BTI scientists uncover role in immunology for longevity-regulating gene.

The Immunology Group at A*STAR's Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) has made a novel discovery about how a gene, 'Fas-apoptosis inhibitory molecule' (FAIM), protects both immune and liver cells from apoptosis, or programmed cell death.  They have also discovered that this process may possibly be manipulated for clinical application and proposed the first-to-be-published in-animal model to study the role of FAIM in detail.  Their findings were published in the top-tier scientific journal Cell Death and Differentiation in July 2009.

FAIM, as its name implies, triggers a mechanism that ultimately impedes an important pathway to apoptosis, which is mediated by a key protein called Fas.  Using their mouse model, the scientists elucidated part of the sequence of molecular events that regulates Fas-mediated apoptosis.  They found that FAIM functioned as a key switch in the Fas cell death circuit, which could be turned up or down to prolong or decrease cell survival.  Therefore, in principle, this gene could make a good target for drug intervention in liver cirrhosis where the target is to prolong cell survival, or in cancer where one would prefer to induce tumour cell death.

For more information on this news, please click here for the press release

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A*STAR's I²R researcher Dr Victor Tong won the Singapore Youth Award (SYA) in the Science and Technology category. The SYA is the highest youth accolade in Singapore honouring youths below 35 who have significantly contributed to the society and achieved excellence in the areas of arts and culture, community and youth services, entrepreneurship, sports and adventure and science and technology. Dr Tong will be receiving his award from Professor S Jayakumar, Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, at the SYA Presentation Ceremony at the Istana on Sunday, 5 July 2009.

For more information on this news, please click here for the press release

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The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) today announced the launch of the 10^th Electronic Packaging Research Consortium (EPRC 10) to address key integration challenges of 3-dimensional (3-D) Packaging and Embedded Module technologies during a signing ceremony. IME is spearheading the consortium with 16 company members that include Asahi Glass Co Ltd, ASM Technology Singapore Pte Ltd, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd, Compass Technology Company Ltd, Disco Hi-Tec Singapore Pte Ltd, EVG Group, Ibiden Singapore Pte Ltd, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Kinergy Ltd, Nepes Pte Ltd,NXP Semiconductors Singapore Pte Ltd, Shanghai Sinyang Semiconductor Materials Co Ltd, Silecs Oy, Sumitomo Bakelite Singapore Pte Ltd and Tango Systems Inc in 2 projects. 

The Electronic Packaging Research Consortium (EPRC) is a resource and cost sharing platform for electronics packaging research and development in pre-competitive areas of common industry technology needs. Its goal is to inject leading upstream core capability (mainly design and process guidelines) into consortium members so they can apply these enabling technologies to their products and processes. The consortium consists of members from electronics companies, and the IC packaging supply chain such as wafer fabs, packaging and testing house, equipment and material suppliers. Since 1996, the EPRC platform has injected invaluable R&D capabilities into the operation of many multi-national and local enterprises in the electronics packaging industry over nine consortia. It has successfully achieved new technological breakthroughs in novel chip size packages for wireless applications, laminate packages for high pin count high performance ICs, and optical packages for communication devices. 

Membership is open to Semiconductors, Photonics, MEMS, Electronics System & Modules related companies.

For more information, please click here for the press release. 

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Doctors may get a new arsenal for meningitis treatment and the war on drug-resistant bacteria and fungal infections with IBN’s novel peptide nanoparticles, which effectively seek out and destroy bacteria and fungal cells that could cause fatal brain infections. Studies just published in the world’s leading nanoscience journal Nature Nanotechnology show IBN’s nanoparticles to be highly therapeutic.

Major brain infections such as meningitis and encephalitis are a leading cause of death, hearing loss, learning disability and brain damage in patients. The brain membrane is impenetrable to most conventional antibiotics. But IBN’s peptide nanoparticles contain a membrane-penetrating component that enables them to pass through the blood brain barrier to infected areas of the brain, offering a superior alternative to existing treatments for brain infections.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

Scientists from Biomedical Imaging Laboratory Recognised At Prestigious 47th American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) 2009 for Brain Atlas.

A*STAR’s Biomedical Imaging Laboratory gained international recognition once again for its research excellence in bioimaging!  Professor Wieslaw L. Nowinski and his team recently received the Magna cum Laudeaward for their scientific exhibit “A 3D interactive atlas of cerebral vasculature and structure from 3T and 7T” at the prestigious 47th American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) 2009 in Vancouver, Canada.  Known as the Brain Atlas of Structure and Vasculature (BASV), the exhibit builds upon the vascular atlas which was earlier awarded “Certificate of Merit” at the Radiological Society of North America 2008.

Knowledge of cerebral vasculature and the surrounding anatomy are typically described and presented in the form of drawings or autopsy photographs in numerous textbooks and articles.  The 3D interactive atlas that BIL has created will allow users to familiarize themselves with cerebral vasculature, structure and connections easily.  It features the parcellated cortex and subcortical structures (over 100 components), including stereotactic target structures.  The brain components are fully labeled and the atlas is electronically dissectible, aiding the study and understanding of cerebral vasculature along with the surrounding anatomy and its variations in 3D.

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The first symposium on immunology jointly organised by A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and World Premier International Research Centre’s (WPI) Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC) was held from 18-19 June 2009. Themed “Integrating Immune Networks with Immuno-Imaging”, the symposium served to build closer links and create opportunities for further research collaborations on immunology between Singapore and Japan. It brought together more than 150 participants from SIgN and IFReC. Prof Shizuo Akira, the world’s most highly cited immunologist and Director of IFREC, is delivered the keynote address at the inaugural symposium, and Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, was the Guest-of-Honour.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

A*STAR Hosts the 9th Science Council of Asia (SCA) Conference.

The 9th Science Council of Asia (SCA) conference, held from 17-19 June 2009, was opened by Mr. Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR. Themed “Grooming Scientific Talent in Asia”, the conference saw more than 100 participants from 14 countries such as China, India, Japan, France, Korea, and the United States of America. It will feature a series of workshops and discussions on a diverse range of topics centering on social, natural, health, and engineering sciences.    

For more information on the conference, please click here for the press release.

A*STAR Showcases Twelve Breakthrough Infocomm Technologies At Communicasia 2009.

Look out for a technology that enables you to control who can view/edit your pictures after someone has downloaded them off, say, your website or social networking page. Also check out a smart image recognition software that can tell you what an image "means". And not to be missed is a smart search technology, which will give users more than just relevant hits. Stop by A*STAR CommunicAsia 2009 booth and experience how infocomm technologies can enhance your lifestyle!

