History
1985
Singapore’s first life sciences institute, IMCB, was founded.
Its founding director was Chris Tan.
![201814030957about-1985 201814030957about-1985](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030957about-1985.jpg?sfvrsn=5c2fec_2)
1987
IMCB moved into its own building at NUS
![201814030937imcboldbuilding 201814030937imcboldbuilding](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030937imcboldbuilding.jpg?sfvrsn=6afebf05_2)
1988
The National Biotechnology Programme was established by the Singapore
Economic Development Board (EDB) to spearhead the development of biotechnology.
![201814030413about-imcblogo 201814030413about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030413about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=696a282d_2)
1989
IMCB entered into a 15-year partnership with Glaxo, for research on degenerative brain diseases.
The team, led by Louis Lim, included Thomas Leung and Edward Manser.
![201814031001about-1989 201814031001about-1989](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814031001about-1989.jpg?sfvrsn=ac72e2bb_4)
1991
The National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) was established.
![201814030418about-imcblogo 201814030418about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030418about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=49baf127_0)
1992
A research team at IMCB, led by Chris Tan, completed and published the first sequence of dengue virus type 1.
![201814030419about-imcblogo 201814030419about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030419about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=f3f4ded_0)
1993
IMCB undertook a $60-million joint venture with Glaxo and EDB to discover bioactive compounds via the Center for Natural Products Research (CNPR).
(Photo: Opening ceremony of the Centre for Natural Product Research by Mr Goh Chee Wee ( left) and Sir Richard Sykes (right)
![20181403094460millionopening 20181403094460millionopening](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/20181403094460millionopening.jpg?sfvrsn=e1105748_0)
1995
The Institute of Molecular Agrobiology (IMA) was founded.
Thirteen of the biomedical research groups at IMA were later merged with IMCB in 2002.
GeneSing, IMCB’s first spin-off company, was incorporated.
The company develops human healthcare products for the Asian market.
![201814031003about-1995 201814031003about-1995](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814031003about-1995.jpg?sfvrsn=76c22c85_0)
1999
IMCB held the first Gordon Research Conference in Singapore.
![201814030419about-imcblogo 201814030419about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030419about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=f3f4ded_0)
2000
IMCB was conferred the 5th Nikkei Asia Prize in the category of Technology Innovation for its contributions as the first major centre of biological research in Asia.
![201814030420about-imcblogo 201814030420about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030420about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=e38196a_0)
2001
IMCB founding director Chris Tan stepped down, and Wanjin Hong took over as Acting Director.
![201814030947about-hwj2 201814030947about-hwj2](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030947about-hwj2.jpg?sfvrsn=811f1f9c_4)
2002
CNPR was spun off as MerLion Pharmaceuticals. The NSTB was renamed the A*STAR.
An international consortium, led by IMCB and the Joint Genome Institute of the US Department of Energy, published the draft sequence of the fugu genome in Science.
![201814030420about-imcblogo 201814030420about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030420about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=e38196a_0)
2003
IMCB co-developed two rapid and accurate diagnostic kits during
the SARS outbreak, which was recognised by a National Day Award
later that year.
![201814030329about-2003 201814030329about-2003](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030329about-2003.jpg?sfvrsn=5188572a_0)
2004
IMCB moved to Biopolis. David Lane took over as
Executive Director of IMCB.
![201814030332about-proteos 201814030332about-proteos](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030332about-proteos.jpg?sfvrsn=3065d9c8_2)
2005
A PCR-based malaria diagnostic kit, jointly developed at
IMCB and NUS, was launched by Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd.
![201814030421about-imcblogo 201814030421about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030421about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=cd0ac9c0_0)
2006
The National Research Foundation (NRF) was established.
IMCB licensed DNA methylation detection technology to Hitachi Asia
Ltd. for use in clinical cancer diagnostics.
![201814030421about-imcblogo 201814030421about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030421about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=cd0ac9c0_0)
2007
Neal Copeland took over the helm of IMCB as Executive Director.
![201814031006about-neal 201814031006about-neal](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814031006about-neal.jpg?sfvrsn=f2b0c97d_2)
2009
IMCB and Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) researchers developed an
assay to detect H1N1 swine fl u strains during the 2009 pandemic.
IMCB hosted the Euro Gold Symposium.
![201814030302about-europegold 201814030302about-europegold](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030302about-europegold.jpg?sfvrsn=fd06d9c6_0)
2010
Stephen Cohen became the Acting Director of IMCB.
![201814030310about-sc 201814030310about-sc](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030310about-sc.jpg?sfvrsn=89406a2c_0)
2011
Wanjin Hong appointed Executive Director of IMCB.The IMCB Junior
Investigator (IJI) Programme was launched to nurture returning
A*STAR scholars as well as exceptional young scientists.
![201814030310about-hwj 201814030310about-hwj](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030310about-hwj.jpg?sfvrsn=2b7e136d_4)
2014
IMCB developed 14 close industry links including partnerships with Procter and Gamble on skin biology and Johnson and Johnson on humanised mouse models.
![201814030421about-imcblogo 201814030421about-imcblogo](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201814030421about-imcblogo.jpg?sfvrsn=cd0ac9c0_0)
2015
IMCB launched a collaboration with Abcam to develop a range
of rabbit monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic use.
MerLion Pharmaceutical’s lead antibacterial candidate,
finafl oxacin, was approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for clinical use.
IMCB celebrated its 30th anniversary.
![201813030213about-imcb30yrs 201813030213about-imcb30yrs](/images/librariesprovider19/default-album/201813030213about-imcb30yrs.jpg?sfvrsn=92c2f78d_0)
A*STAR celebrates International Women's Day
![ASTAR_WomenInScience A*STAR Women In Science](/images/librariesprovider1/default-album/popups/astar_womeninscience.jpg?sfvrsn=7fcf981a_6)
From groundbreaking discoveries to cutting-edge research, our researchers are empowering the next generation of female science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) leaders.
Get inspired by our #WomeninSTEM