Latest news with #NationalCancerCentreSingapore
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Tanoto Foundation Backs Landmark Research to Unlock the Code of Asian Prevalent Diseases
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Tanoto Foundation today announced the funding of two transformative, Singapore-based medical research projects focused on diseases that disproportionately affect Asian populations: prevalent and aggressive cancers, and young-onset Type 2 diabetes. The multi-year initiatives aim to generate data-driven insights that can accelerate diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and guide public health policy. Despite global strides in medicine, Asia continues to face rising rates of cancer and diabetes – diseases that are biologically and clinically distinct in Asian populations but remain under-researched due to a lack of region-specific data. The two research projects, from National Cancer Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital, will focus on filling these gaps through deep genomic studies and innovative risk-prediction models. Imelda Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation said: 'Singapore is well-positioned to lead in medical science. It has strong research institutions and a population that reflects the diversity of Asia. By supporting researchers here who are focused on health issues that affect Asians, we hope to help drive discoveries that make a real difference to people's lives — both in Singapore and across the region.' Tackling Asian-Prevalent Cancers Led by Dr Jason Chan, Medical Oncologist, National Cancer Centre Singapore, the research will investigate four types of cancers with high prevalence and poor outcomes in Asia: • Breast Cancer in Asian Women, marked by earlier onset and biological differences compared to Western populations • T/NK-Cell Lymphomas, an aggressive blood cancer dominant in East Asians with limited treatment options • Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma), increasingly linked to environmental exposures specific to Asia • Rare Asian Cancers, collectively neglected but accounting for up to 25% of all cases in the region These cancers are devastating but remain poorly understood because most research has focused on Western populations,' said Dr Chan. 'By decoding their molecular and genomic landscapes in Asian patients, we want to uncover new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities to benefit patients.' A key feature of the project is its open-access commitment: anonymised data will be freely available to the broader research community to accelerate further discovery and collaboration. Unmasking Diabetes Risk in Young Singaporeans The second research project, led by Dr Daphne Gardner, Endocrinologist, Singapore General Hospital, will address the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes in young adults, particularly prevalent in Singapore, where 1 in 5 young adults have prediabetes or diabetes, despite being of normal weight. Unlike traditional assessments that rely heavily on BMI and family history, this project will develop a next-generation risk prediction tool by incorporating non-traditional indicators such as body fat distribution, continuous glucose monitoring, and health-seeking behaviour. 'Many young Asians with diabetes don't fit the usual risk profile. They're lean, may not have hypertension, and are therefore often overlooked by current screening models,' said Dr Gardner. 'We want to change that by identifying new risk signals and developing tools that are tailored to Singapore's population and the region.' Findings from the study aim to inform national diabetes screening guidelines and lead to earlier interventions that can curb long-term complications. Singapore as a Hub for Medical Research Advancement In addition to previously supported research projects, these two initiatives reflect a growing recognition of Singapore's role in advancing precision medicine for Asian populations, driven by strong clinical infrastructure, genomic capabilities, and public-private partnerships. Imelda Tanoto added: 'We believe precision health can change how we treat and prevent diseases. We're supporting researchers who are not only breaking new ground, but also making sure their work reaches people and communities across Asia. This is something deeply personal to us — it's about improving lives in a way that's inclusive, meaningful, and lasting.' This announcement marks a key milestone in Tanoto Foundation's continuing effort to improve the quality of healthcare and health standards, leading to longer and better healthspans. Hashtag: #TanotoFoundation The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Arabian Post
10 hours ago
- Health
- Arabian Post
Tanoto Foundation Backs Landmark Research to Unlock the Code of Asian Prevalent Diseases
Understanding Asian Cancers and Diabetes Through an Asian Lens SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 June 2025 – Tanoto Foundation today announced the funding of two transformative, Singapore-based medical research projects focused on diseases that disproportionately affect Asian populations: prevalent and aggressive cancers, and young-onset Type 2 diabetes. The multi-year initiatives aim to generate data-driven insights that can accelerate diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and guide public health policy. NCCS and SGH secure research funding from Tanoto Foundation for projects tackling Asian-prevalent cancers and young-onset diabetes to drive breakthroughs in regional health Despite global strides in medicine, Asia continues to face rising rates of cancer and diabetes – diseases that are biologically and clinically distinct in Asian populations but remain under-researched due to a lack of region-specific data. The two research projects, from National Cancer Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital, will focus on filling these gaps through deep genomic studies and innovative risk-prediction models. ADVERTISEMENT Imelda Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation said: 'Singapore is well-positioned to lead in medical science. It has strong research institutions and a population that reflects the diversity of Asia. By supporting researchers here who are focused on health issues that affect Asians, we hope to help drive discoveries that make a real difference to people's lives — both in Singapore and across the region.' Tackling Asian-Prevalent Cancers Led by Dr Jason Chan, Medical Oncologist, National Cancer Centre Singapore, the research will investigate four types of cancers with high prevalence and poor outcomes in Asia: Breast Cancer in Asian Women, marked by earlier onset and biological differences compared to Western populations T/NK-Cell Lymphomas, an aggressive blood cancer dominant in East Asians with limited treatment options Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma), increasingly linked to environmental exposures specific to Asia Rare Asian Cancers, collectively neglected but accounting for up to 25% of all cases in the region These cancers are devastating but remain poorly understood because most research has focused on Western populations,' said Dr Chan. 