Resources & Facilities

BFIG (Biosensors Focused Interest Group) Core Facility Lab ( Dr Heng Chew Kiat, A/P Lim Tit Meng): located within Clinical Research Centre in NUS. The main facilities that the core lab offers are — the most advanced in the field, such as the Affymetrix Genechip® Instrument System, and the Ciphergen ProteinChip® System. Other equipment are also available. Services of BCL are open to all NUS researchers as well as other research institutions and commercial organizations.

Haematological Malignancy Genomics Lab: operates a comprehensive translational research program in haematological malignancies with focus on multiple myeloma, an incurable B-cell malignancy. In addition, they also study acute myeloid leukaemias harboring FLT3 mutations in relation to their drug resistance mechanism, including epigenetic deregulation. At the core of this program is the use of high-throughput cutting edge genomics and proteomics techniques in both human tumor samples and novel mouse model to make clinically relevant discoveries.

National University Medical Institutes (NUMI) is incepted in September 1994 and funded wholly by the National Medical Research Council. NUMI focuses its efforts on (1) the development of centralized research facilities and services for the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in the NUS, and (2) developing research programmes in cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Clinical Trials Unit / NUS - NUH General Clinical Research Centre Core Facilities:
Click here for GCRC core facilities' contacts.

Biostatistics Core (A/Prof Tai Bee Choo): Specialist statisticians to provide sophisticated protocol design and advanced statistical methodologies that will enable us to overcome our lack of patient numbers. Integration with existing database resources for trial data validation and analyses. May become co-investigators and members of writing committee, if appropriate.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic analytical Core (A/Prof Lee How Sung, Dr Goh Boon Cher, Prof Yong Eu Leong): This facility will be supported by existing staff (2 PhD/3MSc analytical and medicinal chemists) and equipment in the above laboratories. These labs have a proven track records and are fully equipped for analyses of drug metabolites in body fluids to picomolar levels. Equipment includes latest models of gas (1) and liquid tandem mass spectrometers (4). Capability to analyze single-entity drugs in body fluids and tissue samples. Chemists dedicated to developing novel ultra-sensitive detection technologies for PK/PD studies for researchers and industry.

Cardiovascular Imaging Unit (A/Prof Ling Lieng Hsi). Will provide core laboratory facilities for both noninvasive and invasive cardiovascular procedures.

· Serve as a test bed for clinical validation of technological advances in cardiovascular imaging,

· Offer cutting-edge echocardiographic and vascular imaging at competitive rates to support and enhance human and animal studies,

· Establish and oversee compliance with imaging protocol guidelines,

· Provide independent and unbiased interpretation of results of cardiovascular images obtained in pharmaceutical or other research studies, by blinding to the randomization sequence,

· Reduce inter-observer variability and increase the accuracy and precision of results through consistent training and systematic analytical processes,

· Forge strategic yet transparent relationships, as part of proposed GCRC, with contract research and pharmaceutical companies to increase research throughput.

Genetics and Genomics Core (In association with Molecular Diagnosis Centre/MDC; (A/Prof Evelyn Koay). The Affymetrix Genechip 3000 instrument system (Affymetrix GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G system, Fluidics Station 450 DX, and Computer Workstation with full application package) is available as a core facility for gene expression microarray-based studies. In addition, the MDC laboratory is a CAP-accredited laboratory with a diagnostic menu of >60 different molecular tests across a broad spectrum of clinical diseases/disciplines, and a wide range of other state-of-the-art equipment -- robotic extractors, real-time PCR and isothermal amplification systems, genetic analysers for sequencing and fragment analyses, scanners and bio-imaging systems, for DNA, RNA, and protein-based biomarkers in body fluids, frozen/archival tissues, and culture and environmental isolates.

Molecular Diagnosis Centre (MDC)

MDC is active in molecular research, working with other researchers from different Institutions as well as translational research bringing new tests into service every year. MDC aims to provide fast, accurate and cutting-edge molecular testing in aid of better patient management, with a focus on three main areas: Infectious diseases; Genetics; and Haemato-oncology

The lab also provides facilities and techniques in evaluating individual response to drugs based on genetic profiles or pharmacogenetics in cytochrome P450, which metabolises many different classes and types of drugs. This is to stratify patient care by using genotype status to get patients to therapeutic levels quicker, and to prevent adverse drug reactions (ADR).

GCP-trained clinical trial coordinators to manage your study: IRB application, data management, data monitoring, data audit, and reports to regulatory agencies all taken care of for you.

GCP-compliant clinical trial facility: up to 12 beds available in CTU/GCRC for intensive studies.

NHG Central Clinical Research Database (CCRD)
The NHG Central Clinical Research Database (CCRD) was established to enable NHG institutions to harness the synergies of coordinating the collection of clinical research data into a common platform and to enable linkages between existing and future electronic medical record systems including laboratory results, diagnostic imaging, pathology and electronic prescriptions. To date, CCRD has supported 60 projects, which has resulted in 14 Publications so far with more to come.

The NUH-NUS Tissue Repository (TR)
Officially launched on 6 April 2005, TR has been amassing thousands of tissue samples from its patients in NUH. The Tissue Repository was set up to provide medical researchers with high quality samples and data, in a manner that is safe, efficient and ethical and to support development of Singapore Tissue Network. To date, TR has supported more than 20 research projects resulting in 4 publications in tier 1 and 2 journals.

The Tissue Repository Database System (TRDS)
The Tissue Repository Database System (TRDS) is a web-based application developed under a project funded by the National Healthcare Group Research Fund. It helps researchers to check on tissue availability, to obtain relevant clinical and laboratory test data and to submit tissue requests.

The Hospital Based Cancer Registry (HCR)

NUH has initiated a computerized Hospital-based Cancer Registry (HCR) and an associated De-Identified Research Database (DRD). This aims to provide accurate and timely clinical data and statistics for clinical research, health services research, translational research, hospital audits and hospital administration as well as support cancer programme which is harmonised with International Standards.