This issue of MEDICUS lands after we just marked Duke-NUS’ 20th anniversary, a milestone that invites us to reflect and to look forward. And what better moment to explore how far we’ve come, and how boldly we continue to move?

But first let’s talk about turning points, every institution has one, or some. At Duke-NUS, one such moment begins with Professor Patrick Tan taking up the role of Dean-Designate effective 1 July. A clinician-scientist of global standing, Patrick has helped shape the School’s research enterprise and built many of its cross-sectoral collaborations. He now brings that same spirit of convergence to this next chapter of leadership, marking a new arc in the School’s story.

He steps into a role shaped by Professor Thomas Coffman, who has led with calm conviction through the School’s adolescence. During Tom’s tenure, Duke-NUS solidified its place in Singapore’s healthcare ecosystem, expanded its MD and PhD programmes, and deepened its translational focus. At the ARC Symposium earlier this year, Tom joined our faculty in reflecting on the messy but marvellous journey of scientific discovery, and how Duke-NUS, still just 20, is already home to work that can shape generations.

In this issue, we share some of those stories including: Tom’s deep dive into diabetic kidney disease, Angelique Chan’s pioneering work on ageing, Wang Linfa’s “batty but brilliant” journey into zoonotic viruses, and Cao Mian’s quest to rewire the brain’s lost connections. Their arcs are different, but they are bound by a shared sense of purpose—and the belief that science can be both precise and yet profoundly human.

This issue also puts a spotlight on people who are helping to shape the future of medicine. Immunologist Ashley St John shares how mast cells, long overlooked, may hold answers to some of our most urgent questions in infection and immunity. We also meet alumna Assistant Professor Rena Dharmawan who shares why she doesn’t take “cannot” for an answer. And Duke-NUS’ inaugural batch of conditional pathway graduates, including Dr Glenda Wee, whose journey blends computer science with clinical care and deep empathy.

In May, we celebrated the Graduation and Hooding Ceremony for the Class of 2025. It was the largest graduating cohort yet, and a reminder that behind every graduate is a story of perseverance, community and purpose. Among the voices guiding this next generation was our keynote speaker, Dr Amy Abernethy. A Duke University trustee and health technology leader, she called on our graduates to move faster—not just in science, but in impact—because lives depend on it.

You’ll find her story in this issue too. Her quest to reform how we generate evidence and deliver care offers a powerful glimpse into what happens when medical insight meets system-level vision.

Elsewhere, we feature the new Systems Metabolomics Centre, a joint initiative by Duke-NUS and NUS Medicine that promises to change how we detect disease and personalise treatment. Our Ask column answers two common student concerns—how to find your research niche, and how to secure a lab internship. And from North Carolina, we bring you an update on Duke’s efforts to track and mitigate “forever chemicals” contamination in public water systems.

At 20, Duke-NUS is no longer the bold experiment it once was. But it remains bold. And as this issue shows, our mission is not just to advance science. It is to translate discovery into impact, through people, partnerships and purpose.

Here’s to the next arc.

Ani Sharma