'By decoding their molecular and genomic landscapes in Asian patients, we want to uncover new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities to benefit patients.' A key feature of the project is its open-access commitment: anonymised data will be freely available to the broader research community to accelerate further discovery and collaboration. Unmasking Diabetes Risk in Young Singaporeans The second research project, led by Dr Daphne Gardner, Endocrinologist, Singapore General Hospital, will address the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes in young adults, particularly prevalent in Singapore, where 1 in 5 young adults have prediabetes or diabetes, despite being of normal weight. ADVERTISEMENT Unlike traditional assessments that rely heavily on BMI and family history, this project will develop a next-generation risk prediction tool by incorporating non-traditional indicators such as body fat distribution, continuous glucose monitoring, and health-seeking behaviour. 'Many young Asians with diabetes don't fit the usual risk profile. They're lean, active, and often overlooked by current screening models,' said Dr Gardner. 'We want to change that by identifying new risk signals and developing tools that are tailored to Singapore's population and beyond.' Findings from the study aim to inform national diabetes screening guidelines and lead to earlier interventions that can curb long-term complications. Singapore as a Hub for Medical Research Advancement In addition to previously supported research projects, these two initiatives reflect a growing recognition of Singapore's role in advancing precision medicine for Asian populations, driven by strong clinical infrastructure, genomic capabilities, and public-private partnerships. Imelda Tanoto added: 'We believe precision health can change how we treat and prevent diseases. We're supporting researchers who are not only breaking new ground, but also making sure their work reaches people and communities across Asia. This is something deeply personal to us — it's about improving lives in a way that's inclusive, meaningful, and lasting.' This announcement marks a key milestone in Tanoto Foundation's continuing effort to improve the quality of healthcare and health standards, leading to longer and better healthspans. Hashtag: #TanotoFoundation The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Tanoto Foundation At Tanoto Foundation, we unlock human potential, help communities thrive, and create lasting impact. Founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, we are an independent family foundation that believes in providing every person with the opportunity to realize his or her full potential. To do so, we catalyse systems change in education and healthcare. Our approach is impact-first, collaborative, and evidence-based. We invest for the long term and strive to develop leaders who can drive sustained, positive outcomes. More information is available at
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Health
- Zawya
Tanoto Foundation Backs Landmark Research to Unlock the Code of Asian Prevalent Diseases
Understanding Asian Cancers and Diabetes Through an Asian Lens SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 27 June 2025 - Tanoto Foundation today announced the funding of two transformative, Singapore-based medical research projects focused on diseases that disproportionately affect Asian populations: prevalent and aggressive cancers, and young-onset Type 2 diabetes. The multi-year initiatives aim to generate data-driven insights that can accelerate diagnosis, improve patient outcomes, and guide public health policy. Despite global strides in medicine, Asia continues to face rising rates of cancer and diabetes – diseases that are biologically and clinically distinct in Asian populations but remain under-researched due to a lack of region-specific data. The two research projects, from National Cancer Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital, will focus on filling these gaps through deep genomic studies and innovative risk-prediction models. Imelda Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation said: "Singapore is well-positioned to lead in medical science. It has strong research institutions and a population that reflects the diversity of Asia. By supporting researchers here who are focused on health issues that affect Asians, we hope to help drive discoveries that make a real difference to people's lives — both in Singapore and across the region." Tackling Asian-Prevalent Cancers Led by Dr Jason Chan, Medical Oncologist, National Cancer Centre Singapore, the research will investigate four types of cancers with high prevalence and poor outcomes in Asia: Breast Cancer in Asian Women, marked by earlier onset and biological differences compared to Western populations T/NK-Cell Lymphomas, an aggressive blood cancer dominant in East Asians with limited treatment options Bile Duct Cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma), increasingly linked to environmental exposures specific to Asia Rare Asian Cancers, collectively neglected but accounting for up to 25% of all cases in the region These cancers are devastating but remain poorly understood because most research has focused on Western populations," said Dr Chan. "By decoding their molecular and genomic landscapes in Asian patients, we want to uncover new diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities to benefit patients." A key feature of the project is its open-access commitment: anonymised data will be freely available to the broader research community to accelerate further discovery and collaboration. Unmasking Diabetes Risk in Young Singaporeans The second research project, led by Dr Daphne Gardner, Endocrinologist, Singapore General Hospital, will address the rising incidence of Type 2 diabetes in young adults, particularly prevalent in Singapore, where 1 in 5 young adults have prediabetes or diabetes, despite being of normal weight. Unlike traditional assessments that rely heavily on BMI and family history, this project will develop a next-generation risk prediction tool by incorporating non-traditional indicators such as