Here are five stories that stood out last quarter:
Duke-NUS researchers rank among world’s top leading scientist
Nearly 120 researchers from Duke-NUS and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre have been named on the Stanford-Elsevier’s annual Top 2% Scientists 2025 List.
Five others also earned places on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list, for their exceptional global impact across multiple scientific fields. Representing disciplines from cross-field to immunology to pharmacology and toxicology, they are among 6,868 Highly Cited Researchers whose published work ranks in the top one per cent worldwide by citations.
Mapping the developing human brain to unlock Parkinson’s therapies
Duke-NUS scientists have created one of the most detailed single-cell maps of the developing human brain. This atlas, called BrainSTEM (Brain Single-cell Two tiEr Mapping), captures nearly every cell type, their genetic signatures, and how they grow and interact, paving the way for new therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders.
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“BrainSTEM marks a significant step forward in brain modelling. By delivering a rigorous, data-driven approach, it will speed the development of reliable cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease. We’re setting a new standard to ensure the next generation of Parkinson’s models truly reflects human biology.”
Assistant Professor Alfred Sun
Duke-NUS’ Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders programme
Singapore children’s mental health: A roadmap for action
A new report by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI) —Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing in Singapore: A Landscape Brief —reviewed 43 programmes across schools, healthcare and civil society providers.
Mental health disorders account for 28.2% of the disease burden among children, adolescents, and young adults in Singapore. While the study found a vibrant ecosystem committed to accessibility and inclusion, it also identified key gaps: fragmented services, workforce shortages, and a lack of sustainable funding.
The report calls for closer collaboration to:
- Build multi-year, flexible funding models that prioritise equity and scale
- Strengthen workforce development in child-focused mental health
- Expand early-years (3–5) interventions and parent-facing supports
- Develop shared evaluation and referral infrastructure to reduce fragmentation
“Overcoming hurdles like stigma and limited access requires a unified, collaborative effort. This report provides a data-driven roadmap for our partners to strengthen Singapore’s children’s mental health ecosystem and ensure every child can flourish.”
Assistant Professor Anne-Claire Stona
Lead for the Global Mental Health Programme at SDGHI
New national standard to authenticate edible bird’s nest
Singapore has launched its first national standard to authenticate the quality of edible bird’s nest (EBN), a billion-dollar delicacy long prized across Asia. Jointly developed by the Duke-NUS Centre of Regulatory Excellence - Standards Development Organisation and Enterprise Singapore, the new standard strengthens consumer confidence and levels the playing field for producers in a market often challenged by counterfeits.
Using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, the standard provides a fast, accurate, and non-destructive method for onsite authentication. It also sets out clear specifications for portable NIR devices, data collection analysis procedures – giving producers, regulators, and consumers a reliable way to verify quality and authenticity.
“This standard is more than a technical advance. It shows how Singapore can lead with science-based, practical solutions that safeguard consumers while giving the industry a competitive edge. By providing a fast and non-destructive way to authenticate edible bird’s nest, we are helping producers to minimise wastage and build trust in their brands, as well as giving consumers the confidence to make informed choices.”
Professor John Lim
Executive Director of the Centre of Regulatory Excellence at Duke-NUS
New study explores links between Asian gut microbiomes and mental health
Duke-NUS scientists are part of a multi-institutional team leading GLOW (Gut Linked Outcomes in Wellbeing), a major research initiative to uncover how the human gut microbiome influences mental health.
Bringing together expertise from psychiatry, population health, genomics, gastroenterology, and data science, GLOW moves beyond identifying correlations to understand causative pathways. With a focus on preventive care, the study aims to uncovering how gut microbes may shape mood, cognition, and mental health and wellbeing.
“This multi-institutional initiative reflects our shared goal to address the challenge of mental health through innovative, science-driven and team-based solutions. By bringing together Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE), a precision medicine platform, with Duke-NUS’ strengths in biomedical research, we aim to uncover how the Asian gut microbiome shapes mental health. These insights could guide not only more targeted interventions in Singapore but also contribute to global understanding of mental health in diverse populations.”
Professor Patrick Tan
Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School and Executive Director of PRECISE
