Biomedical Imaging Research Facility to Open in Singapore

A new Clinical Imaging Research Center (CIRC) will be constructed by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to undertake clinical research and advanced biomedical imaging in humans using an extensive suite of state-of-the-art imaging tools from, Siemens Medical Solutions (Erlangen, Germany).

The center will be one of the few clinical research sites in the world to use the magnetic resonance-positron emission tomography (MR-PET), an innovative advanced medical imaging technology being developed by Siemens. It will combine two powerful leading-edge imaging techniques of 3-Tesla MR imaging (3T) with PET. The center will begin with the 3T MRI system, and subsequently the PET system will be introduced. 3T MRI provides detailed anatomic images and measures of physiologic function while PET systems provide molecular details of cellular functions. By conducting both scans simultaneously with the MR-PET, clinical researchers should be able to define and locate diseases accurately while identifying underlying molecular causes. The ability to study disease pathways can be used for the development of new drugs and therapies.

The CIRC will be a focus for development and validation of new imaging methods as well as enable the study of novel interventions in humans. The center will be geared to research and will focus on key disease areas of particular relevance to Singapore and the health of its population, such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and other diseases.

As part of the partnership, Siemens will set up a research foundation grant of US$2.5 million over five years to support collaborative research in translational medicine at the CIRC. The Management Committee is in the process of recruiting a director to be jointly appointed by A*STAR and NUS to head CIRC. The Center will also establish four medical teams each led by a principal investigator with a group of post-doctoral fellows and a highly specialized technical team.

CIRC will initially be based in the NUS Center for Life Sciences Building located adjacent to A*STAR's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences and the National University Hospital. CIRC will eventually be housed in a new building at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. This strategic location will enable CIRC to capitalize on the rich clinical research milieu and to foster greater collaborative efforts with the universities, research institutes, hospitals, and specialty centers. The Center will also work closely with the industry partners such as Siemens and others.

The CIRC aims to undertake world-class research using the most advanced imaging tools and technologies, provide a shared resource for research imaging across Singapore, and be a focal point for the development, testing, and validation of new imaging methods, biomarkers, and imaging agents for human studies. The multimodality and multidisciplinary research center will have a focus on specific areas of biomedical research, including clinical trials, novel medical devices, and validation studies. It is designed and organized to support translational and clinical research by bringing together basic scientists and clinicians who are keen to study the impact of new therapies and devices in human patients. It also has plans to be a major training center for Masters and Ph.D. students in clinical imaging.


Related Links:
Agency for Science, Technology, and Research
Siemens Medical Solutions