body fat distribution, continuous glucose monitoring, and health-seeking behaviour. "Many young Asians with diabetes don't fit the usual risk profile. They're lean, active, and often overlooked by current screening models," said Dr Gardner. "We want to change that by identifying new risk signals and developing tools that are tailored to Singapore's population and beyond." Findings from the study aim to inform national diabetes screening guidelines and lead to earlier interventions that can curb long-term complications. Singapore as a Hub for Medical Research Advancement In addition to previously supported research projects, these two initiatives reflect a growing recognition of Singapore's role in advancing precision medicine for Asian populations, driven by strong clinical infrastructure, genomic capabilities, and public-private partnerships. Imelda Tanoto added: "We believe precision health can change how we treat and prevent diseases. We're supporting researchers who are not only breaking new ground, but also making sure their work reaches people and communities across Asia. This is something deeply personal to us — it's about improving lives in a way that's inclusive, meaningful, and lasting." This announcement marks a key milestone in Tanoto Foundation's continuing effort to improve the quality of healthcare and health standards, leading to longer and better healthspans. Hashtag: #TanotoFoundation The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Tanoto Foundation At Tanoto Foundation, we unlock human potential, help communities thrive, and create lasting impact. Founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, we are an independent family foundation that believes in providing every person with the opportunity to realize his or her full potential. To do so, we catalyse systems change in education and healthcare. Our approach is impact-first, collaborative, and evidence-based. We invest for the long term and strive to develop leaders who can drive sustained, positive outcomes. More information is available at Tanoto Foundation
Business Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Business Times
Greater support needed for critical-illness survivors who want to return to workforce: panellists
[SINGAPORE] More support is needed for survivors of critical illnesses – such as cancer, stroke and heart attacks – who want to return to the workforce, said panellists at a roundtable on Monday (Jun 16) hosted by KPMG and Leap201, a Singapore-registered charity founded by its board chairman Michael Lien. The public and private sectors can work with social service agencies to help create return-to-work pathways for survivors, suggested the panellists. These can involve flexible work arrangements and tailored accommodations, which may require jobs to be redesigned. The panellists comprised professionals from various ministries, the healthcare industry, social service agencies, unions, as well as KPMG and Leap201. Based on preliminary research, cancer rates are on the rise among those aged 30 to 49 years. Jason Ho, managing director of Leap201, said: 'The research indicated a trend that survival rates (are actually going) up, particularly among the younger population.' With higher survivorship rates, there is a greater need to help this underserved group that currently does not receive much support to reintegrate back into the workforce after recovering, the panellists said. Survivors have difficulties in obtaining a new job, as many of them are already at a disadvantage during the job-screening process – particularly in comparison to a healthy adult. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Professor Eileen Poon, senior consultant at National Cancer Centre Singapore, noted: 'When a person first gets diagnosed with cancer, the support they get at the initial stage is very strong. But when things become more normal, that support dwindles down.' Critical-illness survivors also currently do not have anyone to advocate for them, compared to other vulnerable groups such as former offenders, who are championed by Yellow Ribbon Singapore. At the roundtable, the panellists suggested that corporates step up to make survivors' return to work more seamless by being more accommodating to their needs and through simplifying tasks – similar to what is done for persons with disabilities. Companies can engage in more inclusive hiring, which would require greater collaboration with social service agencies. For example, companies can provide more medical leave to survivors in comparison to healthy employees, as they may need to go for more follow-up appointments with their doctor. The rehabilitation process also requires more flexibility in working arrangements. The panellists added that more corporate social responsibility efforts can be targeted towards survivors. One suggestion was befriending activities, in which volunteers can accompany them on daily activities such as grocery shopping. Care4Working Families Leap201 is currently in its first phase of Care4Working Families, a multi-year initiative that was launched in January to address the growing needs of working families affected by critical illnesses and severe disabilities. Ho said that Leap201 is a 'catalyst' in this process. 'We did research, tried to highlight the issues, and brought people together (for discussion). Additional research will show us the data and evidence that we can use to advocate for policy change, or give us enough data points to pilot an initiative.' Phase one comprises research that began in January, culminating in the release of a position paper in July in collaboration with KPMG that explores the rising impact of critical illness on the younger generation. The roundtable was conducted to gather insights from key professionals. The findings from phase one will help inform decision-making in phase two, which will start in September. Phase two will dive deeper into key gaps faced by working families affected by critical illnesses such as cancer. The charity hopes to start piloting initiatives by the end of the year based on its research and achieve 'pragmatic, practical' outcomes for beneficiaries, Ho added. These outcomes will enhance the stability and well-being of these families, especially from lower-income backgrounds. Cherine Fok, partner, environment, social and governance consulting and head of Our Impact Plan at KPMG, noted: 'The philanthropic segment has a much greater role to play now more than ever. Philanthropic organisations have access to areas in society where the government may not be able to reach, and can provide catalytic capital, or even underwrite certain laws or bring awareness to the table to champion some of these causes.'
