Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has launched the Centre for Microbiome Medicine – a research facility that aims to improve human health and find new ways to treat diseases by leveraging the microbiome, which are naturally present microorganisms that play a vital role in our wellbeing.

The research centre at NTU Singapore’s LKCMedicine will work with partners including the National Healthcare Group, Imperial College London, and the Singapore-based precision gut microbiome company AMILI to unravel the mechanisms behind microbiome and diseases.  

Using human sample collections, advanced DNA sequencing, and laboratory experiments, researchers will look at how microbiome causes a range of diseases like obesity, diabetes, fatty liver, and chronic lung diseases like bronchiectasis. With a deepened understanding of how microbiome is related to these diseases, researchers hope to translate their discoveries into improved diagnostics and new treatments for patients.

The Centre is currently working on understanding the role of the microbes in obesity-related cancers such as colon and other digestive cancers.

In support of microbiome research, the new centre also received a S$2.5 million gift from Petrina Leong, Sandy Leong, and Jimmy Leong through the Madam Wang Lee Wah Memorial Fund.

Image caption- (L-R)   NTU President Professor Subra Suresh; Guest of Honour, Former Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo; Dean of NTU LKCMedicine Professor Joseph Sung; Supporter and donor of the Centre for Microbiome Medicine Petrina Leong and Programme Director of the Centre for Microbiome Medicine, Associate Professor Sunny Wong