Annual Review 2025
DukeNUS Medical School

Transforming MedicineImproving Lives

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A Message from the Chairman

Building for greater impact

Mr Goh Yew Lin

Duke-NUS was created for a clear purpose. It was meant to bring a different model of medical education and research to Singapore. That purpose remains relevant today.

Mr Goh Yew Lin

Chair, Governing Board, Duke-NUS Medical School

A Message from the Deans

Driven by purpose,
powered by people

Professor Thomas M Coffman

Professor Thomas M Coffman

Former Dean, Duke-NUS Medical School

Professor Patrick Tan

Professor Patrick Tan

Current Dean, Duke-NUS Medical School

Looking ahead, Duke-NUS will continue to build the future of medicine on this foundation with science, clarity and ambition

Leadership

Governing Board

Mr Goh Yew Lin
Chair

Mr Goh Yew Lin

Chief Executive Officer, G. K. Goh Holdings Pte. Ltd.

Prof Aaron Thean
Deputy Chair

Prof Aaron Thean

Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost, National University of Singapore

Leadership

Member

Dr Fidah Alsagoff

Dr Fidah Alsagoff

Chair of ClavystBio Pte Ltd.

Prof Edward G Buckley

Prof Edward G Buckley

Vice President of Duke-NUS Affairs, Chair, Department of Ophthalmology Duke University School of Medicine

Mr Chng Hak-Peng

Mr Chng Hak-Peng

Chair of School Advisory Committee, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School

Ms Karen Chong

Ms Karen Chong

Coordinating Divisional Director, Higher Educational Group, Ministry of Education

A year in review

Stories that define us

CatalyticCatalytic
ConnectedConnected
CosmopolitanCosmopolitan
Chapter 1

Catalytic

T cells’ capability to fully prevent acute viral infections opens new avenues for vaccine development
1/4
Featured Highlights

T cells’ capability to fully prevent acute viral infections opens new avenues for vaccine development

Duke-NUS findings show T cells can independently prevent acute viral infections to an extent previously thought only possible with neutralising antibodies.

Read More T cells’ capability to fully prevent acute viral infections opens new avenues for vaccine development
2/4
Featured Highlights

65LAB awards US$1.5 million to Duke-NUS platform to advance antifibrotic drug discovery

Professor Enrico Petretto leads research to develop new drugs for lung disease and uncover new therapeutic targets for kidney disease, augmenting gene analysis with AI and quantum computing.

Read More 65LAB awards US$1.5 million to Duke-NUS platform to advance antifibrotic drug discovery
3/4
Featured Highlights

Duke-NUS sharpens focus on population health to curb rising healthcare costs and chronic disease burden

Rebranded Health Services Research and Population Health (HSRPH) Programme reflects Duke-NUS focus on population health research and technology-enabled solutions.

Read More Duke-NUS sharpens focus on population health to curb rising healthcare costs and chronic disease burden
4/4
Featured Highlights

Scientists build detailed map of the developing human brain, opening new pathways for Parkinson’s treatment

Offering unprecedented precision in profiling cell characteristics and cultivation methods, the map is a major step forward in new therapies for neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.

Read More Scientists build detailed map of the developing human brain, opening new pathways for Parkinson’s treatment
|Chapter 1 · Catalytic

A new protein supercomplex in mitochondria that enhances energy production, offering potential hope for heart disease patients, has been discovered by Duke-NUS scientists.

Read More Game-changing energy supercomplex promises better options for heart disease treatment

Duke-NUS and NNI discovers that microbe secreting metabolites—indoles—alleviate anxiety levels, suggesting new probiotic-based therapies for mental health.

Read More Singapore scientists reveal gut microbes’ hidden role in anxiety—Could probiotics be the next mental health breakthrough?

YAP and TAZ proteins found to drive scar-forming cells in pulmonary fibrosis, offering potential new pathways to treat this life-threatening lung disease through inhibition.

Read More Duke-NUS study targets proteins to reverse lung scarring

New Singapore Standard (SS) 705 provides a first-of-its-kind Singapore-developed assessment for the effectiveness and durability of antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal surface disinfectants and coatings.

Read More Singapore launches national standard to validate antimicrobial disinfectant products

Duke-NUS spin off developed point-of-care assays that could simplify the analysis of T-cell responses and provide rapid results for doctors and researchers.

