A throwback to 2025 | Duke-NUS Medical School

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A throwback to 2025

2025 was a milestone year at Duke-NUS as we celebrated our 20th anniversary. The year brought our community together through meaningful engagements and strong support from our parent universities, donors and key stakeholders, while further strengthening partnerships across our Academic Medical Centre ecosystem.

From breakthroughs and innovations addressing priority health challenges such as ageing and mental health, to welcoming new cohorts of students and alumni into the Duke-NUS community, we continued to advance biomedical education and research in Singapore and beyond. Close to 120 AMC researchers were listed among the world’s Top 2% Scientists.

With Professor Patrick Tan announced as our next Dean, 2025 also marked an important leadership transition as the School prepares for its next phase of growth and impact.

So scroll on to explore the highlights, celebrations and milestones of the year as we look ahead with confidence to deepening our impact in education, research and innovation in 2026 and beyond.

Guest-of-Honour Dr Ng Eng Hen (seated, third from left) with senior leadership members from Duke-NUS, SingHealth and NUS, is joined by current and former members of the Duke-NUS Governing Board

Duke-NUS raises more than S$30m at 20th anniversary gala

Jan 2025 On the milestone occasion of its 20th anniversary, Duke-NUS heralded an unprecedented philanthropic achievement, securing more than S$30 million in gifts and pledges towards student financial aid and advancing cutting-edge research.

Distinguished professorship recipients, both past and present, share the stage for a group photo with senior leaders and stakeholders from Duke-NUS and SingHealth

Inaugural Distinguished Professor Recognition Ceremony

Jan 2025 In a vibrant ceremony filled with anticipation and gratitude, Duke-NUS honoured an outstanding group of faculty at its inaugural Distinguished Professor Recognition Ceremony. Held on Friday, 17 January, at the Khoo Teck Puat building, the event showcased the School’s commitment to excellence during its landmark 20th anniversary year.

Getting ready to ditch the elevators // Credit: Norfaezah Abdullah

Duke-NUS steps to new heights for fundraising

Jan 2025 Kicking off Project DOVE's month-long “Climb-and-Walkathon”, students, faculty, and staff embarked on a spirited challenge to collectively conquer 15,000 floors. This stair-climbing adventure is the first in a series of events and activities organised by the student-led Duke-NUS Overseas Volunteering Expedition (Project DOVE) aimed at raising funds for their upcoming community service projects to Nepal and Sri Lanka, with each milestone reached unlocking generous donations from school management, staff and supporters.

Scientists reveal gut microbes’ hidden role in anxiety

Feb 2025 Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute have discovered a crucial connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behaviour. Their research suggests that microbial metabolites– specifically indoles–play a direct role in regulating brain activity linked to anxiety. This finding opens up exciting possibilities for new probiotic-based therapies to improve mental health.

Professor Tan Kok Hian shows off how much finesse he uses to flip a pancake into mid-air. Transferable skills into the clinical sector?

Deans’ Pancake Breakfast shows a batter way to serve

Feb 2025 Duke-NUS held its annual Deans’ Pancakes breakfast, where members of the deanery, Governing Board and partner SingHealth served as guest pancake chefs. Attendees enjoyed pay-as-you-wish breakfast sets featuring pancakes, grilled sausage, a sunny-side-up egg, fruit and a drink. All proceeds supported Duke-NUS students’ community service initiatives. The event combined community spirit with fundraising for a good cause.

The newly inducted Master Academic Clinicians share a group photo with SingHealth Group CEO Professor Ng Wai Hoe (front left), Duke-NUS Governing Board Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin (front third from left) and Dean Coffman

Duke-NUS celebrates its Master Academic Clinicians

Mar 2025 This year, ten outstanding clinician-leaders were recognised for their impact in shaping medicine, pushing boundaries in research, and nurturing the next generation of doctors and scientists. Established in 2021, the Hall of Master Academic Clinicians honours clinicians who exemplify leadership in clinical practice, research, education, and innovation.

20th Anniversary Alumni Homecoming Appreciation Dinner

A homecoming of spirit

Mar 2025 In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Duke-NUS launched a new tradition aimed at fostering a deeper sense of community and collaboration among its alumni. On 4 March 2025, esteemed alumni, faculty, and leaders gathered for the inaugural Alumni Appreciation Dinner at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront. The evening brought together 100 distinguished guests and featured the presentation of the Duke-NUS Medical Alumni (DNMA) Appreciation Awards and the Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Pursuing arcs of science at Duke-NUS

Mar 2025 At the “The arc of Duke-NUS science” symposium held in April, our anniversary month, 18 researchers from across Duke-NUS’ five signature research programmes and beyond came together to trace the miraculous journey of scientific exploration, bringing audience along winding arcs of discovery, with personal milestones intertwined with the School’s evolution over the past 20 years.

Guests raise their glasses in a toast to Duke-NUS, continued friendship and collaboration.

Duke and NUS reunite in Singapore

Mar 2025 For one evening on 6 March, the Atrium and Amphitheatre of Duke-NUS transformed into an intimate setting befitting a family gathering. This was no ordinary reunion. It was a momentous occasion that brought together board and leadership members from Duke University and the National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS’ parent universities, along with leadership from the School and its academic medicine partner SingHealth—making the evening, truly, a family affair.

Patrick Tan appointed as Duke-NUS Dean

Apr 2025 Duke-NUS announced Prof Patrick Tan as its fourth Dean, beginning as Dean-designate on 1 July 2025 and officially taking the helm on 1 January 2026. He will succeed Prof Thomas Coffman, whose tenure since 2015 shaped a strong foundation in education, research, and innovation.

