Johns
Hopkins Medicine and the
Agency for Science,
Technology and Research of Singapore, known as A*STAR,
have established the Johns Hopkins Medicine Division of
Biomedical Sciences in Singapore. The move marks the first
time JHM has created such a full division outside its home
base in Baltimore.
According to Steve Thompson, CEO of Johns Hopkins
International and vice dean at the Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine, "The new enterprise is intended to
further strengthen the link between Hopkins and Singapore
while enhancing joint research and training activities in
Singapore."
The division will include 12 full-time Johns Hopkins
faculty to be based in Singapore to lead training and
research initiatives focused on such life science
disciplines as immunology, cancer biology and experimental
therapeutics. Johns Hopkins began its programs in Singapore
in 1998.
An international search for a director to lead the
venture in Singapore is under way.
Edward Miller, dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine,
said, "During the last five years, we have conducted
research programs in Singapore, and we now want to expand
our commitment to Singapore's biomedical science industry
so that our efforts will more quickly bear fruit. We are
proud to be part of Singapore's rapid development as a
global leader in the biomedical sciences sector."
Philip Yeo, chairman of A*STAR, said, "Johns Hopkins
has been a long-standing international partner in the
development of Singapore's biomedical sciences. Its
continuing presence is indicative of confidence in
Singapore and the region's future growth. This program will
be invaluable in training our pool of local talents, and
through this collaboration, we are strengthening our links
to one of the best universities in the world."
Doctoral programs in basic and clinical research will
be offered to Singaporeans and Southeast Asian nationals.
The training conducted in Singapore and Baltimore will lead
to either a Hopkins Ph.D. or National University of
Singapore Ph.D. degree.
The new academic division will begin operations in the
first quarter of 2004 at the sites of other A*STAR research
institutes and industrial companies. Within two years, it
plans to build a staff of 150 research professionals. A
grant review committee will be set up to monitor the
division's progress, and a scientific advisory committee
consisting of renowned scientists from the United States,
Singapore and other nations will offer guidance on
research priorities.
Johns Hopkins Singapore was established in 1998 and
currently carries out research in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
and the development of biopolymer substrates to support the
tissue engineering industry, and is leading the way in
developing DNA vaccines for diseases such as SARS, HIV,
Japanese encephalitis and dengue.
In Singapore, Johns Hopkins also provides patient care
for patients suffering from cancer through the Johns
Hopkins-NUH International Medical Center.
A*STAR, whose mission is to foster world-class
scientific research and develop talent for Singapore, is
organized into four arms: the Biomedical Research Council,
the Science & Engineering Research Council, a Corporate
Planning and Administration Division and Exploit
Technologies Pte Ltd., the agency's commercialization arm.
The Biomedical Research Council supports and oversees
biomedical research at five national research institutes,
with core competencies in bioinformatics, genomics,
molecular biology, bioprocessing technology, bioengineering
and nanotechnology. The BMRC also encourages extramural
research work and multidisciplinary research collaborations
in the wider scientific community.
As part of its human capital development efforts, the
council offers research scholarships and fellowships. It
also initiates and promotes societal awareness of
biomedical research through outreach programs.
Related Web sites
Johns Hopkins Singapore
A*STAR