Twelve novel ready-for-market technologies, which will improve the quality of life for users in industry verticals such as lifestyle, security, communications and healthcare, have been developed by A*STAR’s (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R). They will be showcased at the upcoming CommunicAsia 2009, from 16 to 19 June 2009 at Singapore Expo Hall 3, Booth 3E2-01.

To read more on this news, please click here for the press release.

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Scientists from A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, have discovered another signaling pathway for the activation and apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of dendritic cells his discovery was published in the advanced online publication of Nature on 15 Jun 2009.  

Led by Prof Paola Castagnoli, Scientific Director of SIgN and Associate Prof Francesca Granucci of the University of Milano-Bicocca, the team discovered that the well-studied immune receptor called CD14 in dendritic cells could be independently activated by bacterial fragments called liposaccharides or LPS. Once activated, the CD14 would initiate the NFAT lear factor of activated T-cells pathway, which would then activate the dendritic cells to trigger off the body’s immune response. The scientists also discovered that the entire activation by CD14 was necessary to cause apoptosis.

To read more on this news, please click here for the press release.

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Scientists from A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), led by  Professor Christian Joachim, have scored a breakthrough in nanotechnology by becoming the first in the world to invent a molecular gear of the size of 1.2nm whose rotation can be deliberately controlled.  This achievement marks a radical shift in the scientific progress of molecular machines and is published on 15 June 2009 in Nature Materials , one of the most prestigious journals in materials science.

To read more on this news, please click here for the press release.

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The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) has signed a research collaboration agreement with Bell Labs, Alcatel-Lucent’s research arm, to develop advanced silicon photonics for next generation cost-effective high data-rate communication networks.
 
The development of low cost, high data-rate communications is particularly urgent due to explosion in demand for new multi-media consumer content services as governments across the Asia Pacific region seek to provide citizens with access to broadband networks. Optical communications is well suited to meet this exponential demand because it supports data rates that exceed 10 Gbit/s. However, one drawback is that the improved performance comes at a cost. This collaborative research programme will address the challenge of delivering increased performance of optical communications at reduced cost.
 
Said Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, Executive Director of IME, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Bell Labs in developing core technology for next generation high data-rate communications. Our collaboration will build upon developed modules with new generation of low cost integrated silicon-based photonic devices and improved processes. This partnership demonstrates our commitment in bringing impactful research to the industry.”  
 
Dr Rod Alferness, Chief Scientist at Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs, adds, “This collaborative agreement with IME is important because it represents the next step in a series of programmes we have undertaken over the years with customers, government agencies, and academic institutions in Singapore. It is a prime example of the value Bell Labs brings to partners around the world.”

Please refer to the press release for more information.

A*STAR's I2R researcher Dr Li Haizhou is one of the nine new members elected into the International Speech Communication Association (ISCA) Board for a four-year term beginning September 2009.  ISCA is the largest professional organisation in the areas of speech communication, science and technology, and has over 1500 international members.  Dr Li is also a Nokia Visiting Professor for the year 2009, an award given by Nokia to distinguished foreign professors to work in Finland.

Please refer to the press release for more information.

Congratulations to Prof. Jean-Paul Thiery on being awarded the prestigious French Legion of Honour (Chevalier) medal. He is being recognised for his work in cell biology and for his representation of France in the field of scientific research.  The medal, created by former French emperor Napolean Bonaparte in 1802, rewards French civilians and foreigners for their distinguished service.

An expert on cell adhesion studies, Dr Thiery is also the co-discoverer of N-CAM, the founder of a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). His landmark work on N-CAM and E-cadherin, the prototypic epithelial adhesion molecule in 1983 was instrumental in laying the foundations of an understanding of morphogenesis and histogenesis. Dr Thiery joined A*STAR in 2006 and is currently Deputy Director of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology and Chief Scientific Officer of Experimental Therapeutics Centre. 

R&D Boost for Local Precision Engineering Industry.

The Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) announced two new initiatives on 10 June 2009 to boost the local Precision Engineering (PE) industry by enhancing its capabilities to handle more complex manufacturing processes. 

The two new initiatives focus on High-Mix Low-Volume Manufacturing and Precision Measurements and Characterisation, where various consortia will be formed between SIMTech and PE companies to develop technologies required. Complementing these consortia are new Precision Engineering Workforce Skills Qualifications (PE WSQ) Graduate Diploma Programmes, jointly organised by SIMTech and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA). These programmes serve to equip Professionals, Managers and Engineers (PMEs) with relevant skills in these niche and specialised areas. Upon completion of their training, the skilled professionals will be channelled to the relevant consortium to advance the R&D work.   

Commented Dr Lim Ser Yong, SIMTech’s Executive Director, “SIMTech research scientists and engineers with vast advanced technical knowledge and industrial experience have regularly conducted specialist upgrading courses to improve technical expertise of industry through hands-on training. The PE technology consortia and PE WSQ Graduate Diploma Programmes are extensions of our engagement with the industry with a unique R&D and on-the-job manpower training component to help the industry develop new technology and, at the same time, train the professionals with the new skills and knowledge.” 

To read more on the new initiatives, please click here for the press release.

Exploit Technologies’ Portfolio Companies Performed Well to Secure S$500,000 Grant under SPRING Singapore’s Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme (TECS).

SPRING Singapore announced on 4 June 2009 that the second batch of technology start-ups has won the second competitive grant under the Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme (TECS). A group of four portfolio companies under Exploit Technologies, namely, Curiox Biosystems Pte Ltd, D-SIMLAB Technologies Pte Ltd, Niometrics Pte Ltd and SG Molecular Diagnostics Pte Ltd, were each awarded up to S$500,000 under TECS for their Proof-Of-Value Projects. There were 13 winners in the Proof-Of-Value category.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

D-SIMLAB Awarded S$500,000 Grant under SPRING Singapore’s Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme (TECS).

D-SIMLAB Technologies Pte Ltd (“D-SIMLAB”), the Singapore-headquartered leading provider of high-performance, simulation-based decision support solutions for industries that invested in high value operating assets, has been awarded up to S$500,000 grant from SPRING Singapore under the Technology Enterprise Commercialisation Scheme (TECS). 

TECS is a competitive grant and evaluated by investment professionals and industry leaders. Only the strongest proposals with the best potential commercial outcome are funded. 

