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National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine


Scientists reveal how blood cells release key signalling lipid

Researchers from NUS Medicine and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered how blood cells release S1P, a key signalling lipid, into the bloodstream. S1P plays a crucial role in keeping blood vessels healthy and supporting normal cell function. The study used cryo-electron microscopy and computer simulations to capture a d...

Bioinspired nanoparticles deliver gene editing to lower “bad” cholesterol

Researchers developed a bioinspired lipid nanoparticle that delivered gene-editing machinery to the liver, reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by over 20% and showing fewer signs of inflammation and toxicity. The nanoparticles also demonstrated positive effects on inflammation and healthy blood flow in cell experiments.

NUS Medicine professor becomes his own test subject in longevity study; biological age found to be 15 years younger

A new study by NUS Medicine tracked the professor's physiological changes over time, introducing a personalized regimen of fasting, exercise, and nutrition. The DELTA study found significant improvements and challenges traditional approaches to health monitoring, focusing on function rather than static markers.

Plant-forward and low-insulinemic diets may help reduce weight gain and obesity risk during menopause, long-term study finds

A large study of nearly 40,000 women found that plant-based diets with lower insulinemic potential can help women manage their weight and reduce the risk of obesity during menopause. Women who followed a diet rich in whole grains, nuts, legumes, and vegetables had a significantly lower risk of developing obesity.

The Lancet MedZero: a single platform for carbon data across every product in healthcare

The Lancet MedZero platform offers product-level carbon data for hospitals and health systems worldwide, enabling evidence-based decision-making and supporting climate action. With over 14,000 entries launched, the platform aims to help healthcare institutions reduce waste, improve patient care, and tackle climate change.

Dual-pathway blockade therapy offers hope for rare, hard-to-treat gynecological clear cell cancers

Researchers have found that combining pembrolizumab and lenvatinib shows promise in treating recurrent clear cell ovarian and endometrial cancers with poor responses to standard treatments. The LARA trial provides encouraging responses for patients with this rare and difficult-to-treat cancer subtype.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 22, 2026

The wearable ring on your finger could help assess your cardiovascular health while you sleep

Researchers developed a method to estimate vascular age from consumer wearables' PPG signals, predicting accurate results with a mean error of six to seven years. The technique uses a deep learning model and may lead to earlier detection of cardiovascular risk and more effective preventive care.

International researchers develop practical recommendations to strengthen cancer microbiome research

International researchers have developed a checklist of best practices for cancer microbiome research, emphasizing the importance of preventing contamination and validating findings. The guidelines aim to improve reproducibility and confidence in the field, supporting future discoveries about microbes and cancer.

Caffeine helps restore memory function after sleep loss, NUS Medicine study shows

A NUS Medicine study reveals that caffeine can restore social memory impaired by sleep deprivation. Caffeine targets a specific brain pathway to reverse disruptions in neural communication and plasticity. The study provides insights into the effects of caffeine on cognitive function and memory.

New MOH–NUS Fellowship launched to strengthen everyday ethics in Singapore’s healthcare sector

The MOH–NUS Postgraduate Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics aims to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge and understanding of biomedical ethics, ethical analysis and reasoning. The first awardee, Ms Kwek Shi Qi, will conduct a research project to map barriers and drivers for nurses mediating ethical conflicts in frontline work.

NUS Medicine-Monash study: Intranasal vaccine booster shows stronger immune response and protection against sarbecoviruses

The study found that the intranasal vaccine booster Clec9A OMNI induced significantly stronger neutralising antibody responses and robust T-cell responses in the lungs and nasal tissues, offering robust protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection. This breakthrough may address current shortcomings of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, includi...

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 1, 2026

NUS launches Singapore’s first concurrent nursing-informatics degree to build a digitally ready nursing workforce

The new Concurrent Degree Programme combines Bachelor of Science (Nursing) with Master of Science (Biomedical Informatics), equipping nurses with strong capabilities in clinical practice and informatics. Graduates will confidently use complex digital systems and apply insights in real-time to deliver high-quality patient care.

Better Data for Better Health: NUS Medicine and IHME launch new regional centre to tackle ageing, climate, and chronic disease risks across Southeast Asia

The NUS-IHME Global Burden of Disease Research Centre aims to bridge the gap between longevity and healthy ageing by examining the impact of extreme heat, antimicrobial resistance, and other environmental shifts. The centre will provide critical data and insights to inform health strategies across Southeast Asia.

NUS Medicine study reveals how antimicrobial resistance spreads from gut bacteria to potentially dangerous hospital superbugs

Researchers at NUS Medicine discovered that genetic vectors can efficiently spread antibiotic resistance within the gut, enabling even highly virulent bacteria to acquire drug resistance. This finding sheds light on the emergence of 'superbugs' in healthcare settings.

ŌURA and National University of Singapore open Joint Lab to advance research in personalized preventive health

The ŌURA–NUS Joint Lab combines wearable biometric data with sleep science expertise to study how sleep and physical activity shape long-term health outcomes. The lab aims to generate insights that help individuals, clinicians, and health systems shift from reactive care to proactive preventive health.

Not all memories are created equal: Study by NUS and Duke shows how motivation shapes our memory

Researchers propose a neuroscience framework explaining how motivation fundamentally reshapes memory. Two motivational moods - an interrogation-driven mood supported by dopamine and an imperative-driven mood supported by noradrenaline - are associated with different neural contexts, determining the type of memory formed.