Read More Duke-NUS and T Cell Diagnostics team up to simplify T-cell analysis
Chapter 2

Connected

Family affair: Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore
1/4
Featured Highlights

Family affair: Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore

Leadership from Duke, NUS, Duke-NUS and SingHealth gathered for a historic reunion in Singapore, celebrating 20 years of partnership and exploring future collaborations in education and research.

Read More Family affair: Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore
2/4
Featured Highlights

SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre leads S$10m national effort to tackle muscle-loss in ageing Singapore

Dedicated to sarcopenia, MAGNET aims to revolutionise diagnosis and treatment for Asian patients with a unique collection of samples from patients and state-of-the-art investigative platforms.

Read More SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre leads S$10m national effort to tackle muscle-loss in ageing Singapore
3/4
Featured Highlights

Endearing moments that help endure: Camp Simba’s largest edition yet builds bonds of joy and resilience

Medical students from Duke-NUS, NUS, and NTU organised Camp Simba 2025, a three-day event for 61 children with family members battling cancer, providing support and joy through bonding activities.

Read More Endearing moments that help endure: Camp Simba’s largest edition yet builds bonds of joy and resilience
4/4
Featured Highlights

Asia PGI and partners unveil preview of PathGen: new AI-powered outbreak intelligence tool

Sovereign-by-design platform built for secure, decentralised pathogen intelligence-sharing across borders aims to break data silos and provide faster time to actionable insight of outbreaks.

Read More Asia PGI and partners unveil preview of PathGen: new AI-powered outbreak intelligence tool
|Chapter 2 · Connected

Hosted by Duke-NUS students, the 2025 Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumour Awareness Day at Gardens by the Bay offered young cancer patients and families vital support and community.

Read More PBSTA 2025: Strengthening bonds and building joy for young cancer patients

The inaugural forum discussed support strategies for clinician-scientists to achieve their aspirations in their dual roles, and saw over S$30 million pledged to support this community.

Read More Empowering Duke-NUS’ “Clinician Plus” at inaugural community forum

The Dedicated Research Collaboration Pilot Project grant accelerates five promising areas of research collaboration, focusing on the effects of climate change on human health for the first time.

Read More Duke and Duke-NUS forge new frontiers in climate health research with S$1million funding

The MHIN Asia Hub, launched in a collaboration between SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute and MHIN, aims to share innovative resources and ideas to promote mental health support across Asia.

Read More Singapore launches Mental Health Innovation Asia Hub at international symposium

Ten clinician-leaders inducted into the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians for outstanding contributions to clinical care, research and mentorship in the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre.

Read More Honouring excellence: Duke-NUS celebrates its Master Academic Clinicians
Chapter 3

Cosmopolitan

Duke-NUS marks 20 years with transformative S$30m in philanthropic gifts and pledges to boost next-gen medical breakthroughs
1/4
Featured Highlights

Duke-NUS marks 20 years with transformative S$30m in philanthropic gifts and pledges to boost next-gen medical breakthroughs

A S$5.5-million gift towards research from the Estate of Khoo Teck Puat and a S$200,000 scholarship from the HEAD Foundation, underpin Duke-NUS’ commitment to developing medical expertise.

Read More Duke-NUS marks 20 years with transformative S$30m in philanthropic gifts and pledges to boost next-gen medical breakthroughs
2/4
Featured Highlights

From parity to progress: Women in STEMM call for equity, mentorship and inclusive leadership at 2025 symposium

With over 350 attendees from the healthcare, academia and public sectors, symposium sparks cross-sector dialogue in leadership, mentorship and shaping a more equitable STEMM ecosystem in Singapore.

Read More From parity to progress: Women in STEMM call for equity, mentorship and inclusive leadership at 2025 symposium
3/4
Featured Highlights

Golden vision: Game-changing myopia innovation EyeWonder™ wins $50,000 innovation award

The Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme (D-HIP) 2025 concluded with Team ReVision winning the $50,000 top prize for an innovative device simplifying contact lens use for children to manage myopia.

Read More Golden vision: Game-changing myopia innovation EyeWonder™ wins $50,000 innovation award
4/4
Featured Highlights

PhDs, pivots and possibilities: rethinking career paths at the 17th DUNES Symposium

The symposium saw Dr Clement Yau and Dr Chua Li Min speak about making career pivots, while keynote speaker Professor Çagla Eroğlu discussed her shift from engineering to neurobiology.