D-SIMLAB, a company that spun off in 2006 from the Singapore Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), has achieved much over the last three years. As a former incubatee of Exploit Technologies – the marketing and commercialisation arm of A*STAR – D-SIMLAB has benefitted from the mentoring efforts and business leads generated by its incubator. The company has ventured overseas in October 2008 by establishing a European subsidiary to better serve its expanding pool of European clients, and also to support a pilot project with a leading German semiconductor manufacturer. Additionally, as part of its future plan, D-SIMLAB has secured a key MRO player and a major semiconductor company as lead customers for the specific purposes of the proposal under TECS Grant. D-SIMLAB’s founding team consisting of Dr. Peter Lendermann, Gan Boon Ping and Dr. Nirupam Julka, were conferred the A*STAR Scientist Entrepreneur Award 2009 for successfully commercialising their research.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Professor Neal Copeland, Executive Director of A*STAR’s Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology (IMCB), and Professor Nancy Jenkins, Deputy Director of the Genetics and Genomics Division at IMCB, have accepted their election into the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, an exclusive society of scientists, doctors and engineers which has advised the United States government on scientific, medical and technological issues since 1863.  

This high honour is a recognition of Profs Copeland and Jenkins' outstanding contributions to genetic research. Prior to IMCB, they worked at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick for over 20 years, where they made their name using mouse genetics to better define the genes and signalling pathways responsible for cancer. Profs Copeland and Jenkins jointly published over 700 papers before joining IMCB in 2006, where they set up and now jointly run the Cancer Genetics laboratory, where their group is working on new ways of analysing the cancer genome, or characterising the genetic changes required to promote or sustain tumour formation. 

For more information, please click here for the press release.

 

 

Recognising that many of the challenges all countries face call for a proper understanding of science, New Zealand made a significant move to include ‘science at the heart of [its] decision-making’ by appointing its first Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister on 20 May 2009. And the man they have chosen to fill this important role is one of New Zealand’s best known scientists, Professor Peter Gluckman.  

Prof Gluckman, a former doctor, spent most of his career as a medical and biological researcher, and is the only New Zealander ever elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in the United States and the Academy of Medical Sciences in Britain. He was also a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and winner of the top science prize, the Rutherford Medal.  

A University of Auckland Distinguished Professor, Prof Gluckman is currently also Adjunct Professor and Director of the Growth, Development and Metabolism Programme at the Singapore Institute of Clinical Studies. 

In his new role as Prime Minister John Key’s Chief Science Advisor, Prof Gluckman will speak directly with Mr Key on scientific matters such as climate change, research, innovation and technology. He will also be helping the public understand complex scientific issues so that they could make better-informed judgements, and encouraging the young to see science as ‘sexy’ and consider careers in science.
 

Dr Sebastian Maurer-Stroh and his team of scientists from A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute (BII) have become the first in the world to demonstrate how bioinformatics and computational biology can contribute towards managing the H1N1 influenza A virus. They published their complex analysis, entitled, “Mapping the sequence mutations of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus neuraminidase relative to drug and antibody binding sites”, in Biology Direct, a peer-reviewed journal on 20 May 2009.

Professor Sir David and Professor Birgit Lane to Resume Full-Time Appointments at A*STAR from September 2009

 

A*STAR announced at a press conference on 21 May 2009 that Professor Sir David Lane, Chief Scientist of A*STAR, and Professor Birgit Lane, Executive Director of the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology (IMB), would resume full-time appointments at A*STAR come September this year.  

Exploit Technologies and Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa) Join Hands to Help Singapore Start-ups and SMa Members.

Exploit Technologies and Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa) will announce at a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony that a strategic collaboration will be established under the Exploit Technologies Angel Investment Management initiative (AIM). This collaboration serves to enhance and accelerate Angel networking activity; thus enabling start-ups as well as SMa members to have greater access to Angel investors and technology developments in Singapore and in the region. Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua is the Guest of Honour at the event.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between multimedia production agency Refinery Media and Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd – a member of A*STAR – will see the beginnings of Substream, the latest webbased subtitling technology to hit Singapore’s new media industry which allows viewers to switch between English and Mandarin subtitles with ease as they view online programmes, including SUPERMODELME.tv, a reality model search conceptualised and produced by Refinery Media.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Sepsis, the life-threatening inflammatory condition caused by bacterial infection, which commonly afflicts patients in intensive care units (ICU), may now be brought under control.  Scientists from A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have identified the protein WIP1 as the molecular “brake” to curb severe inflammation in the body.     

In their landmark paper published in the May 2009 issue of Nature Cell Biology (NCB) and entitled “WIP1 phosphatase is a negative regulator of NFκB signalling”, the group of scientists led by IMCB Principal Investigator Dr Vinay Tergaonkar highlighted the importance of WIP1 as an effective suppressor of inflammation and explained how the body was able to cope with an excess of inflammation brought on by the hyperactivation of NFκB, a key signalling molecule involved in inflammation.

Said Dr Tergaonkar, “Through suppressing the activity of NFκB and keeping NFκB levels within a safe range, WIP1 minimises the extent of inflammatory response that could lead to septic shock and subsequent death of patients.”

To read more on this discovery, please click here for the press release.

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The Institute of Microelectronics (IME) signed a research collaboration agreement with GlucoStats System Pte Ltd, a Singapore start-up medical device company, to develop key enabling technologies for non-invasive glucose device.

This development will be especially helpful for diabetic patients in their daily monitoring of blood glucose levels, which may be required up to six times a day. Current blood glucose monitoring methods are invasive and require drawing blood samples from the body. This could be painful, cause skin damage and pose a risk of infection; it is also inconvenient. Thus a non-invasive and accurate method for self-monitoring of blood glucose monitoring would greatly improve the treatment and quality of life for diabetic patients.

Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, Executive Director of IME, is upbeat about focusing this R&D effort on emerging markets and new opportunities for the microelectronics industry. “We are pleased to partner with an innovative home-grown company like GS to develop a non-invasive glucose monitoring device. This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how technology can improve healthcare, particularly for diabetes treatment. Over the years, IME has developed capabilities in design of sensors, low power low voltage sensor signal conditioning and wireless circuits to enable novel biomedical technologies and applications. Recently, a single chip wireless electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring device was successfully demonstrated at the recent 3rd International Convention on Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology (i-CREATe 2009)."

Said Dr Ting Choon Meng, Chairman & CEO of GlucoStats, "Very often, in developing new technologies, we also create new problems or give rise to other problems. As a result, we have to develop “peripheral technologies” to circumvent some of the problems which could be potential show-stoppers. Partnering with IME to overcome some of the key technical hurdles will bring us closer to realise our goal of developing a total non-invasive blood glucose monitoring solution. Our earlier partnership through HealthSTATS International Pte Ltd has given me the confidence that our partnership will be yet another success. With IME’s core competencies and our patented core technologies, I strongly believe our collaboration will enable us to make a quantum leap towards commercialisation of the final product. This is a perfect example of value creation by leveraging on each other’s expertise and know-how.”   

