1. The 1^st Singapore-Italy Joint Symposium on Biomedical Sciences, organised by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) with support from Regione Lombardia in Italy, has attracted more than 200 scientists from both countries and the region. Held at Biopolis, the two-day event (from 10 to 11 Dec) saw distinguished scientists from Italy and Singapore presenting groundbreaking findings in cancer, immunology and stem cell therapies.

 

2. This symposium, aimed at facilitating scientific exchange between scientists from the two countries and encouraging future research collaborations among them, is one of the outcomes of the Memorandum of Intent signed between A*STAR and the Region of Lombardy in Italy in April 2009. 

 

3. Said Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, “This first Singapore-Italy Symposium provides good opportunities for researchers from the two countries to interact with one another, and to explore areas for scientific collaboration. For both the research communities, these collaborations will not only lead to impactful outcomes that are mutually beneficial, but they will also create opportunities for the cross attachments of post-docs and research students.”

 

4. Some highlights of the symposium included lectures by renowned scientists such as:

- Dr Pier Giuseppe Pelicci, Chairman of the Department of Experimental Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology[1] (IEO) and Scientific Director of the European School of Molecular Medicine[2] (SEMM Foundation). Entitled, “Biological properties in Cancer Stem Cells”, Dr Pelicci’s lecture will examine how the different ways in which breast cancer cells divide could ultimately either promote or suppress tumour growth. The findings could potentially spell breakthroughs in cancer treatment. 

- Prof Alberto Mantovani, Scientific Director of Istituto Clinico Humanitas and celebrated immunologist. He spoke on the topic, “Pentraxins as a Paradigm of Humoral Innate Immunity, which touched on the intricate and complementary roles that ‘pentraxins’ or long proteins play in immunity, inflammation and even fertility.

- Dr Alan Colman, Executive Director of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium and a Principal Investigator at A*STAR’s Institute of Medical Biology (IMB). Dr Colman was also known for his breakthrough work which resulted in Dolly, the world's first sheep cloned from an adult somatic cell in 1996. His lecture on “Use of induced pluripotent stem cells to model human disease” described how stem cells could be used to study the development of specific genetic conditions, such as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (a premature ageing disease).

(A detailed programme is attached at the Annex.)

 

5. Said Prof Lee Eng Hin, Executive Director of A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), "I am very pleased that the first Joint Symposium will bring scientists in various fields of research from the Italianresearch institutes to Singapore to share their knowledge and scientific findings. There are already several research collaborations between our A*STAR scientists and institutes in Milan, such as San Raffaele Scientific Institute[3] closer links between our two research communities." and IFOM-IEO[4], and I am sure the Symposium provide more opportunities for collaboration, and forge

 

6. Said Prof Roberto Sitia, Director of the Division of Genetics and Cell Biology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute said, “I was most impressed by the quality of Science in Singapore and the efforts you are making in this respect, as exemplified through this joint symposium. These are critical traits any country should strive to attain as, especially in periods of crisis, I am convinced that knowledge and education are the only insurance we can buy for our future. Given the vast potential of the future, curiosity-driven science is necessary to look with confidence at it.” Prof Sitia also spoke at the symposium on the topic of “Proteostasis in the Secretory Compartment as a Signal in Development and Disease”.

 

Mr Matthew Low

Senior Officer, Corporate Communications

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

DID: (+65) 6826 6332 | Fax: (+65) 6478 9593 

Email: matthew_low@a-star.edu.sg

 

Ms Adela Foo

Senior Officer, Corporate Communications

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

DID: (+65) 6826 6218 | Fax: (+65) 6478 9593

Email: Adela_foo@a-star.edu.sg

 

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences, and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and seven consortia & centre, which are located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their immediate vicinity. 

A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, hospitals, research centres, and with other local and international partners.

For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

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