Read More PhDs, pivots and possibilities: rethinking career paths at the 17th DUNES Symposium
|Chapter 3 · Cosmopolitan

Project DOVE’s month-long “Climb-and-Walkathon” raised funds for medical missions to Nepal and Sri Lanka as participants aimed to climb 15,000 floors in support of underserved communities.

Read More Duke-NUS steps to new heights for fundraising: 15,000 floors to climb, countless lives to uplift

Leadership from Duke-NUS and SingHealth flipping pancakes to raise funds for student-led community projects Camp SIMBA and Project DOVE, fostering school spirit and camaraderie.

Read More Hot to go: Deans’ Pancake Breakfast shows a batter way to serve

Celebrating the School's growing alumni community, the dinner also highlighted the achievements of former students and their continued impact on healthcare and research.

Read More A homecoming of spirit: Alumni’s ambition and innovation celebrated at inaugural Duke-NUS Alumni Appreciation Dinner

For his pioneering work on retinal imaging and using AI to detect eye diseases, Professor Wong Tien Yin has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, a first for a Singaporean doctor.

Read More Duke-NUS’ Professor Wong Tien Yin elected to the prestigious UK scientific academy, Royal Society

The Class of 2025 includes 121 medical and doctoral students, including the landmark first batch of Masters in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality graduates, unique to Southeast Asia.

Read More Duke-NUS celebrates 20 years of medical innovation with largest ever graduating class
Facts & Figures

Infographics

All information accurate as of 31 March 2026 unless stated otherwise.

Publications & academic background presentations

01/08
By the Numbers

Publications & presentations

PRESENTATIONS
PUBLICATIONS

2011 – 2029  ·  All information accurate as of 31 Mar 2026

2025 Research Publications(Journal Impact Factor ≥ 9)

Publications

001

Jia G, He P, Dai T, et al

Spatial immune scoring system predicts hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence

Nature. Apr 2025;640(8060):1031-1041 doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08668-x

002

Essen BJv, Emmens JE, Tromp J, et al

Sex-specific risk factors for new-onset heart failure: the PREVEND study at 25 years

Eur Heart J. Apr 2025;46(16):1528-1536 doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae868

003

Ostrominski JW, Lassen MCH, Claggett BL, et al

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and new-onset diabetes in cardiovascular or kidney disease

Eur Heart J. Apr 2025;46(14):1321-1331 doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehae780

004

Ma H, Srivastava S, Ho SWT, et al

Spatially Resolved Tumor Ecosystems and Cell States in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Progression and Evolution

Cancer Discov. Apr 2025;15(4):767-792 doi:10.1158/2159-8290.CD-24-0605

005

Chen Y, Davidson NM, Wan YK, et al

A systematic benchmark of Nanopore long-read RNA sequencing for transcript-level analysis in human cell lines

Nat Methods. Apr 2025;22(4):801-812 doi:10.1038/s41592-025-02623-4

006

Mauvais FX, Hamel Y, Silvin A, et al

Metallophilic marginal zone macrophages cross-prime CD8+ T cell-mediated protective immunity against blood-borne tumors

Immunity. Apr 2025;58(4):843-860.e20 doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2025.02.027

007

Zainal NH, Liu X, Leong U, Yan X, Chakraborty B

Bridging Innovation and Equity: Advancing Public Health Through Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions

Annu Rev Public Health. Apr 2025;46(1):43-68 doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-071723-103909

008

Poddubnyy D, Navarro-Compán V, Torgutalp M, et al

The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) Consensus-Based Expert Definition of Difficult-to-Manage, including Treatment-Refractory, Axial Spondyloarthritis

Ann Rheum Dis. Apr 2025;84(4):538-546 doi:10.1016/j.ard.2025.01.035

009

Ke YH, Jin L, Elangovan K, et al

Retrieval augmented generation for 10 large language models and its generalizability in assessing medical fitness

NPJ Digit Med. Apr 2025;8(1):187 doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01519-z

010

Cunningham JW, Chatur S, Claggett BL, et al

Finerenone and Outpatient Worsening Heart Failure With Mildly Reduced or Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Secondary Analysis of the FINEARTS-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Cardiol. Apr 2025;10(4):370-378 doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.0016

011

Inciardi RM, Lu H, Claggett BL, et al

Severe Heart Failure and Treatment With Dapagliflozin Across the Ejection Fraction Spectrum: DAPA-HF and DELIVER