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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The Technology Transfer Network (TTN) announced on 11 May 2009 that its Founding Members will leverage the jointly developed IP Cluster Maps to maximise the potential of translational R&D work that can be funded under the National Research Foundation (NRF) Translational R&D Grants for Polytechnics, one of the initiatives under the National Framework for Innovation and Enterprise. NRF did an Open Grant Call on the same day at Nanyang Polytechnic.
 
For more information, please click here for the press release.

SIgN Chairman receives highest French honour.

Prof Philippe Kourilsky, Chairman of A*STAR's Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) has been promoted to the rank of Commander by the French Legion ofHonour for his work in Science at both national and international levels.  The Legion of Honour is the premier award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France. A*STAR extends its heartiest congratulations to Prof Kourilsky for this prestigious mark of recognition.

An expert in molecular biology, Prof Kourilsky established a long and fruitful career in renowned French research organisations such as CNRS and the Pasteur Institute. He also served as an advisor for biotechnologies in the French Ministry of Research. Since 1998, he has been a Professor at the Collège de France, where he currently holds the Chair in Molecular Immunology.

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A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) has scored a first in organising the first ever meeting for EMBO Gold medalists. In a three-day symposium from 4 to 6 May, twelve eminent scientists, winners of the prestigious European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) Gold Medal award from 1990-2008, together with researchers based here, will discuss a range of topics in developmental, cell and molecular biology which have widespread and profound implications on human health and disease.

The topics covered at the Euro Gold 2009 symposium promise to bring new twists to the fields governing scientific understanding of shape and form of animals, fear, ageing and jet lag, amongst others. Some of the prominent speakers include Enrico Coen, from the John Innes Centre, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; Paolo Sassone-Corsi from the University of California; Jim Smith, Director of the Medical Research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research; and Richard Treisman, Director of Cancer Research UK’s London Research Institute.

The Euro Gold Singapore 2009 symposium is jointly supported by the IMCB, British High Commission, swissnex Singapore and EMBO.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

Launch of new Sustainable Manufacturing programme for Singapore Manufacturers.
 
Manufacturers can look forward to new ways for them to play their part in saving the earth with the new Sustainable Manufacturing Programme by SIMTech, Singapore Manufacturers' Federation (SMa) and Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The Programme was launched today through a MOU signing ceremony witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran.

The Sustainable Manufacturing Programme is the first of its kind for Singapore manufacturers. It will look at conceptualising and developing sustainable practices suitable for manufacturers which will help them reduce operating cost, improve productivity, convert waste into higher value end products and achieve sustainable growth. The Programme will mainly focus on eco-efficiency improvements of manufacturing systems and processes.

SIMTech will provide expertise to review and assess current operations and processes, and assist the industry to reuse and value add by product waste. Commented Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech, “This partnership aligns with our vision to transform and upgrade our manufacturers’ capabilities through the development of technologies. SIMTech has assisted local enterprises to break new ground and secure global markets using sustainable manufacturing technologies. Through this Programme, we aim to collaborate with SMa to reach out to more companies to develop and adopt sustainable manufacturing technologies for their growth.”

The first pilot project under the Sustainable Manufacturing Programme will involve a consortium of food manufacturers to improve their internal manufacturing processes, packaging and recycling of their by-product waste e.g. converting used cooking oil or other food waste into bio-fuel or animal feed.

A*STAR Funds New Approaches to Tackle Age-Old Diseases.

This year, A*STAR's Biomedical Research Council and its consortia (namely SICS, SIgN, SBIC and SSCC) have awarded some $36 million in grants to more than 50 groups from local universities, research institutes and hospitals to conduct cutting-edge biomedical research on age-old diseases ranging from respiratory diseases to aging and cancer. Examples include research projects on tuberculosis (led by Dr Ann Lee, National Cancer Centre), dust mite allergies (Dr Chua Kaw Yan, NUS), Alzheimer's disease (Dr Gavin Dawe, NUS), cancer (Dr Shazib Pervaiz, NUS), and malaria (Dr Peter Preiser, NTU). Their research explores possible therapeutics to improve human health and healthcare delivery in Singapore and around the world. 

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Jointly organised by A*STAR, MOE and the Science Centre, the A*STAR Talent Search (ATS) and Science and Engineering Fair (SSEF) aim to ignite passion for science among local students and interest them in a career in research by providing a platform for young aspiring scientists to showcase their research projects.

This year, 400 research projects in diverse fields ranging from engineering to biochemistry were submitted for the SSEF and a total of 258 entries were shortlisted during the judging round on 11 March. Top SSEF research projects were selected for the ATS where students had to demonstrate their mastery of scientific concepts and creative thinking.

Nicholas Chen, an 18-year-old student from the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, won the coveted first prize at the ATS.  He will represent Singapore at the renowned Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in Nevada, USA, next month. Under the guidance of his mentor, Dr Tan Seng Ghee, Senior Research Fellow at A*STAR’s Data Storage Institute, Nicholas proposed an experimental set-up using a property known as Berry’s phase to reduce the time taken to observe micromagnetic patterns.

Mr Heng Chee How, Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, handed out the awards at the ATS and SSEF 2009 Awards Presentation Ceremony on 24 April 2009.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Her Royal Highness Princess Maya Chakri Sirindhorn and an entourage of over 20 officials from Thailand visited Fusionopolis on 22 April 2009 as part of a state visit to Singapore.  HRH Princess Sirindhorn was accompanied on the visit by Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Mrs Joy Balakrishnan; His Excellency Nopadol Gunavibool and Mrs Anchulee Gunavibool of the Embassy of Thailand in Singapore; and Singapore’s Ambassador to Thailand, Mr. Peter Chan; who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Diana Chan.

HRH Princess Sirindhorn and the other VIPs were received by Ms Yena Lim, Managing Director of A*STAR and other senior members of the A*STAR management team.  The visit to A*STAR included corporate presentations on A*STAR and the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R); and updates on research collaborations between I2R and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) of Thailand.  After these presentations, the visitors were shown three demonstrations of technologies that I2R and NECTEC were collaborating on before adjourning to a tour of FusionWorld.

2^nd Singapore-Hungary Joint Symposium On Biomedical Devices and Computational Sciences.

