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Professorship Programme
About Professorship Programme
Tanoto Foundation partners with SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre to establish Professorships and Research Initiatives in the areas of Diabetes, Medical Oncology and Cardiovascular Medicine.
Current Awardees
Professorship in Medical Oncology: Professor Lim Soon Thye
Professor Lim Soon Thye’s research focuses on T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas because they are more common in Asia compared to the West and are more fatal than B-cell lymphomas, yet they are less well studied and treatment options are currently limited.
His discovery of genetic mutations associated with T and NK-cell lymphomas has opened up a potential new treatment that targets genetic mutations and reactivates the body’s natural defenses to fight lymphoma cells. He will also continue with epidemiological studies where several of his diagnostic and algorithmic platforms, when validated, can be incorporated into routine clinical workflows in hospital systems.
Professorship in Diabetes Research: Professor Wang Yibin
Professor Wang Yibin’s research on genetic and molecular mechanisms of complex diseases has led to the discovery of key regulators in branched-chain amino acid metabolism, offering novel therapeutic strategies for diabetes, heart failure, and metabolic disorders. His findings have contributed to new clinical trials and drug development efforts targeting these conditions.
Professor Wang Yibin specialises in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with a focus on the genetic basis of heart failure, obesity, and fatty liver disease. His lab has uncovered stress-induced molecular networks that drive the progression of fatty liver, a major diabetes risk factor in Asian populations.
Professorship in Cardiovascular Medicine: Professor Derek John Hausenloy
A leading clinician scientist in cardiovascular medicine, Professor Derek John Hausenloy has done extensive work in cardioprotection, translational research, and cardiovascular care. His research focuses on translating scientific discoveries into clinical care, including developing strategies to strengthen the heart’s resilience during heart surgery and procedures.
Professor Hausenloy has played a key role in advancing cardiovascular research across National Heart Centre Singapore and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Centre. He leads CADENCE, a national programme that integrates cardiovascular research, technology, data science, digital health and artificial intelligence to improve heart disease prevention and patient outcomes. He has also supported pioneering collaborations, including the first-in-Asia “Heart-in-a-jar” initiative to test drugs tailored for patients with heart failure.
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Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund
About Medical Research Fund
Tanoto Foundation supports medical research with the aim of improving population health in Singapore and beyond. We believe that the goal of improving quality of healthcare and health standards can be achieved through partnerships with leading healthcare and research institutions in Singapore.
Through the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund (MRF), the foundation aims to support research excellence and collaborative efforts to generate new knowledge and innovations that will help address prevalent diseases in Singapore and the wider region, such as diabetes, cardiology, oncology, infectious diseases and maternal and child health. In position as the first private philanthropic foundation to launch such a fund, Tanoto Foundation seeks to foster a culture of sustainable giving that amplifies the long-term impact of philanthropic-funded research.
The MRF’s main objectives are to support effective research (new discoveries), catalyze additional funding and cultivate local research talent in Singapore. Ultimately, the research outcomes should be made accessible and beneficial for the public good.Research Scope
Proposed studies may cover basic, translational or clinical research and should aim for outcomes that have the potential to advance the prevention, management, diagnosis or treatment of the following focus areas prevalent in Asia:
Diabetes,
Oncology,
Maternal and Child Health,
Cardiology, and
Infectious Diseases.
Award Recipients
2023 Award Recipient
“Understanding and managing cardiovascular risks is crucial for diabetes patients’ long-term health. Our research team of clinicians, engineers and immunologists, funded by the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund, aims to explore Colchicine’s potential as a low-cost solution to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes patients by addressing gaps in managing low-grade inflammation.”
Associate Professor Rinkoo Dalan
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
2023 Award Recipient
“Allergies impact up to 30% of the global population, with increasing prevalence in Southeast Asia. Research emphasizes the lasting impact of allergies on childhood wellbeing, yet strategies to prevent allergic responses remain elusive. With support from the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund, we will investigate how allergies are transmitted from mothers to infants during pregnancy. Our goal is to understand why infants develop allergies to the same allergens as their mothers and find ways to prevent transmission, ultimately diminishing infant allergy cases.”
Associate Professor Ashley St John
Duke-NUS Medical School
2023 Award Recipient
“Our society is evolving with declining fertility rates posing challenges for women considering later pregnancies due to ovarian aging. At present its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. Addressing these modern medical challenges and developing solutions is crucial. With support from the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund, we aim to investigate the causes of ovarian aging and explore ways to promote ovarian health and extend female fertility.”
Professor Brian Kennedy
National University of Singapore
2024 Application Cycle
FUNDING
The MRF will grant up to S$5 million each cycle.
First Stage: Letter of Intent (LOI) evaluation
LOIs will be evaluated based on the significance and relevance of the research to MRF’s main objectives which are to support effective research (new discoveries), catalyse additional funding and cultivate local research talent in Singapore. Ultimately, the research outcomes should be made accessible and beneficial for the public good.
Second Stage: Full Proposal evaluation
Full proposals will be evaluated based on four general criteria:- Potential for impact – potential for translation and innovation to advance clinical practices and technical capabilities to improve health outcomes in Singapore.
- Robustness of approach – relevance and robustness of strategy, methodology and analyses to accomplish project aims and impact outcomes.
- Profile and track record of study team – the excellence and accomplishments of the study team and potential/plan for talent development, PI and Co-PI involvements and contributions to the study.
- Strength of collaboration – the collaborative effort of multi-disciplinary teams, ideally involving cross collaboration across Singapore healthcare clusters.
TIMELINE- Call for LOI: 09 September 2024
- LOI deadline: 18 October 2024
- Invite for Full Proposals: December 2024
- Full Proposal deadline: January 2025
- Announcement of results: April to May 2025