Since Jan 2021, we have been living in a unique moment of history. Within a few months, normalcy broke and the world changed. The ripple effect of an unknown virus has upset our society and disrupted the global economy.
The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented and has led to the development of vaccines in record time. Through this experience, we recognised that we could have been better prepared for the situation. This was when the A*STAR ID Labs was born.
Through A*STAR ID Labs, we hope to address the gaps in our strategies for successful outbreak responses for the future. We will consolidate Infectious Disease expertise in Respiratory Infectious Disease, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mosquito-borne Diseases. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach across different strengths, we will draw essential knowledge on material sciences, social sciences, imaging computer sciences, robotics and diagnostics present in A*STAR through the Horizontal Technological Programme Office.
As a new research institute in A*STAR, ID Labs is tasked to tackle SARS-CoV-2 in the coming years. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is just the latest in a series of new infectious diseases and we are proud to be part of the national effort to combat Infectious Disease threats in the future for Singapore and the World.
Prof Laurent RÉNIA
A*STAR Senior Fellow