To better tackle respiratory diseases in Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has set up a new research centre designed to address lung diseases in an Asian context.

The Academic Respiratory Initiative for Pulmonary Health (TARIPH) Centre for Respiratory Research Excellence, spearheaded by NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), aims to fill a clinical and knowledge gap on respiratory diseases among Asians, given that current research is largely Euro-centric.

It brings together local and international research partners to improve lung health for Singaporean and Asian patients by developing personalised and precision-tailored treatment for chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis.

The TARIPH Centre has also set up Singapore’s first patient panel for respiratory medical research. Patients with respiratory diseases are enlisted as research partners to help shape research design, directions and implementation on what matters to them and fellow patients, contributing to a greater understanding of the needs of Asian patients. The centre was officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Heng Swee Keat.

The TARIPH centre will focus on five key research areas: Respiratory Diseases, Interdisciplinary Innovations, Disease Registries and Clinical Trials, Health Economics and Patient Advocacy and Environmental Science