The scientific communities in Singapore and Hungary were brought together at a joint symposium held in Singapore from 22-23 April 2009. Organised by A*STAR and Hungary’s National Office for Research and Technology (NKTH), the platform was one of the outcomes of the Master Collaboration Agreement made between A*STAR and NKTH in 2007. This objectives of this Agreement were to further strengthen the good relations between the two nations and create opportunities for exchange of ideas and scientific interactions on areas of strategic, tactical and/or commercial interest. The first joint symposium was held in Hungary in 2008.

At this 2nd joint symposium, four new research projects, which were submitted for assessment in response to a grant call following the earlier joint symposium, were awarded grants.  The projects, which would be jointly led by Singapore and Hungary researchers, were carefully selected by an A*STAR-NKTH Joint Review Panel after they were reviewed by international experts for their scientific merit, and assessed them for their relevance to the needs of the two countries.  

Said Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, “The award of the inaugural A*STAR-NKTH collaborative research grants for scientists from Hungary and Singapore underscores the excellent scientific relations between the two countries and reaffirms our mutual commitment to enhance this relationship.  I am confident that the friendships and collaborations fostered through these partnerships will lead to the cross-fertilisation of ideas and spawn many innovations that will be impactful for Singapore and Hungary, and make a difference to the world.”

For more information, please click here for the press release. 

Exploit Technologies launched the International Incubation Initiative.

Exploit Technologies launched the International Incubation Initiative, or Icube, at the New Zealand Business Forum on 22 April 2009. Icube seeks to encourage innovation by giving start-ups of participating incubators greater accesss to incubators internationally, and to enhance and accelerate the opportunities for start-ups that need international business linkages. Auckland UniServices Ltd, AUT Innovation and Enterprise, WaikatoLink Ltd and ICEHOUSE were the first ones to be onboard Icube.

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A*STAR has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with the region of Lombardy, Italy, to expand scientific collaborative activities between scientists from A*STAR and Lombardy. The signing, which took place in Milan on 21 Apr, was witnessed by Singapore’s Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister of State (Trade and Industry) S Iswaran.  

The MOI allows scientists from A*STAR and Lombardy to jointly develop research projects in areas of mutual interest such as Biotechnology, New Materials, Energy-Environment and Health. It will also facilitate exchange programmes for researchers and students, including post-doctoral attachments of Lombardy researchers at A*STAR research institutes, to encourage sharing of the most up-to-date scientific information and materials from Singapore and Italy. Furthermore, the MOI opens up opportunities for both nations to build up their knowledge economies through the mutual transfer of technology and the joint commercialisation of intellectual property.

For more information, please click here for the press release.
 

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Researchers from Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have achieved another biomedical breakthrough with highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters for sub-cellular imaging. Their new invention has broad implications for biolabeling and disease diagnosis.

Measuring less than 1 nanometer in diameter, IBN’s gold clusters are much smaller than currently available nanoscale imaging technologies such as semiconducting quantum dots, which are usually at least 3 nanometers in size. Unlike quantum dots, the gold nanoclusters are suitable for use within the body as they do not contain toxic metals such as cadmium and lead. Their sub-nanometer size makes it easy to target the nucleus inside the cell for sub-cellular biolabeling and bioimaging. With improved bioimaging at the cell nucleus, scientists can also study the effectiveness of drug and gene therapies. IBN’s research on gold nanoclusters has been recently published in the leading international chemistry journal, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131 (2009) 888-889.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) have succeeded in unlocking the potential of carbon dioxide – a common greenhouse gas – by converting it into a more useful product. Using organocatalysts, the IBN researchers activated carbon dioxide in a mild and non-toxic process to produce methanol, a widely used industrial feedstock and clean-burning biofuel.

Published recently in leading international chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie, IBN’s report has been designated a ‘Hot Paper.’ In addition, the Institute’s findings have been determined by reviewers to be “very important” – a recognition provided to less than 10% of the journal’s manuscripts.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

Green Ideas for Youth Olympic Games - Environmentally Friendly Prototypes Created by Students.

What products would be both innovative and environmentally friendly for use at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG)? This was the question posed to students from seven schools who took part in the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) Science Challenge and Congress 2009 held last month.

A total of 10 prototypes were submitted based on the theme of sustainable manufacturing and printed electronics. The panel of judges made up of SIMTech scientists and materials sponsor Winrigo Pte Ltd scruntinised the creations' designs and manufacturability. Eventually, the Award for Overall Concept went to the biker's helmet creation by Hwa Chong Institution, which promises to improve visibility at night using light emitting diodes powered by solar and wind energy generated by the biker's movements. The Best Manufacturability Award went to the Nanyang Girl’s High School for their 2-in-1 shelter which functions both as a cap and a reusable poncho.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports and Ministry of Transport, was the Guest-of-Honour for the event.  He said, “I am certainly impressed with the creativity and aptitude demonstrated by our students. The knowledge the students acquired are put to good use in developing creative prototypes which may be spun off into actual products for the Games.”

The event was held as part of A*STAR's Youth Science Programme which offered a range of outreach activities aimed at promoting interest in science and technology among our local youths.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

SMEs Optimistic about Growth with GET-Up.

Despite the economic downturn, some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are optimistic about their future growth. These SMEs are those who participated in A*STAR's "Growing Enterprises with Technology Upgrade", or "GET-Up" programme. Under GET-Up, SMEs receive expert advice and help in developing long-term R&D roadmaps, as well as access to the facilities and equipment of A*STAR Research Institutes. In addition, the secondment of A*STAR's Research Scientists and Engineers (RSEs) also greatly boosted the technological capabilities of SMEs. 

In a recent survey conducted by NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, GET-Up companies projected higher revenue and employment growth of 15% and 18% respectively, as compared to 6% and 7% for companies who were not on the programme. They also saw an increase in sales from 16 to 20%, due to new and improved products, which was higher than the 11 to 15% sales from non-GET-Up companies. 

Said Prof Chong Tow Chong, Executive Director of A*STAR’s Science and Engineering Research Council, “Robust, technology-intensive SMEs are critical to Singapore’s long-term development into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. A*STAR is happy to partner SMEs by sharing with them our R&D capabilities, expertise and technological know-how so as to engage them in R&D activities and contribute towards Singapore’s transformation as a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy”. 

