Duke-NUS news highlights

MEDICUS
2026 Issue 3
Duke-NUS news highlights

About the masthead: The connected paths of discovery at Duke-NUS: linking research, education, care and partnership [AI-generated image] — read more here

News

In the past quarter, Duke-NUS has continued to shape the future of medicine through milestones in education, timely public health insight and scientific discovery. From celebrating our largest graduating class and broadening new pathways into medicine, to helping to clarify emerging health concerns and uncovering how exercise may help ageing muscles suppress tumour growth, these stories reflect a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and improving lives.

Many paths, one purpose: Class of 2026 graduates

Duke-NUS celebrated its largest graduating class to date, with 135 graduates crossing the stage at a ceremony graced by Guest of Honour Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Minister of State for Health.

The cohort comprised 78 graduates from the MD and MD-PhD programmes, 38 PhD graduates and 19 graduates from the Master in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Programme.

More than a milestone in numbers, the class of 2026 reflects a medical school intentionally designed to bring diverse experiences into medicine. From engineers and computer scientists to literature and communications graduates, these students represent the School’s commitment to producing doctors who think across disciplines, embrace research and innovation, and are ready for the future of healthcare.

“It is especially encouraging to see many graduates from different backgrounds—from engineers and business graduates to literature and communications majors—coming into medicine and the healthcare sector. This brings a unique but meaningful blend of experience that will certainly benefit the sector and the community. ”

Mdm Rahayu Mahzam

in an Instagram post following the ceremony

Experts explain emerging health threats

Over the past quarter, Duke-NUS experts helped clarify clarify public concerns about infectious diseases in Singapore and beyond, providing timely, evidence-based perspectives on hantavirus transmission and recent tuberculosis clusters.

1. Rodent control remains key to preventing hantavirus infection

“The method to prevent such infections is rodent control, not only in residential and eating places but also in ports and shipyards where rodents from elsewhere could be inadvertently introduced into Singapore. There is neither a vaccine nor antiviral treatment for hantavirus infection.”

Professor Ooi Eng Eong

Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme

2. Tuberculosis clusters do not signal a wider outbreak

“Tuberculosis is detectable, treatable, and curable. Transmission requires prolonged contact with an infectious individual—not incidental exposure—and all patients identified have been promptly treated and are currently non-infectious.”

Assistant Professor Shurendar Selva Kumar

Centre for Outbreak Preparedness

How exercise may help ageing muscles suppress tumour growth

Image: Screenshot from CNA

Duke-NUS scientists have uncovered a new link between ageing muscle and cancer, revealing how physical activity may help restore signals that suppress tumour growth.

Published in Nature Communications, the study found that ageing muscles release fewer extracellular vesicles, tiny particles used by cells to communicate with one another. The composition of these particles also changes with age, weakening signals that may help suppress tumour growth. Exercise appears to restore this protective function, opening new avenues for healthy ageing, cancer prevention and future therapies.

“Muscle cells use extracellular vesicles to send messages and influence how other cells behave, but exactly how these messages are delivered and received is not fully understood. Our research uncovers this hidden process, showing that as muscles weaken with age, these signals can change in ways that can promote tumour growth.”

Assistant Professor Tang Hong-Wen

Cancer & Stem Cell Biology Signature Research Programme

The researchers will next validate the findings in human samples and examine whether the extracellular vesicles could serve as biomarkers for cancer risk associated with age-related muscle loss.

More routes into medicine for students from diverse disciplines

Duke-NUS has expanded its Pathways to Medicine programme, opening new routes for aspiring doctors from disciplines including Chinese medicine, law, computing and the humanities.

Through a new pathway with NUS College, the students may pursue any bachelor’s degree offered by NUS before progressing towards graduate medical training, subject to meeting Duke-NUS’ admissions requirements.

The School has also widened its pathway with NTU’s School of Biological Sciences to include eligible students from the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine programme, the Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with Second Major programmes, and CN Yang Scholars reading Biological Sciences.

During their undergraduate studies, pathway students remain connected to medicine through mentorship, clinical attachments, workshops and a new Mini Medical School experience.

“We are pleased to partner with NUS College and Nanyang Technological University to broaden access to our pathways into medicine. By welcoming students from diverse academic backgrounds, we are bringing together individuals united by a shared purpose—to push the boundaries of medicine and improve care for patients and communities.”

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