Public cord blood bank short of donors despite rising awareness
Singapore's public cord blood bank is grappling with a shortage of donors despite awareness levels growing in recent years. It's a problem that's become even more pressing as the use of cord blood has risen not just in hospitals, but also in cutting-edge medical research.
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Independent Singapore
an hour ago
- Independent Singapore
I had a stroke; my entire left side paralysed, but my mum told me, 'Son, you can do anything' — SG man recalls the words that drove him to become a self-made millionaire
SINGAPORE: At 18, Reshveen Rajendran was set to become a military officer — until his body gave up on him. Just two weeks into national service (NS), a brain aneurysm floored him. The entire left side of his body was paralysed. His dream? Dashed. His future? Uncertain. But what pulled him through wasn't therapy, fame, or fortune — it was just a simple line from his mother: 'Son, you can do anything.' Today, that same young man — now a multimillionaire entrepreneur and investor — runs a successful education company and a fund, raking in over S$10 million a year. And it all started with nothing but some savings, an interest in investing, and a painful personal reboot. Rock bottom came before takeoff While most NS recruits were learning how to field strip rifles and march in sync, Reshveen was lying in a hospital bed, unable to move his fingers. 'I had a stroke… an aneurysm in the right side of my brain,' he told the Asian Boss team during their street interview in Singapore. 'I basically lost sensation on the whole left side of my body,' he explained. Six months of medical leave followed. Physical rehab became his daily drill. And his military officer's dreams? Over. 'All my dreams got dashed. I couldn't become an officer ever again. I couldn't go back to the gym. Everything that I wanted to do was gone,' he recalled. But then came mum, delivering what can only be described as the emotional defibrillator that shocked his mindset back to life. 'She said, 'Son, you can do anything.' So I decided to pick up books and learn how to make money. I decided to use my brains instead,' he said. See also Catalysing Growth: SME Interview Series with Validus Capital It was then that his breakdown turned into a breakthrough. From free talks to S$10M revenue Fresh out of national service and with his military officer career buried, Reshveen fell in love with investing. He started small — not just with money, but with impact. 'I attended a programme on investing. I got very passionate about it. I saw very decent results. So I just wanted to share the information with my friends.' And he didn't charge a cent. 'It was literally for free, and people loved it. They started inviting their friends, and before you know it, it became a full-fledged business,' he added. Fast-forward a few years, and what started as casual lessons snowballed into a full-on education empire. Today, his company and fund together generated over $10 million in revenue just last year. That's really a great feat for someone who once had to relearn how to even wiggle his fingers after suffering a paralysing stroke. On saving, spending, and not getting scammed by 'glorious' investing 'Saving is the number one thing you've got to do, even before you start investing,' Reshveen stressed. In a world where 'investing' is the new flex, he's quick to point out the dark side. 'People lose a ton of money if they don't know how to invest.' So his golden rule? 'Make sure your savings can cover at least six months of emergency expenses. Whatever that amount is for you, get that settled first. Anything on top of that, I invest.' 'Doing what you love' vs. 'doing what's boring but rich' Reshveen's story might sound like a dream scenario: make money doing what you love. But he doesn't pretend it's the only way. 'I'm doing what I love and I've made millions from what I love… but I also know many friends who do boring stuff and make millions too,' he said. The lesson? You don't have to love your job to get rich. You just have to be good at it — or better yet, be consistent with it. What if he lost all his millions tomorrow? When asked a question about something that haunts most millionaires — 'What would you do if you lost everything?' — Reshveen didn't flinch, and he even seemed excited by the idea. 'Today, in 2025, we're living in the age of exponential artificial intelligence (AI). The first thing I'd do is learn AI — what I can do with it — and use that to sell information to businesses.' He calls it 'information arbitrage,' and it's where he believes the real money lies today. 