Yesterday, another batch of 33 RSEs were sent off by Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Mnister-of-State for Ministry of Trade & Industry and Manpower to 29 local enterprises under the GET-Up programme. They join their predecessors to make up a total of 208 seconded researchers since the inception of the programme in 2003.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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IBN has developed the first tri-continuous mesoporous material using a unique surfactant template. This completely new porous structure had previously only been predicted mathematically. Published in Nature Chemistry, this novel material, which is named IBN-9 after the research institute, is the first hexagonal nanoscale construct with three unconnected interwoven channels. It is by far the most complex mesoporous nanostructure to have been synthesized in real-life and represents a new class of mesoporous materials. Mesoporous silica materials have huge surface areas, making them ideal for use as catalysts to facilitate chemical reactions. Their uniform nanometer-sized pores allow them to separate molecules by size difference. Their pores may also be used to trap drug molecules for controlled drug release. The ability to tailor the pore structure of mesoporous material is therefore of fundamental importance for various chemical and biological applications.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

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Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA, to advance the development of sustainable manufacturing technologies. This two-year collaboration includes joint research projects, graduate students exchanges and joint academic meetings, symposia and other academic partnerships.  Specific research collaboration areas include joint R&D in sustainable manufacturing technologies, renewable energy and fuel cells, clean production process technologies, reverse logistics and green supply chains, intelligent testing and diagnostics and sustainable design for remanufacturing.

Said Dr Lim Ser Yong, Executive Director of SIMTech, “Research collaboration in sustainable manufacturing technologies is relevant today. SIMTech has assisted many local enterprises to break new grounds and secure global markets using sustainable manufacturing technologies. This collaboration will enable us to help local enterprises migrate to a higher plane in the field of sustainable manufacturing technologies, critical in today’s dynamic manufacturing environment and for economic as well as societal benefits.”  

Added Jeremy Haefner, RIT provost, “This partnership will enhance research and education programmes offered through the Golisano Institute for Sustainability and serve as a first step in creating additional collaborations with Singapore.”

For more information, please click here for the press release.

Twenty-Four Experts Gather to Discuss Hottest Stem Cell Topics at First Singapore-Germany Meeting

DEVELOPING WEAPONS TO COMBAT HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.
Fully human monoclonal antibodies to be focus of research collaboration

A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and Swiss company Cytos Biotechnology Ltd (Cytos) will be working together to develop fully human monoclonal antibodies for combating and managing the enterovirus 71 (EV71), one of the two most common viruses responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Singapore. Last year, the number of reported cases of HFMD in Singapore reached an all-time high of over 9000, resulting in the closure of many pre-schools and childcare centres. This collaborative research is hence timely for Singapore, as there is currently no specific treatment available for the highly infectious disease that largely afflicts young children.

Said Prof Paola Castagnoli, Scientific Director of SIgN and also the SIgN Principal Investigator involved in the collaboration, “We are excited about this partnership as it will provide researchers on both sides with the opportunities of sharing expert knowledge and ideas.”  Under the two-year agreement, SIgN will provide the manpower and immunological knowledge required for the research, while Cytos will share with SIgN its proprietary technology for the isolation of fully human monoclonal antibodies. The specialized technology employed in the research collaboration aims for fast isolation and identification of fully human monoclonal antibodies that are highly specific to the EV71. The scientists hope that the outcomes of this collaboration will contribute to public health management of the disease and improved health care for patients.

For more information, please click here for press release

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Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry, was conferred the ‘Placa de la Orden Civil de Sanidad’ (Plaque of the Health Civil Order) by H.E. Dr Bernat Sorai Escoms, Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs of Spain, on 31 March 2009. The Placa de la Orden Civil de Sanidad is the highest civil distinction awarded on behalf of his Majesty the King of Spain to reward relevant or exceptional merits, behaviours, activities or services in the field of health.

Minister Lim was conferred the award for the role played by the Ministry’s statutory board, A*STAR, in promoting biomedical research cooperation between Singapore and Spain.

For more information, please click here for press release of MOH and MTI

Enhanced Musical Performance with A*STAR’s novel MPEG-4 SLS technology.

A*STAR’s Exploit Technologies, Jetstar Asia and SingTel are supporting the 2009 NTU Chinese Society National Chinese Song Writing Competition. To commemorate the competition’s 15th anniversary, NTU Chinese Society will launch a Songs of Campus website that allows aspiring student song writers and performers, both local and overseas, to showcase their works and talents online. Songs submitted for the Music Express 15 competition will be converted to MPEG-4 SLS format and uploaded to the Songs of Campus website. Supporters can stream the songs, listen to uninterrupted high fidelity music, and vote for their favourite pieces, all through the Songs of Campus website.

Exploit Technologies will be powering the website with A*STAR’s novel MPEG-4 SLS (Scalable-to-Lossless Coding) technology. SLS is a music coding format developed with major contribution from A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R) and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG). This patented music coding format is an MPEG-4 audio standard that is capable of compressing music files (such as CD tracks) for playback without any loss in fidelity. It also allows for fine-grain pre-encoding of music files at different bitrates so that they can be subsequently streamed or played back at different quality, depending on the device type or available channel bandwidth. This allows for uninterrupted music streaming all day round, regardless of bandwidth or internet traffic volume. MPEG-4 SLS’s scalability also means that a single file format can be played on different platforms without the loss of music quality. The A*STAR I²R team was awarded the National Technology Award 2007 for its research and development work on SLS.

For more information, please refer to the press release.

A*STAR in Strategic Partnerships with Italian University and Research Institutes  

A*STAR inked an agreement on 23 March 2009 with the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy, to mark the launch of the A*STAR-University of Milano-Bicocca Research Attachment Programme. This programme provides opportunities for PhD students from the University of Milano-Bicocca to receive part of their traning at A*STAR's research institutes. In addition, A*STAR signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with three partner-institutes, namely the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology (FIRC), the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) and the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM). The MOI will encourage research collaborations, manpower and student exchanges, and the sharing of scientific services between A*STAR and the IFOM-IEO Campus, targeted at developing new strategies of cancer treatment and prevention.

A*STAR will also be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the region of Lombardy, aimed at increasing research collaborations with scientists from the region. The signing which will take place next month will be witnessed by Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong.

For more information, please refer to the press release.

A*STAR Researchers Develop Promising Treatment for Hepatitis B

A group of scientists from the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS) at A*STAR and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed an antibody which can reprogramme the immune system to recognise cells infected by the Hepatitis B virus. The treatment could eventually lead to a cure for chronic Hepatitis B (HBV), which affects 350 million people worldwide, and is the leading cause of liver cancer in Singapore. Group leader, Prof Antonio Bertoletti from SICS, presented their findings at the UK-Singapore Symposium on Antimicrobial Therapies at Biopolis earlier this week.

Singapore and Korea research institutes in landmark collaboration on micro- and nanotechnologies

Spearheaded by the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) and the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) of Singapore’s Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Korea’s Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), the collaboration will see researchers from both communities embarking on joint academic meetings, symposia and R&D projects to advance the development of micro- and nanotechnologies.

