WELCOME FROM THE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

When the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) was established in 2000, the science of genomics was still in its infancy. Since then, genomics has proved its relevance to all aspects of biology and medicine. It is now possible to sequence entire populations and communities, resolve organs at the single-cell level, and develop treatments guided by genomic data. We are now able to edit genomes at will, synthesise chromosomes, and perform complex experiments in silico by harnessing the ever-growing reservoir of public-access data.

Importantly, while much has been done, much remains to be discovered as our knowledge of genomes, both human and non-human, remains incomplete. Through it all, GIS has maintained its leadership and relevance in genomic science by focusing on its three core strengths – asking the right biological questions, applying and developing cutting-edge technology platforms, and embracing multi-disciplinary team science. These core strengths have served us well, and will continue to do so in the future, as we work with our partners in the local and international ecosystem, including fellow Research Institutes, hospitals, universities, public agencies, and industry partners.

Our ultimate vision is for genomics to improve the lives of every Singaporean, in one way or another. I am excited to lead GIS in charting new frontiers in genomic science, and I invite you to join us on this exciting journey.

JJ_WELCOME 
LIU Jian Jun
Acting Executive Director,
Genome Institute of Singapore

VISION

We read, reveal and (ω)rite DNA for a better Singapore and world.

The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is a national initiative with a global vision that seeks to use genomic sciences to achieve extraordinary improvements in human health and public prosperity.

We are the trusted producer, custodian, and curator of Singapore’s genomic data.

We leverage core capabilities in high quality sequencing and large-scale genome informatics, applied through four nucleic acid domains, to achieve impact for A*STAR, Singapore and the world.

OUR APPROACH AND OUR SCIENCE

Our scientific focus is to investigate questions in the realm of functional genomics and integrative biology. We exploit the intersect between genomics, cell biology, and medicine and take advantage of the contrasting genetic history of Pan-Asian populations to uncover fundamental truths. Our biological focuses on cancer biology, stem cell genomics, cellular pharmacology, and host-pathogen interactions are integrated with technology development in order to create novel solutions to difficult problems.

Consistent with our remit as a national resource, we provide the genomic infrastructure for Singapore and train new talent in this emerging field.

As the nucleating force for collaborative genomic studies in Singapore, the GIS seeks to unite Singaporean scientists around collective projects of significance and extend this partnership internationally in both the academic and commercial sectors.

OUR CULTURE

Our focus on systems and integrative biology requires an organizational structure and social culture that encourages collective effort, and iterative experimentation between the wet laboratory and computational modeling.

For these reasons, we have spent a great deal of energy in crafting the cultural state of our institute which prizes flexibility, individual intensity, and collective impact. The Genome Institute of Singapore specifically recognizes technology-focused scientists to be as important as biology-centric investigators, but we expect that technology experts team with biologists to address fundamental biological questions.

Our scientific leadership structure reflects our diverse capabilities and our efforts to nurture early talent. We have Faculty Members that range in expertise from basic biology to translational and medical fields. Our Platform Leaders handle the latest in technology and comprise some of our early career researchers (Next Generation Sequencing, High-throughput Biology, Genome Engineering, Genotyping, Cytogenetics, Single Cell Genomics). We have a cohort of exceptional young scientists in our GIS Fellows programme who are driving their own research projects that integrate into the larger GIS picture. Together we believe the best ideas can be harnessed and pursued.