'There are a ton of businesses around that have no clue how to create a website, which you can get done in 5 minutes today.' He adds with a grin, 'I would probably make millions of dollars. I'm not joking. It's so crazy.' Millionaire mindset: Discipline over drama Despite the money, Reshveen doesn't preach hustle culture or flex the usual luxury lifestyle. So what's his formula? Save first — at least 20% of your income. Build a 6-month emergency fund. Invest what's left — wisely. Never stop learning. Especially now, with AI reshaping the game. And most importantly: Your tragedy doesn't define you. Your pivot does. Reshveen's story is more than a rags-to-riches tale. It's a master class in resilience, reinvention, and real-world strategy — from someone who learned to walk again before he learned to invest. He didn't just rebuild his life. He reprogrammed it. Watch Reshveen's full story in the Asian Boss street interview below, along with other Singaporean self-made millionaires who built their fortunes from scratch — a master class in turning rejection into redirection and setbacks into success. In another candid street interview with Asian Boss , another young Singaporean millionaire peeled back the hood on what it takes to build a million-dollar business — and spoiler alert: it wasn't a trust fund or market timing wizardry. He revealed a more grounded answer: solving the problems of others and the fact that 'You don't need to be a stock market expert to get rich' — Young Singaporean millionaire reveals how solving problems of others with AI led to his first million
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Feeling tired all the time? It may signal underlying problems like cancer, diabetes or mental health issues
You know how it's like when you've had a late night. The following day, your battery just can't seem to last past lunchtime. By 2pm, you're ready to tap out. But those tired days can usually be remedied with a nap or a few nights' good sleep. The situation is different when you consistently wake up to your body and mind saying 'no, thank you' and 'can we stay in bed?'. 'In medical terms, fatigue is usually a more prolonged and persistent state of physical, mental, or emotional exhaustion,' said Dr Sky Koh, an associate consultant and family physician with National University Polyclinics. 'Fatigue also affects your ability to perform daily activities and may not be relieved by rest or sleep.' And Singaporeans are fatigued. 'I see cases of fatigue quite frequently, about two or three out of 100 patients,' said Dr Koh. But before you chalk up your low-energy situation to age, a lack of sleep and/or work stress, there may be medical issues involved that affect you physically and mentally. Here's a look at some of them. ISN'T EVERYONE FEELING FATIGUED? WHY SHOULD I BE WORRIED? 'Feeling tired all the time is not normal!' emphasised Dr Koh. 'It is essential to educate people about the importance of feeling refreshed and energised after adequate sleep.' And there are some very good reasons to put down your devices and get some shuteye. 'Quality sleep is essential for your body to heal and repair its muscles, organs and other cells, said Elizabeth Eu, a psychologist with Geylang Polyclinic. 'Sleep is also important for lowering your risk of cardiovascular complications and difficulties in weight management.' Your mental health is dependent on sleep as well. 'Sleep disorders may increase the risk of mood disorders (such as anxiety and depression), lead to a decline in cognitive functioning, and could affect your ability to regulate emotions effectively,' said Eu. WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS OF FATIGUE? They include long-term tiredness, excessive sleepiness despite rest, recurring headaches, dizziness, muscle aches and weakness, a general lack of motivation or interest in activities, and affected emotional wellbeing, explained Dr Koh. 'However, patients often don't walk in saying, 'I'm feeling fatigued'. Instead, they typically present with symptoms like persistent tiredness, lack of energy or excessive sleepiness that interfere with their daily life, relationships with friends, colleagues and family, and overall well-being.' WHAT OTHER HEALTH ISSUES CAN CAUSE FATIGUE? Fatigue may be one of the signs of the following illnesses, to name a few. But it doesn't mean that you definitely have cancer, diabetes or lupus if you're constantly feeling drained. Here's a look at how these diseases can sap your energy level: 1. CANCER Your healthy cells have to compete against the tumour cells for nutrients. On top of that, your body is wasting energy to produce chronic inflammation caused by the cancer, said Dr Koh. In fact, cancer fatigue (yes, there is a term for it) affects 80 per cent to 100 per cent of people with cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic. 