JACC Heart Fail. Apr 2025;13(4):618-627 doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2024.11.023

012

Li G, Ni C, Wang J, et al

Dynamic molecular atlas of cardiac fibrosis at single-cell resolution shows CD248 in cardiac fibroblasts orchestrates interactions with immune cells

Nat Cardiovasc Res. Apr 2025;4(4):380-396 doi:10.1038/s44161-025-00617-1

013

Li X, Pan L, Li W, et al

Deciphering immune predictors of immunotherapy response: A multiomics approach at the pan-cancer level

Cell Rep Med. Apr 2025;6(4):101992 doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.101992

014

Chia S, Seow JJW, Silva RPd, et al

CAN-Scan: A multi-omic phenotype-driven precision oncology platform identifies prognostic biomarkers of therapy response for colorectal cancer

Cell Rep Med. Apr 2025;6(4):102053 doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102053

015

Ruscica M, Loh WJ, Sirtori CR, Watts GF

Phytosterols and phytostanols in context: From physiology and pathophysiology to food supplementation and clinical practice

Pharmacol Res. Apr 2025;214:107681 doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107681

016

Chue KM, Douglass BR, Ong LWL, et al

Maximizing oral intake tolerance in malignant gastric outlet obstruction - a Markov decision tree analysis comparing duodenal stenting, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy and surgical gastrojejunostomy based on a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Int J Surg. Apr 2025;111(4):3006-3019 doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000002303

017

Si Y, Guo L, Chen S, et al

Progressing towards the 2030 health-related SDGs in ASEAN: A systematic analysis

PLoS Med. Apr 2025;22(4):e1004551 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1004551

018

Schaffer EM, Su RGS, Chay J, Finkelstein EA

Cost-Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Device for Transplant-Ineligible Patients

JAMA Netw Open. Apr 2025;8(4):e254483 doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.4483

019

McMaster D, Bapty J, Bush L, et al

Early versus Delayed Timing of Primary Repair after Open-Globe Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Ophthalmology. Apr 2025;132(4):431-441 doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.08.030

020

Teo ZL, Zhang X, Yang Y, et al

Privacy-Preserving Technology Using Federated Learning and Blockchain in Protecting against Adversarial Attacks for Retinal Imaging

Ophthalmology. Apr 2025;132(4):484-494 doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.10.017

021

Cipta NO, Zeng Y, Wong KW, et al

Rewiring of SINE-MIR enhancer topology and Esrrb modulation in expanded and naive pluripotency

Genome Biol. Apr 2025;26(1):107 doi:10.1186/s13059-025-03577-8

022

Chen K, Tong AKT, Moe FNN, et al

The Impact of Radiation Dose and Tumour Burden on Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: 11-Year Experience in a 413-Patient Cohort Treated with Yttrium-90 Resin Microsphere Radioembolisation

Liver Cancer. Apr 2025;14(2):158-179 doi:10.1159/000541539

023

Gujar MR, Tan YS, Gao Y, Wang H

Arf1 and ARFGEF2/Sec71 control neuroblast polarity by anchoring nonmuscle myosin II

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. Apr 2025;122(15):e2419468122 doi:10.1073/pnas.2419468122

024

Lim AH, Ng CCY, Hong JH, et al

Genomic garden: From societal and scientific impacts to biodiversity conservation

Cell Genom. Apr 2025;5(4):100779 doi:10.1016/j.xgen.2025.100779

025

Olst Lv, Simonton B, Edwards AJ, et al

Microglial mechanisms drive amyloid-β clearance in immunized patients with Alzheimer's disease

Nat Med. May 2025;31(5):1604-1616 doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03574-1

026

Varanese L, Xu L, Peters CE, et al

MFSD6 is an entry receptor for enterovirus D68

Nature. May 2025;641(8065):1268-1275 doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08908-0

027

Patidar KR, Ma AT, Juanola A, et al

Global epidemiology of acute kidney injury in hospitalised patients with decompensated cirrhosis: the International Club of Ascites GLOBAL AKI prospective, multicentre, cohort study

Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. May 2025;10(5):418-430 doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(25)00006-8

028

GBD 2021 Asthma and Allergic Diseases Collaborators

Global, regional, and national burden of asthma and atopic dermatitis, 1990-2021, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Lancet Respir Med. May 2025;13(5):425-446 doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00003-7

029

Meng Z, Guan Z, Yu S, et al

Non-invasive biopsy diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease via deep learning applied to retinal images: a population-based study

