2 veterans and a pair of younger scientists bag President’s Science and Know-how awards

SINGAPORE – A professor who devoted 30 years to build up the biomedical analysis group in Singapore was on Friday honoured with the President’s Science and Know-how Medal, the very best recognition of analysis scientists and engineers right here.

Professor Hong Wanjin, 62, the manager director of the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), which is a part of the Company for Science, Know-how and Analysis (A*Star), obtained the award from President Halimah Yacob at a ceremony held on the Istana.

Main the analysis institute since 2011, Prof Hong introduced collectively establishments such because the Nationwide Most cancers Centre Singapore (NCCS), SingHealth, Duke-NUS Medical College, Nanyang Technological College (NTU) and Nationwide College of Singapore (NUS) to collaborate extra carefully by way of joint programmes.

He mentioned the cross-pollination amongst these schools enabled many upstream discoveries that benefited sufferers.

As an example, the IMCB-NCCS Joint Programme arrange in 2014 introduced collectively scientists and clinicians to develop new improvements like potential most cancers therapeutics.

He added that a few of these discoveries have been translated into medical spin-offs akin to Intra-ImmuSG, a home-grown biotechnology firm, which develops most cancers immunotherapies with minimal uncomfortable side effects, amongst different issues.

Since Prof Hong started his stint as the pinnacle of IMCB, he has been liable for 15 such spin-offs, elevating a complete of round $30 million in funds.

Prof Hong mentioned: “Within the over 30 years I’ve been right here, it has been very rewarding to look at the biomedical group develop and mature as Singapore constructed up the biomedical sciences sector into the financial pillar it’s as we speak… I’m very proud that our analysis has contributed to the expansion of Singapore.

One other veteran who was recognised on the 2022 President’s Science and Know-how Awards on Friday was Professor Wang Rong, 59, from NTU, who obtained the President’s Know-how Award for her contributions within the subject of membrane science and expertise.

Over the previous 14 years, she has made many pioneering contributions to the sector and is finest recognized for making a filter membrane that’s being trialled to be used in water reclamation initiatives. Singapore presently reclaims water by way of NEWater, a water reclamation initiative that meets as much as 40 per cent of the nation’s water wants.

She mentioned: “Water is essential for our society and our sustainability, particularly within the face of local weather change. Because the core expertise for water reclamation and seawater desalination is a membrane-based reverse osmosis course of, Singapore’s water resilience now depends upon our potential to supply water effectively.”

The membrane she created requires decrease strain to work, and so permits a major vitality saving of as much as 50 per cent. It was efficiently upscaled and examined in a reclamation plant.

She mentioned: “Not everybody has the chance to hold out such thrilling work that covers the complete spectrum of a analysis and innovation cycle, from basic analysis to expertise translation, and to the eventual business deployment for clear water manufacturing. There isn’t a higher place than right here in Singapore to do world-class analysis.”

Prof Wang mentioned the filters even have the potential for use in desalination, wastewater remedy and even fuel purification, amongst different functions.