'With cancer fatigue, you may feel exhausted for no clear reason. People who experience cancer fatigue describe it as paralyzing tiredness that doesn't go away no matter how much rest or sleep they get,' noted the website. Some cancers may be more energy draining than others. For instance, breast and prostate cancers can alter the hormone levels in your body, which can lead to a number of side effects, including fatigue, according to Cancer Research UK. Certain blood cancers as well as pancreatic and colorectal cancers can produce cytokines – a group of proteins that play an important function in boosting the immune system. And these cytokines can cause fatigue, noted the same website. Other cancers, noted Cancer Research UK, may secrete substances that make your body stop utilising nutrients such as calcium and potassium to keep your heart and muscles working. As a result, you start to feel sleepy and fatigued. 2. DIABETES When you eat, food is digested into blood sugar or glucose. Then, your pancreas secretes insulin to enable your body to use this blood sugar for energy. In diabetics, their bodies can't produce enough insulin to utilise the blood sugar. Without this energy source, the cells in their bodies weaken or get fatigued. 'Low blood sugar can also cause fatigue, especially in people who have frequent episodes and do not get enough warning that their blood sugar levels are dropping,' reported Medical News Today. 'A person can still feel fatigued even after treatment for low blood sugar.' And that's just the glucose part. The website also reported that excessive thirst and frequent urination, though not directly linked to fatigue, can result in patients losing sleep at night. 'Biological factors such as inflammation, organ damage and hormonal imbalances can also cause fatigue,' said Dr Koh. 3. AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE There may be more than 100 different autoimmune diseases (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are some) but they all do one thing: Causing the immune system to attack the body instead of invaders such as bacteria, viruses or toxins. As you can imagine, the body's persistent full-on attack on itself as well as the need to fend off its own attack require vast amounts of energy – which probably explains why patients often feel exhausted. Furthermore, autoimmune diseases may also directly or indirectly affect the central nervous system. When this happens, it can disrupt neurotransmitter signalling and brain function, and contribute to fatigue. 4. SLEEP DISORDER A sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), is probably the top reason that pops into your mind – and you aren't wrong to think that. In fact, there are 10 distinct types of sleep disorders, according to Eu. 'They range from difficulties in falling or maintaining sleep, to excessive daytime sleepiness, disrupted circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle) and various physiological conditions such as OSA that affect sleep quality,' she said. 'Sleep disorders may disrupt your body's natural sleep-wake cycle, interfering with the deep sleep needed for physical and mental recovery,' said Eu. 'Individuals affected by these conditions often experience persistent tiredness and struggle to maintain their energy levels throughout the day.' 5. MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES You know that stress, anxiety and depression can disrupt your sleep and drain your energy levels. Your mind is never 'off' from the minute you wake up. You're constantly fighting the thoughts that bombard your mind and cause anxiety to spike. There's no reprieve at night either; you have difficulty switching off. It's no wonder you're exhausted. And sometimes, stress, anxiety and depression can be a sign of emotional exhaustion, according to Mayo Clinic, caused by the continuous stress from challenging events in your life. When your body detects stress, it interprets it as a threat to survival and releases stress hormones. But what the hormones do is further contribute to your experience of emotional exhaustion, noted the website. WHEN SHOULD YOU GO SEE A DOCTOR FOR YOUR FATIGUE? According to Dr Koh, the timeframe varies from person to person 'as individuals know their bodies best'. 'It's crucial to encourage self-reflection and identify the underlying causes of fatigue, which may include sleep disorders, nutrition issues or mental health conditions,' he said. 'Generally, if you've identified the potential cause of fatigue, made the necessary lifestyle changes (such as improving nutrition, sleep and stress management) and still experience persistent fatigue after two to four weeks, it's worth consulting a healthcare professional,' said Dr Koh. 'However, if fatigue significantly impacts daily activities, functioning or relationships, or if you have a pre-existing medical condition, it's best to seek help sooner,' advised Dr Koh. The same applies if you experience sudden onset fatigue, severe symptoms, or suspect an underlying condition, he added.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Singapore-made gel allows lab testing of drugs on live samples from advanced abdominal cancer
