SBICFounded in 2005, the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC), aims to advance and apply life-imaging technology to better understand the pathophysiological and biochemical underpinnings of selected diseases aligned to national interests, using
pre-clinical models in a translational manner. With the expertise in the development of chemical and biological probes, metabolic phenotyping, optical imaging, multimodal MR imaging and spectroscopy, nano SPECT, micro PET and image processing, SBIC endeavors to become one of the world-leading pre-clinical bioimaging institutes in the region.
SBIC has established two industry facilities namely, SBIC-Nikon Imaging Centre (SBIC-NIC) and SBIC-Bruker Preclinical Imaging Centre (SBIC-Bruker PCI). SBIC-NIC aims to promote innovation and education in advanced light microscopy techniques. The SBIC-Bruker PCI is the first facility of its kind in Asia and second in the world to be opened by Bruker (the other is located in Massachusetts in the U.S.), is equipped with state-of-the-art micro-CT and optical imaging systems, will provide demonstration, training and applications support for Bruker’s preclinical portfolio and multi-modal imaging platforms.
CIRC
The Clinical Imaging Research Centre (CIRC), a joint venture between A*STAR and the National University of Singapore (NUS), was established to consolidate powerful clinical imaging research capabilities and resources into a comprehensive national platform to catalyse world-class translational clinical research and benefit patients. It is the first in Southeast Asia to use the MR/PET, a highly advanced medical imaging solution combining two powerful imaging techniques to better study disease pathways. With its cyclotron and radiochemistry facilities, CIRC is also the only clinical imaging centre in Singapore with a focus on research that will be able to produce and administer PET radiopharmaceuticals to human subjects. CIRC hopes to be able to perform first-in-man studies in the future and participate in early stage assessment of new molecules. CIRC hosts over 50 clinical research projects with investigators from industry, as well as 11 different institutions throughout Singapore. These projects focus on diseases that are pertinent for Singapore and Asia, so as to better address regional medical needs.
One such example is CIRC’s collaboration with the NUS tuberculosis (TB) research programme (SPRINT-TB) on several projects for the discovery and development of TB imaging biomarkers, so as to more efficiently identify, monitor and treat the disease. CIRC’s novel PET/MR scanner has enabled researchers to conduct more precise examination on TB lesions in the lungs and develop innovative treatment options. For example using CIRC’s PET/CT and novel MR/PET scanners, investigators are exploring how to intercept TB infection early before any conventional clinical signs manifest, minimising its spread and threat to public health.