News In Brief: October 2022

LKCARES CONDUCTS HEALTH SCREENING FOR CANBERRA RESIDENTS 

On 24 September, students from LKCares partnered with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital to conduct a health screening at Blossom Seeds Active Ageing Centre in Canberra. This was targeted at the residents in the area with the hope of catching chronic diseases at an early stage. LKCares contributed volunteers to help facilitate the overall flow as well as to run stations like the BMI and BP stations. In addition, LKCares also conducted two stations – a Timed-Up-and-Go test to assess for fall risk and a health review station where participants were given lifestyle advice. LKCares is a student-organised community project by LKCMedicine which aims to identify individuals at high risks of chronic illnesses and help them manage their health through public health screenings in different communities.

LKCMEDICINE MANAGEMENT RETREAT 

On 19 September, LKCMedicine held its management retreat at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove to further shape the execution of the 2025 strategic plan which was announced in July. Joined by LKCMedicine Governing Board Chairman Mr Lim Chuan Poh and National Healthcare Group (NHG) Deputy Group CEO (Education and Research) and Group Chief Research Officer Professor Benjamin Seet, close to 40 participants gathered to discuss topics related to the design of the NTU MBBS, convergence of academic and clinical research, talent attraction and retention, and strategic partnerships. In his opening remarks, Mr Lim zoomed in on two elements of the School’s 2025 strategic plan – synergistic partnership and talent. He urged the School and NHG to forge an even deeper partnership and foster a stronger bench to bedside translational research culture to further enhance the relevance and impact of both LKCMedicine and NHG in the wider healthcare system. Noting the global uncertainties and volatility, he advised, “LKCMedicine should double down on your talent strategy and this includes developing and retaining talent that you have; building a pipeline of talent from the wider system; and actively recruiting talent from outside to complement what you already have to realise your strategic plan.” Capping off the day, LKCMedicine Dean Professor Joseph Sung summarised the key actions the School should undertake to further strengthen its position in undergraduate and continuing education, translational research, and reputation-building through strategic partnerships.

LKCMEDICINE HOSTS RIKEN-NTU NEUROSCIENCE WORKSHOP

On 5 September, LKCMedicine hosted the RIKEN-NTU Neuroscience Workshop at the Clinical Sciences Building’s Learning Studio. Minister Yoshiaki Takahashi, accompanied by Second Secretary Kyota Inoue from the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, graced the event as Guest-of-Honour. LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Research) Professor Lim Kah Leong gave a warm welcome address to more than 90 participants, including RIKEN scientists who joined the workshop online. Minister Takahashi highlighted that science and technology have become the foundation of human life and are needed for restoring disrupted ecosystems. He believes that the different culture and natural environment between Japan and Singapore would stimulate meaningful research cooperation. LKCMedicine Dean Professor Joseph Sung then delivered his opening remarks where he emphasised the strong, long-standing collaborative relationship between RIKEN and NTU Singapore, as well as a spectrum of joint research activities arising from the sharing of expertise and resources between the institutions. Professor Makiko Naka, Executive Director of RIKEN, delivered her opening remarks through a video message and expressed her support for the joint collaborations between the two institutions. The workshop featured new work and perspectives in neuroscience through a series of talks by researchers and faculty from RIKEN, NTU, and LKCMedicine. In his closing remarks, Professor Atsushi Iriki from RIKEN likened the workshop to “Climbing the Stork Tower” (a Tang poem by Wang Zhihuan), whereby the presentations broadened one’s horizons and deepened understanding in neuroscience.

NHG-LKCMEDICINE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM ON METABOLIC HEALTH

On 17 August, faculty from LKCMedicine and NHG participated in a joint symposium on Metabolic Health. Clinical Director of NHG Clinician Scientist Development Office and Group Research Associate Professor Lim Su Chi kicked off the symposium with his opening address, followed by the introduction of speakers by the symposium moderators – A/Prof Lim and LKCMedicine Associate Professor Yusuf Ali. It featured presentations by LKCMedicine’s Associate Professor Sunny Wong and Assistant Professor Christine Wong and NHG’s Dr Benjamin Lam and Associate Professor Melvin Leow. The panel discussion moderated by A/Prof Lim and A/Prof Ali generated energetic discussions and highlighted complementary areas for inter-institutional work. LKCMedicine Vice-Dean (Research) Professor Lim Kah Leong brought the symposium to a close by reiterating the importance of working together to tackle the complexities of Metabolic Health.