NUS Medicine takes on global, publicly accessible platform to strengthen data and insights for women’s health

The Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health has partnered with NUS Medicine to host the Women’s Health Impact Tracking (WHIT) platform, which measures progress on closing the women’s health gap across a set of conditions and countries. The platform provides clear, comparative insights to support decision-making and inform policies.

NUS Medicine scientists identify potential therapy and diagnostic markers for cerebral malaria

Researchers found that methylene blue can reverse brain damage caused by cerebral malaria and identified a nine-gene blood signature to diagnose the disease. The study's findings offer new clues on immune processes involved in brain injury and suggest potential for early intervention and clearer treatment decisions.

Studies reveal Asian and Singaporean women with PCOS may experience longer reproductive lifespans and more favorable reproductive outcomes than peers without PCOS

Researchers found that Asian and Singaporean women with PCOS have better reproductive outcomes, including higher pregnancy rates and oocyte retrieval per cycle, compared to women without PCOS. Women with PCOS tend to maintain a higher ovarian reserve as they age, allowing for more robust responses to fertility treatment.

Researchers from NUS Medicine and the Institute of Mental Health detect early brain changes linked to future psychosis development

The study used advanced neuroimaging methods to identify early, network-level changes in over 3,000 individuals at varying levels of risk for psychosis. Individuals at high clinical risk exhibited early disruptions in brain network organisation despite mild clinical symptoms.

Short and irregular weekday sleep disrupts glucose regulation even after weekend sleep recovery, NUS Medicine study reveals

Researchers found that short and irregular weekday sleep significantly disrupts glucose metabolism, increasing type 2 diabetes risk. Even with extended weekend sleep, the body's ability to process glucose is impaired. Regular sleep patterns are crucial for glucose regulation and may impact the development of insulin resistance.

NUS Medicine establishes new mental health scholarship with S$3 million gift from Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation

A new scholarship has been established at NUS Medicine to support students in the Master of Clinical Mental Health and Psychotherapy programme, enabling them to train as mental health professionals. The S$3 million gift from the Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation will cover tuition fees and provide a monthly stipend for 18 months.

Repurposed antibiotic shows promise against Central Nervous System Tuberculosis in NUS Medicine study

Researchers have demonstrated that doxycycline can improve survival rates and neurological outcomes in children with Central Nervous System Tuberculosis. The study found that treating CNS-TB laboratory models with doxycycline alongside standard TB drugs suppressed inflammation, preserved brain tissue, and improved vascular integrity.

NUS Medicine and CHA University to harness artificial intelligence to tackle male infertility, uncovering new approaches to reverse fertility decline

Researchers from NUS Medicine and CHA University have developed AI-assisted diagnostic tools for male infertility, identifying hidden patterns in clinical data. A novel compound, MIT-001, has been shown to reverse age-related embryo decline by targeting ferroptosis, a form of cell death driven by iron and oxidative stress.

Social interactions help to form lasting memories, NUS Medicine study finds

Researchers at NUS Medicine found that social interactions trigger memory-enhancing signals to the CA1 region of the hippocampus through metaplasticity, strengthening 'memory proteins'. Regular social interactions are crucial for this process, as time-limited effects suggest.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2025

NUH and NUS launch new Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Centre to strengthen patient care and research

The new Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Centre at NUH and NUS Medicine enables faster, safer and more precise diagnoses, while researchers can observe real-time tracer movement throughout the body. This opens possibilities for validating next-generation diagnostics and therapies, advancing theranostics.

Safer, more effective vaccines with new mRNA vaccine technology

Researchers have developed a new mRNA vaccine technology using albumin-recruiting lipid nanoparticles to deliver vaccines precisely to lymph nodes, avoiding liver toxicity. The approach outperformed traditional delivery systems in laboratory tests, producing strong antitumor T-cell responses and high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

NUS Medicine researchers develop fat-like nanoparticles to treat fatty liver disease

Researchers developed a novel RNA-based therapy using lipid nanoparticles to silence a gene causing ceramide buildup in the liver, reducing inflammation and scarring. The treatment shows promise for millions of patients worldwide and could eventually benefit those with heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

NUS Medicine to receive S$2 million grant to boost infectious disease diagnostics across Asia

The NUS Medicine will receive a S$2 million grant from Novo Nordisk Foundation and Temasek Foundation to strengthen microbiology testing for severe bacterial infections across Asia. The DETECT-Asia programme aims to combat antimicrobial resistance, which is driving socio-economic inequity and claiming millions of lives globally.

NUS Nursing and Lions Befrienders launch Singapore’s first large-scale intergenerational community dance programme to help seniors age well

The Singapore government has launched a nationwide initiative to help seniors age well through dance, combining movement, rhythm, and storytelling. The program, co-developed by NUS Nursing and Lions Befrienders, benefits over 280 seniors with improved physical health, cognition, and emotional well-being.

New NUS-MOH study: Singapore’s healthcare sector carbon emissions 18% lower than expected, a milestone in the city-state’s net zero journey

A new study by NUS-MOH reveals Singapore's healthcare system is more sustainable than previously estimated, with world-class healthcare at 20% lower carbon intensity. The report provides crucial evidence on where healthcare emissions lie, enabling leaders to target reductions and safeguard patient care.