Fostering closer ties with Japanese researchers - A*STAR signed MOU with Japan Science and Technology Agency

A*STAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) to implement the Strategic International Cooperative Program (SICP). Since 2003, JST has been promoting joint international research collaborations and fostering exchanges between researchers from Japan and other countries through the SICP. Singapore is now part of the SICP network, along with some 16 countries across Asia, Oceania, Africa and Europe.

Scientists find direct role of microRNA that regulates p53

Scientists in Singapore and the US have recently found that a microRNA, named microRNA-125b, is a novel regulator of p53, an important protein that safeguards cells against cancers. The research finding was reported on March 17, 2009 in the prestigious journal, Genes & Development.

For more information, please click here for the press release.

Elephant Sharks: Seeing The Deep Blue In Colour

 

Scientists from the IMCB, A*STAR and Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (UCL) have made the surprising discovery that the elephant shark, a primitive deep-sea fish that belongs to the oldest living family of jawed vertebrates, could see colour, like humans. The finding, published in the March 2009 issue of the prestigious journal, Genome Research, would enhance scientists’ understanding of how colour vision evolved in early vertebrates over the last 450 million years of evolution. The IMCB team was led by Prof Byrappa Venkatesh, while the UCL team was led by Prof David Hunt. Said Prof Venkatesh, “The elephant shark is the most ‘primitive’ vertebrate to have three cone pigments for colour vision and like humans, it has accomplished this through gene duplication.” This underscores the importance of the elephant shark genome, first proposed in 2005 by the IMCB group as a valuable reference in understanding the human genome which belongs to the same evolutionary tree. The finding comes less than two years after IMCB secured generous funding from the National Institutes of Health, USA, to sequence the whole genome of the elephant shark.  For more information, please click here for the press release.

 

Singapore and UK Scientists Join Hands in Tackling Microbes

New Leadership Appointments at A*STAR



We are pleased to announce four new leadership appointments that will take effect from 1 April 2009.   With the new appointments, A*STAR will be well-poised to further strengthen its scientific capabilities and foster cross-council collaborative research to drive the transformation of Singapore into a knowledge-based innovation-driven economy:
 

• Professor Sir George Radda will become the Chairman of A*STAR's Biomedical Research Council (BMRC).  This will be on top of his responsibilities as Chairman of the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) and his role as the Chief Scientific Advisor to A*STAR’s Cross Council Office;
• Professor Low Teck Seng will become the Deputy Managing Director (Research) of A*STAR;
• Dr Alex Matter will become the Chief Executive Officer of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC); and
• Professor Sir David Lane will become the Chief Scientist of A*STAR.

For more details, click here to see the press release.

Ultra-High Barrier Film Wowed Visitors at Japan Exhibition

Evidencing a breakthrough in barrier technology, IMRE's Ultra-High Barrier Film wowed visitors at the recent 2nd lnternational Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo (PV Expo 2009) held in Japan. Regarded as Asia's most important business hub of the PV industry, the Expo brought together specialists involved in solar cell / PV system manufacturing, designing and R&D from all over the world. Together with its partner, KISCO, IMRE showcased the Ultra-high Barrier Film at the Singapore Pavilion.

Identifying Friend or Foe Using Voice Recognition Technology
 

Wouldn’t it be great if we can tell if a stranger is a friend or foe just by hearing his voice? A*STAR's Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) invented a technology that could do just that! This technology could be used, for example, to identify bank customers over the phone, a remote law enforcement officer by its command centre, and even pranksters making hoax calls.

The invention was accomplished by a 12-man team led by Dr Li Haizhou, Department Head of Human Language Technology at I2R. It even won the "gold standard" benchmark test in voice identification in an international biannual test by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) under the United States Department of Commerce. 
 

Beating 45 teams from around the world, the win was remarkable indeed, and brought attention to Singapore’s R&D in science and technology. Commented Dr Li, "Our success took the world by surprise. No one expected tiny Singapore to top the tests."

The notable research also led Finnish researchers to nominate and award Dr Li as one of the two "Nokia Visiting Professors" in 2009. As a Nokia Visiting Professor, Dr Li received a grant of 10,000 Euros, as well as the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research in Finland.

A*STAR won Aerospace R&D Institution of the Year Award

A*STAR was presented the Aerospace R&D Institution of the Year Award at the 2009 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Aerospace & Defense Award Ceremony on Thursday, 5 March 2009. This is the first time that the Award is given to a local public research agency. 

Biomarkers that signal severity of Chikungunya fever

Principal Investigator Dr Lisa Ng (top row, left) and her research team from SIgN

Early identification and monitoring of patients with severe form of Chikungunya fever are now possible by measuring the levels of three biomarkers found in blood. A team of researchers from A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) and Communicable Disease Centre at Tan Tock Seng Hospital discovered that an increase in the levels of biomarkers interleukin-1, beta, (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), with a concomitant decrease in RANTES, was an indication of a severe form of Chikungunya fever. The finding, published online in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) ONE on 21 January 2009, would allow for quicker and more accurate prognosis of infected patients. 

A*STAR Won Award for Best Graduate Development Practices at HRM Awards 2009

A*STAR won the Aventis School of Management Award for Best Graduate Development Practices at the recent HRM Awards 2009, an event akin to the "Oscars of the HR world", that was held this year on 26 Feb at The Ritz Carlton.

 Scientists team up to combat cancer stem cells 

Dr Christopher Ang of A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Science (SICS) and Dr Carol Tang of the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) have identified a special type of stem cells that is responsible for the growth of rare and malignant brain tumours. Even after operations to remove such tumours, survival rates are dismal because the cancer stem cells cause the tumours to grow back.  Using special cryopreservation techniques, Drs Tang and Ang have built up a bank of these cells from 8 patients and are working with the Lilly Singapore Centre for Drug Discovery (LSCDD) to study them. The first step would be to uncover what makes them so potent, and then to find a drug that works against them. Such a drug would minimise the need for extensive surgery or radiotherapy, and significantly improve patients' quality of life. The researchers hope that their work can eventually be extended to other cancers.

New Self-Lubricating Contact Lenses

A*STAR researchers have developed a type of self-lubricating contact lenses that surpass other hydrating lenses in the market. Made from a special material that allows drugs to be released slowly and optimally to treat the eye, these contact lenses are far better than traditional lenses that need to be soaked in a solution to be lubricated. This is because the conventional way of lubrication makes it difficult to estimate the amount of lubricant each len carries and how much lubricant is finally released into the eye. The availability of this new self-lubricating contact lens implies that users no longer need to constantly remember to apply eye drops to counter the problem of dry eyes.

