Eminent UK and Singapore researchers to address latest cutting-edge research in neurodegeneration as part of the UK-Singapore Partners in Science Programme
1. More than 200 participants from public research institutes, universities, industry and hospitals in the United Kingdom, Singapore and the region will be in Biopolis, Singapore, on 29th- 30th of November 2010 to attend the first international neurodegeneration symposium organised by A*STAR-Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership (NRP). This is the 26th symposium organised under the auspices of the UK-Singapore Partners in Science Programme in partnership with A*STAR. It is also organized by the British High Commission, GlaxoSmithKline and supported by the Tsao Foundation.
2. The workshops and lectures at the symposium will focus on ongoing, cutting-edge research in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS (motor neuron disease) and frontotemporal dementia. Understanding neurodegeneration is especially important today given the rise in neurodegenerative diseases worldwide and their toll on the economy. Dementia alone is estimated to cost a hefty
US$604 billion, which is about 1% of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product.[1]
3. Said Professor Dale Purves, Executive Director of the A*STAR - Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership (NRP), “Singapore’s ageing population means that the country is more susceptible to the high costs generally associated with neurodegenerative diseases. It is thus timely that NRP has organized this symposium with the dual objective of reviewing key developments in neurodegenerative research, and raising awareness about the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases here. NRP will continue to devote resources to accelerate research in neuroscience and hasten the translational process to bring therapy and palliative care to those afflicted.”
4. Some of the highlights of the symposium include:
- “The Challenge of Neurodegenerative Disease” by Dr. Bai Lu, Vice President of Biology, GlaxoSmithKline, R&D China, Shanghai. Dr. Lu will address the complications involved in the drug discovery process for neurodegenerative diseases and the innovative approaches that are currently being explored.
- “Towards a Complete Dissection of the Genetic Aetiology Of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Conditions” by Professor John Hardy from Reta Lila Weston Laboratories, UCL Institute of Neurology. Professor Hardy will detail how one can use next-generation sequencing to systematically identify genetic risks that lead or predispose one to the disease.
- “TDP-43 and FUS Place RNA Processing Proteins Centre Stage in the Pathogenesis of ALS and FTD” by Christopher E. Shaw from Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Professor Shaw will provide an overview on how mutations in genes have provided new insights into disease pathogenesis.
- “The Use of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells to Model Human Disease” by Dr. Alan Colman, Executive Director of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium and Principal Investigator at the A*STAR Institute of Medical Biology. Dr. Colman will explain how induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can in principle be created from fresh or frozen cells taken from patients suffering from any congenital disease, and how this can be used to investigate both a disease of premature aging and a neurodevelopmental syndrome.
- “Research on Ageing and Neurodegeneration, Where Should We Go?” by Professor Barry Halliwell, Deputy President (Research & Technology) at the National University of Singapore. Professor Halliwell will close the symposium with a lecture on the future prospects for research on ageing and neurodegeneration.
A detailed programme of the symposium is attached at the Annex.
5. Said H.E. Mr. Paul Madden, British High Commissioner to Singapore, “The British government through the UK-Singapore Partners in Science is pleased to support researchers from both academia and industry at the Neurodegeneration Symposium, which brings together experts who will address issues affecting the ageing process. Managing an ageing population is an issue that both the UK and Singapore are grappling with and symposia such as these will help us understand and manage the crippling effects of neurodegenerative conditions better.”
6. Added Dr. Richard Rutter, Head of Biology of Singapore Neural Pathways Unit, R&D China, GlaxoSmithKline, “Since GlaxoSmithKline’s R&D organization with responsibility for neurodegenerative diseases is now centered in the Asia Pacific region we also hope that the symposium will help direct research in Singapore to maximize on the close interaction that exists here between basic, translational and clinical research, and ultimately facilitate the identification and development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.”
AGENCY FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH (A*STAR)
For further queries, please contact:
Loh Xiu Hui
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Email:
loh_xiu_hui@a-star.edu.sg
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
A*STAR is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences, and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and nine consortia & centres, which are located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their immediate vicinity.
A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, hospitals, research centres, and with other local and international partners.
A*STAR - Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Neuroscience Research Partnership (NRP)
The A*STAR-Duke-NUS GMS NRP, forged in October 2007, aims to establish an integrated, multidisciplinary programme in neuroscience with a strong focus on translational research. This partnership will capitalise on the complementary research strengths and resources available within the A*STAR research institutes and the Duke-NUS GMS Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders (NBD) Signature Research Programme.
The UK-Singapore Partners in Science programme was established in November 2004. The aim is to stimulate deeper scientific partnerships between the UK and Singapore in cutting edge areas of science such as stem cells, discovery of life saving medicines, and tackling climate change. The programme was given further impetus when the Prime Ministers of the UK and Singapore signed a joined statement on science, engineering and technology in July 2005, which committed both countries to develop scientific collaborations and networks through thematic workshops involving more than 3000 researchers in Singapore.
More than 20 workshops have been conducted on subjects such as immunology, aquaculture, aerospace engineering, physical organic chemistry, microelectronics, etc, which have led to numerous collaborations between researchers from both countries. Following each workshop, travel grants (Collaboration Development Awards) are also given to researchers from Singapore and the region to visit the UK to cement collaborations and develop joint research projects. A number of successful outcomes have resulted, including more than 40 new collaborations and 60 funding proposals.
[1] According to World Alzheimer’s Report 2010.