLSoM, and the National Cancer Centre Singapore. “There is a remarkable commitment among Singaporean academic leaders to nurture translational research on cancer, and the infrastructure that is available at the Biopolis and NUS campuses is outstanding” says Dr. Romero. “I was also impressed by the eagerness of the fellows at the Cancer Centre to provide their infrastructure to host a future Ludwig branch in Singapore.”
A definite agreement has yet to be negotiated, but current plans anticipate that LICR-Singapore will have up to five investigators who will be jointly appointed by LICR and A*STAR and hold additional tenure-track positions at NUS-YLLSoM or Duke-NUS GMS, both of which are eminent clinical centers. In contrast to LICR’s current Branches and the Melbourne Center—each of which is physically housed within one site at its host—the new Singapore venture will offer LICR investigators the flexibility of being hosted in a more distributed model, with investigators situated within various A*STAR institutions on the highly developed Biopolis campus or at either of the two medical schools. A search committee has been formed to recruit an internationally recognized clinician-scientist to be Director of LICR-Singapore. The committee is jointly led by Drs. Cavenee and George Demetri (Executive Director for Clinical and Translational Research), and Dr. Edward Holmes, Executive Deputy Chairman of A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council and Executive Chairman of Singapore’s National Medical Research Council. The successful recruitment of an appropriate Director has been set as an absolute prerequisite for moving forward with the project.