New Industry Members Join A*STAR’s Aerospace R&D Programme

 
Despite the economic downturn, eight more companies took the bold step to join the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) Aerospace Programme, affirming their strong confidence in R&D in A*STAR and Singapore.
 
Membership has increased to 16 since the launch of the SERC Aerospace Programme in 2007 which is now in its second cycle. Comprising aerospace-related multi-national corporations and local enterprises, the new members of the Programme are BASF, Coherix, MAG Industrial Automation Systems, GT Industrial, IPG Photonics, Resem Technologies, Sunny Instruments Singapore and Tru-Marine.
 
Six new projects mark the commencement of the second cycle of the SERC Aerospace Programme. The technologies or outcomes developed can be applied to the entire aircraft, spanning the body, wing, belly to the tail. These projects will work on the development of advanced materials for aircraft bodies, improvements for MRO and manufacturing processes as well as intelligent sensors for structural health monitoring and diagnostics.
 
In total, the consortium now consists of 16 members, including those who joined earlier The Boeing Company, EADS, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, SIA Enginering Company, Sonatesr, Rofin-Bassel Singapore and IDI Laser Services.
 
These members have started on the four first cycle projects of the SERC Aerospace Programme a year ago. Encompassing research areas in Laser Processing, Advanced Robotics as well as Non-Destructive Testing Techniques and Inspection, the projects are in progress and the technologies may be applied on the aircraft after suitable customisation.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Sets Up Research Campus at Fusionopolis, Singapore

 

In a landmark collaboration with A*STAR, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) has set up its first research centre outside of the United States at Fusionopolis, Singapore.  

The centre, called the Advanced Digital Sciences Centre, is located on 8^th floor of Fusionopolis (Connexis North). It is helmed by world-renowned researchers in information technology, Professors Benjamin Wah, Ravi Iyer and William Sanders. Professor Wah will serve as a full-time Director in Singapore.  

The centre’s first signature programme is dubbed the “Human Sixth Sense Programme”, an ambitious programme to fundamentally alter the way we interact with technology. It aims to give computers a “sixth sense” so that users get the right information, anytime, anywhere, and on any device. One potential application could be remote medicine, where doctors can collaborate across continents to diagnose a patient in real-time and with access to medical records across different databases.  

Forty A*STAR PhD scholars are expected to be trained at ADSC over the next 5 years. They will also get to spend some time in Illinois during the course of their PhD study. Forty of Illinois’ PhD students will also work on part of their PhD at ADSC. Twenty-five post-doctoral researchers will also be based in the centre.  

Illinois has turned out many a famous alumnus including Youtube co-founders Javed Karim and Steve Choo and Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie who also created Lotus Notes.    

For more information, click the links below. 

UIUC-A*STAR Joint Media Release

Speech by Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry

Speech by Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR

Speech by Dr Richard Herman, Chancellor of UIUC

One-stop test for Chikungunya and dengue fever.
 

Scientists find new anti-cancer link to p53.

Scientists from A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and University of Dundee (UK) have jointly published a research paper in the 1 February 2009 issue of Genes and Development, entitled “p53 isoform d113p53 is a p53 target gene that antagonizes p53 apoptotic activity via BclxL activation in zebrafish”.  

The scientists uncovered how cells were able to switch p53, a tumour suppressor gene, on and off. In addition, the scientists found that besides making the p53 protein, the p53 gene also produced the alternative variation of the p53 protein known as an isoform (d113p53) that acted as a "control switch" for p53. 

Said Professor Sir David Lane, the lead author and co-discover of p53 30 years ago, who is also the chairman of A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council, an IMCB principal investigator and chief scientist of Cancer Research UK, “We are excited with the latest findings, which give us a deeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms behind the control of p53. This successful research is a culmination of years of work on p53, as well as strong linkages between IMCB and Dundee scientists, who have come together to share their expertise and resources to generate new knowledge. Certainly, we have moved yet another step closer to finding new ways to treat cancer.” 

This research was carried out on zebrafish at IMCB since the p53 gene is also found in zebrafish.  

SCIENCE names A*STAR Chairman, Mr Lim Chuan Poh, as among “People to Watch in 2009”

 
Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR, has been named among the “People to Watch in 2009” by the prestigious SCIENCE magazine.
 
In its annual review of top personalities to watch for the coming year (Volume 323, 2 January 2009), SCIENCE notes the recently opened Fusionopolis that is Singapore’s icon for public and private research in interactive media, physical sciences, engineering, and technology. The magazine says that the challenge for Mr Lim is to help “Singapore make a name for itself in information technologies and engineering the way it has in biomedical research”.
 
Commenting on being recognised by SCIENCE, Mr Lim says that it signifies the “continued excitement and buzz of R&D activities and growth in Singapore”. He adds that building up R&D is a strategic priority for Singapore.  Biopolis and Fusionopolis, along with the significant step-up in R&D activities in Singapore’s tertiary institutions, hospitals and industries, are creating many new and exciting opportunities for knowledge creation, innovation, and international participation and partnerships.  

Looking to 2009, Mr Lim says that Singapore will stay the course in its R&D investments. He notes that this was highlighted by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s Prime Minister, at the official opening of Fusionopolis in October 2008.
 
’’Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, steady and sustained investments in R&D will differentiate us from other R&D hubs.  This approach will make us a lot more attractive as an R&D partner, be it with other R&D organisations or with corporate R&D outfits.  For the same reason, these steady and sustained investments will make Singapore a lot more attractive to scientific talent, be they international talent or Singaporean talent that are currently working overseas,” adds Mr Lim. 
 
Other personalities in the list include Paul Drayson, UK’s new science minister, Lisa Jackson who was appointed recently to head US Environmental Protection Agency, as well as Drew Faust and Susan Hockfield, who heads Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) respectively at a time when university endowments are decreasing amid the gloomy economy outlook.

A*STAR researchers play major role in local stem cell community

 

In addition to bringing together researchers, clinicians, health professionals and companies interested in stem cell research and development, the Stem Cell Society also aims to act as a public resource platform, providing information about stem cells to lay persons.  

A*STAR scientists are active members of the Society, which holds regular monthly meetings on academic research, clinical and technical aspects of stem cell research. Office-bearers of the Society include BTI researcher Dr Andre Choo, IMB researchers Drs Gerald Udolph, Sohail Ahmed and Robert Zweigerdt, BII researcher Dr Vivek Tanavde as well as GIS researchers Drs Paul Robson, Tara Huber, Ng Huck Hui and Larry Stanton.