Hydrogel pieces in a petri dish in front of a vibrating microtome, a machine that shaves fragments from a tumour. The fragments, when cultivated on the hydrogel, can stay alive for up to 12 days outside the body. PHOTO: NUS-CDE Singapore-made gel allows lab testing of drugs on live samples from advanced abdominal cancer SINGAPORE – A hydrogel developed in Singapore to keep tumour samples alive outside the body for drug testing is now being used in research to find individualised treatment for advanced cancer in the abdominal lining. This offers hope to some patients who face an average survival rate of just several months. The jelly-like hydrogel is made from hyaluronic acid, a water-retentive substance found naturally in human tissues and fluids in the skin, joints and eyes. Scientists in Singapore have found that it can keep samples of advanced cancer in the abdominal lining alive for up to 12 days, enabling them to conduct drug tests and monitor how the cancer cells react to treatment. Without the hydrogel, cancer samples typically disintegrate within a few hours to a couple of days outside the body. The research was conducted using samples of secondary cancer in the abdominal lining, known as secondary peritoneal metastasis. Secondary cancers are those that have spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Primary cancers refer to the original tumours. In a 2023 study, the team had bioengineered the hydrogel to keep primary tumour samples from the head and the neck alive for 10 days to test drugs and treatments on them. The study was co-led by Dr Eliza Fong (right) from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore, and Dr Johnny Ong (centre) from the Department of Sarcoma, Peritoneal and Rare Tumours at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Looking into the microscope is Mr Kenny Wu, a PhD student. PHOTO: NCCS Secondary peritoneal metastasis is typically associated with advanced-stage disease. It occurs when cancer cells spread from primary sites such as the ovaries, stomach, colon, pancreas, appendix, gallbladder, breasts, uterus or lungs to the peritoneum, the protective membrane lining the abdominal cavity. The condition often poses a critical challenge in patient management in Singapore, as therapeutic options are highly limited and treatment outcome varies across patients. 'Developing clinically effective treatments remains a significantly unmet problem,' said Assistant Professor Eliza Fong from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore. For instance, patients whose gastric cancer has spread to the peritoneum often face a grim prognosis and rapid disease progression. The median survival rates range from just three to six months, and five-year survival rates are usually below 5 per cent. 'With this ground-breaking discovery, cancer that has spread to the peritoneum... may no longer be a death sentence. The findings offered hope of survival for cancer patients,' said Associate Professor Johnny Ong, a senior consultant from the Department of Sarcoma, Peritoneal and Rare Tumours at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. Cancers are made up of highly complex tissues, comprising not only the rapidly proliferating malignant cells, but also various supporting cells such as immune cells. This means that two patients with the same type of cancer may respond differently to the same drug. A piece of hydrogel held in front of a vibrating microtome, a machine that shaves precise fragments off a resected tumour that can then be cultivated on the hydrogel. Copyright: NUS-CDE Prof Fong told The Straits Times that her team found that both the cancerous and supporting cells were preserved, allowing for the testing of chemotherapeutic drugs , targeted therapies and immunotherapies. She said the hydrogel 'is highly valuable for drug development and personalised treatments as the hydrogel-cultured tumours closely represent those in patients'. 'Mechanistically, the breakthrough in this study is that we were able to show that the hydrogel effectively preserved the viability of the tumour fragments by disrupting myosin II-mediated tissue contraction,' she said, referring to how the myosin II protein can cause tissues to contract and change shape. Prof Ong noted that the study also showed how hydrogel-supported samples of peritoneal metastasis responded differently to various chemotherapeutics across patients. He added that researchers are now leveraging the models to study how fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity affects the tumour microenvironment, or the conditions that support cancer growth. Their findings were published in Advanced Materials, a leading journal for materials science, on May 20. The results of the 2023 study were published in peer-reviewed journal Biomaterials on Jan 20, 2024. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