Lancet Digit Health. May 2025;7(5):100868 doi:10.1016/j.landig.2025.02.008

030

Pabon MA, Filippatos G, Claggett BL, et al

Finerenone Reduces New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Across the Spectrum of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome: The FINE-HEART Pooled Analysis

J Am Coll Cardiol. May 2025;85(17):1649-1660 doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.03.429

031

Cai H, Tian C, Chen L, et al

Vascular network-inspired diffusible scaffolds for engineering functional midbrain organoids

Cell Stem Cell. May 2025;32(5):824-837.e5 doi:10.1016/j.stem.2025.02.010

032

Ostrominski JW, Claggett BL, Miao ZM, et al

Efficacy and Safety of Finerenone in Type 2 Diabetes: A Pooled Analysis of Trials of Heart Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetes Care. May 2025;48(5):745-755 doi:10.2337/dc24-1873

033

Noels H, Vorst EPCvd, Rubin S, et al

Renal-Cardiac Crosstalk in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Heart Failure

Circ Res. May 2025;136(11):1306-1334 doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.325488

034

Athar F, Zheng Z, Riquier S, et al

Limited cell-autonomous anticancer mechanisms in long-lived bats

Nat Commun. May 2025;16(1):4125 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59403-z

035

Ang KH, Thura M, Tan QSW, et al

PRL3-zumab as an anti-angiogenic therapy in neovascular eye diseases

Nat Commun. May 2025;16(1):4791 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59929-2

036

Zanti M, O'Mahony DG, Parsons MT, et al

Analysis of more than 400,000 women provides case-control evidence for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant classification

Nat Commun. May 2025;16(1):4852 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59979-6

037

Taguchi S, Azushima K, Kitada K, et al

Keratinocyte-specific angiotensin II receptor-associated protein deficiency exacerbates angiotensin II-dependent hypertension via activation of the skin renin-angiotensin system

Nat Commun. May 2025;16(1):4789 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60041-8

038

Zeming KK, Quek KY, Sin WX, et al

Cell trajectory modulation: rapid microfluidic biophysical profiling of CAR T cell functional phenotypes

Nat Commun. May 2025;16(1):4775 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59789-w

039

Pang EPP, Tan HQ, Wang F, et al

Multicentre evaluation of deep learning CT autosegmentation of the head and neck region for radiotherapy

NPJ Digit Med. May 2025;8(1):312 doi:10.1038/s41746-025-01624-z

040

Phipps B, Hadoux X, Sheng B, et al

AI image generation technology in ophthalmology: Use, misuse and future applications

Prog Retin Eye Res. May 2025;106:101353 doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101353

041

Zhu Z, Wang Y, Qi Z, et al

Oculomics: Current concepts and evidence

Prog Retin Eye Res. May 2025;106:101350 doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101350

042

Gijs M, Sande Nvd, Bonnet C, et al

A comprehensive scoping review of methodological approaches and clinical applications of tear fluid biomarkers

Prog Retin Eye Res. May 2025;106:101338 doi:10.1016/j.preteyeres.2025.101338

043

Ivie JJ, Dill-McFarland KA, Simmons JD, et al

Myeloid cell genome-wide screen identifies variants associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced cytokine transcriptional responses

J Clin Invest. May 2025;135(14):e179822 doi:10.1172/JCI179822

044

Wang M, Liu Z, Ren S, et al

BCAA catabolism targeted therapy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Theranostics. May 2025;15(13):6257-6273 doi:10.7150/thno.105894

045

Tram NDT, Xu J, Chan KH, Rajamani L, Ee PLR

Bacterial clustering biomaterials as anti-infective therapies

Biomaterials. May 2025;316:123017 doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.123017

046

Kaimala S, Yassin LK, Hamad MIK, et al

Epigenetic crossroads in metabolic and cardiovascular health: the role of DNA methylation in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovasc Diabetol. May 2025;24(1):231 doi:10.1186/s12933-025-02800-x

047

Park DJ, Thura M, Chiu VK, et al

The PRL3-zumab paradigm: A multicenter, single-dose-level phase 2 basket clinical trial design of an unconventional cancer immunotherapy

Cell Rep Med. May 2025;6(5):102120 doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102120

048

Tahara M, Lim DWT, Keam B, et al

Management approaches for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy

Cancer Treat Rev. May 2025;136:102938 doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2025.102938

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