Latest news with #RyanLim
CNA
22-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Singapore developing Asia's first allergic rhinitis database
Singapore is developing Asia's first allergic rhinitis database. The condition - commonly known as hay fever - is triggered by allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander. Project ENTenna will be led by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, with the support of several other hospitals and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Principal Investigator Adjunct Associate Professor Ng Chew Lip, Senior Consultant at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, and Ryan Lim, a student with allergic rhinitis, discuss the launch of Asia first allergic rhinitis database and how they will be collecting data for this research. They talk about the need for Asia-specific data on allergic rhinitis and how the database will help doctors tailor treatment or even predict allergic flare-ups more accurately in a patient.
Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
New programme by Ng Teng Fong General Hospital to tackle allergic rhinitis
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Ng Teng Fong Hospital ear, nose and throat specialist Ng Chew Lip (left) alongside his patient Ryan Lim, who has spent years managing allergic rhinitis. SINGAPORE - While in Western, often temperate, regions allergic rhinitis tends to be triggered by different allergens based on the seasons – such as pollen in the summer and mould in the winter – in tropical climates the main factor is typically dust mites. The presence of these microscopic insects, which thrive in bedding and upholstery, is why those with the condition tend to have stuffy or runny noses in the morning after waking up, said Adjunct Associate Professor Ng Chew Lip, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) . Such differences are one of the reasons for a new initiative, led by the hospital, that aims to improve the diagnosis and long-term management of allergic rhinitis here. Project ENTenna, which began in 2024, hopes to recruit up to 6,000 patients by 2026, with the aim of building a population allergy database for the condition. Data from these patients will be analysed using artificial intelligence to develop personalised treatments and ensure they regularly take their medication, so as to prevent unncessary hospital visits. The programme is supported by the National University Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Changi General Hospital (CGH) and A*Star. It is funded by the Ministry of Health's Health Innovation Fund and the JurongHealth Fund, a registered charity which supports NTFGH and the Jurong Community Hospital. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Its symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, including uncontrollable sneezing as well as a runny nose with clear mucus. As much as 39 per cent of the population here has allergic rhinitis, said Prof Ng, a senior consultant and the principal investigator for Project ENTenna. How the condition affects Asian populations is also not well documented, he said. For example, there may be genetic differences between Western and Asian populations that influence the impact of allergic rhinitis. This means medication developed in the West may not be as effective in treating allergic rhinitis in Asians, said Prof Ng. 'What we hope for is that as Asia progresses, we develop our own specific patient treatments,' he said. A research collaboration with A*Star's Singapore Immunology Network will see molecular-level investigations undertaken to identify new therapeutic targets – referring to molecules or pathways in the body that can be affected by new treatments – as well as explore why patients experience different responses to the same treatment. The programme uses AI-powered symptom trackers and reminders to improve patients' management of their conditions. Project ENTenna can also manage other conditions such as giddiness and tinnitus, with the data-driven care model being developed possessing the potential to be expanded to other chronic conditions in the future, said the programme's co-principal investigator, Dr Tan Jian Li, a consultant with the otorhinolaryngology department at TTSH. As part of the initiative, a WhatsApp chatbot is being developed that reminds patients to take their medication on time as well as provides travel advice based on real-time updated environmental data, such as the air pollution index. 'By better understanding the varying experiences of patients living with allergic rhinitis through the chatbot, and translating information into actionable insights using the Al model, Project ENTenna can enable clinicians to move towards proactive care strategies and early interventions to enhance patient outcomes,' said CGH health services research department deputy director, Dr Oh Hong Choon. Among the 2,000 patients recruited so far is Singapore Management University student Ryan Lim, who was diagnosed with the condition about four years ago. The 21-year-old said he would often wake up feeling congested and fatigued, with his nostrils blocked for days on end on particularly bad occasions. The questionnaires and reminders he receives as part of the programme help remind him to take his medication, as well as track their effectiveness. 'I was able to better understand if the medicine wasn't really working, and say hey, let's switch to a different spray,' he said.