Duke-NUS named among Singapore’s Best Employers 2025

Apr 2025 Duke-NUS has been recognised among Singapore’s Top 200 Best Employers by Straits Times for the fifth consecutive year.

PBSTA Day 2025

May 2025 Against the scenic backdrop of Marina Barrage, 15 young cancer warriors, their families and caregivers were honoured in a heartwarming celebration that blended compassion with community education. Held on Mother’s Day, the 11th edition of the Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumour Awareness (PBSTA) event was the largest yet, led by a spirited team of Duke-NUS medical students in partnership with Nan Chiau High School.

National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Award Winners 2025

May 2025 Three of our research teams have secured a total of S$60 million in funding through the Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG), a national competitive research grant that supports teams from public institutions who advance research for improved human health and wellness. 20 of our clinician-scientists and researchers have been awarded prestigious talent development grants across various categories, along with 18 clinician-scientists received the Transition Award and NMRC Research Training Fellowship.

Duke-NUS largest class graduates

Jun 2025 Making history as the School’s largest graduating cohort to date, the Class of 2025 celebrated their achievements as Duke-NUS students at their Graduation and Hooding Ceremony. Joining 67 Doctor of Medicine (MD), 27 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), five MD-PhD and eight Master of International Translational Medicine graduates were the first 14 students to graduate with Master’s in Patient Safety & Healthcare Quality degrees.cal University through a new conditional admissions pathway.

A/Prof Shiva (right) presenting the award to Neptune 7 for “Best Flag Design”

Camp Simba’s largest edition

Jun 2025 For children whose family members are battling a cancer diagnosis, the everyday joys of childhood can often take a backseat. Camp Simba – short for Strong I aM Brave Always—was created to give them space to reclaim those moments. Jointly organised by students from Duke-NUS Medical School, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Camp Simba is a three-day-two-night camp for children aged 7 to 16 who have a loved one battling cancer. Held annually, it offers not just a break from daily stresses, but a chance to form lasting friendships in a safe and supportive environment.

Duke-NUS honours Paul Yen

Jul 2025 For more than 15 years, Prof Paul Michael Yen has been a guiding presence at Duke-NUS Medical School, known not just for his groundbreaking research on thyroid hormones, but for countless students, colleagues and collaborators he’s inspired along the way.

Aspiring doctors from Duke-NUS’ Class of 2029 celebrate the beginning of their healthcare journey (Credit-Duke-NUS Medical School) 1

Duke-NUS’ Class of 2029 redefines path to medicine

Aug 2025 A new chapter in Singapore’s healthcare story began today as 78 aspiring doctors from Duke-NUS Medical School’s 19th Doctor of Medicine (MD) cohort donned their white coats and recited the Hippocratic Oath, committing themselves to a future of medical excellence, professionalism and a lifelong service of healing. Duke-NUS’ Class of 2029 reflects the School’s bold and purposeful cultivation of medical talent—by welcoming individuals from a wide spectrum of academic and professional backgrounds.

National Day Awards 2025

Aug 2025 In a proud 2025 moment, members of our Duke-NUS community and our SingHealth partners received prestigious National Day Awards, reflecting their excellence and commitment to advancing healthcare.

Professor Thomas Coffman, Professor Kenneth Mak, Director-General of Health (Guest-of-Honour), Professor Wang Yibin, healthcare leaders and the MAGNET theme Principal Investigators at the official launch of MAGNET // Credit: Duke-NUS Medical School

MAGNET officially launched to tackle sarcopenia in Singapore

Aug 2025 MAGNET (Mechanistic Investigation and Clinical Innovation for Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Therapy) was launched on 4 August 2025 by Guest-of-Honour Prof Kenneth Mak, Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health. This S$10 million national initiative, supported by the National Research Foundation under the NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant, aims to transform how sarcopenia is understood, diagnosed, and treated.

Faculty Recognition 2025

Aug 2025 Duke-NUS celebrated its faculty’s academic milestones on 8 September at the 2025 Faculty Recognition Event honouring 17 newly promoted or appointed faculty members, including one who received tenure, and 57 long-serving clinical faculty, who have contributed more than a decade of service.

Health Services Research and Population Health Programme rebranded

Sep 2025 With healthcare pressures intensifying from climbing costs, an ageing population, and increasing chronic illnesses, Duke-NUS is doubling down on population health and technology-driven research. This approach is central to the rebranded HSRPH Programme, designed to align with and shape national policies for better patient outcomes and greater value.

Celebrating a pioneer in health systems research: Professor David Matchar

Celebrating Prof David Matchar

Sep 2025 Prof David Matchar is well known at Duke-NUS and beyond, particularly in health services and systems research, which he advanced and helped embed in the School as the founding director of the Health Services and Systems Research Programme. On 10 September, more than 50 guests from Duke-NUS and around the world gathered at the School’s Amphitheatre for a special symposium honouring his contributions over the past 17 years.

Dengue-infected cells taken under a microscope

Study reveals how dengue rewires the immune system

Sep 2025 Duke-NUS-led study shows that dengue infection can “re-programme” the immune system, leaving a lasting genetic imprint that shapes responses to future infections—an effect not seen with vaccination. These insights clarify dengue disease progression and vaccine action, supporting the safe use of imperfect vaccines and guiding the development of safer, more effective ones.

AMC researchers feature among Stanford-Elsevier's Top 2% Scientist List

AMC researchers among Stanford-Elsevier's Top 2% Scientists List

Oct 2025 Close to 120 researchers from Duke-NUS and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC) have earned a place on this year’s Stanford-Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientists List. Published annually by Elsevier in collaboration with Stanford University, the list identifies the top 2% of scientists globally based on a standardised composite score that measures single-year or career-long scientific impact.

To see what else happened in 2025, check out News Hub!