Mr S Iswaran at the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologist (FAOBMB) Conference, 5 Oct 2011

SPEECH BY MR S ISWARAN, MINISTER, PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE AND SECOND MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND TRADE & INDUSTRY AT THE 22nd FEDERATION OF ASIAN AND OCEANIAN BIOCHEMISTS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGISTS (FAOBMB) CONFERENCE, ON WEDNESDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2011, 0845 HRS AT BIOPOLIS

Professor Andrew Wang, President, FAOBMB,

FAOBMB country delegates,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Introduction

Good morning. I am pleased to join you this morning at the 22nd FAOBMB Conference, and thank the organisers for their kind invitation.I am happy to note that the participants at this conference come from 19 different countries, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to our guests from overseas.

The theme of this conference - Creativity and Innovation in Life Science Research, Enterprise and Education – is apposite. It brings together all the elements that are essential to realise the promise of the ‘BioCentury’.

Twin emphasis on knowledge and application

Fundamental knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology, when applied creatively and innovatively, can truly transform our lives.

In 1968, Thomas Brock discovered a bacterium, Thermus aquaticus that lived in hot springs, and could survive in high temperatures. But nobody really understood the transformational capacity of this discovery until 1983 – when Kary Mullis hit upon the idea of using Taq [pronounced ‘tack’] polymerase, an enzyme originally isolated from T. aquaticus, to clone and amplify DNA. He created the ‘polymerase chain reaction’[1], which is today used in thousands of laboratories around the world for a variety of applications, including the detection and diagnosis of infectious diseases. In 1993, Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the invention of PCR.

Singapore’s Biomedical Sciences journey

It is a salutary tale that holds important lessons for all us.To succeed in the Biomedical Sciences, Singapore must excel in basic science and its translation.

Starting from a low base, Singapore embarked on a bold journey in the Year 2000, to develop the research-intensive Biomedical Sciences (BMS) sector as our fourth pillar of growth. We created a cluster of research institutes, epitomised by the Biopolis, to lay a foundation of basic science capabilities, and to attract the research talent that would form the heart of this enterprise.

From 2006, we broadened our focus to include translational and clinical research, so asto bring scientific discoveries from bench to bedside. We established the Cancer Science Institute and two Academic Medical Centres.These provide a conducive environment for clinical service, research and education, so as to develop impactful healthcare solutions. Today, we continue to push ahead in our BMS journey with the development of our third medical school.

Though relatively young, our institutions have already made significant strides in their research. They have put Singapore on the world map in new segments of the biomedical industry, such as biologics. BMS has emerged as the fourth pillar of industry, accounting for about a fifth of our manufacturing value added. Between 2000 and 2009, biomedical manufacturing output more than tripled from $6 billion to $21 billion. Employment in the biomedical manufacturing sector more than doubled from 6,000 to 13,000 over the same period. Employment in R&D also doubled from 2,200 to 5,000.

Commitment to growing the Biomedical cluster

Looking ahead, the Government remains firmly committed to the BMS sector.We have earmarked $3.7b, or about a quarter of public R&D investment from 2011 to 2015, for BMS.These resources will support five thrusts, which aim to build on the good work that has already been done, and to realise the potential of our research enterprise.

First, we will continue to attract the most capable and committed scientific talent. To nurture and sustain a world-class research hub, we will continue to welcome top international scientists to work together with our local scientific talent.At the same time, we will invest in our young Singaporean scientists, who will gradually form the core of our long term research endeavours.

Second, we will continue to emphasise basic science which is the wellspring of future innovation. About a fifth, or 19 per cent[2], of the RIE2015 budget has been set aside to provide scientists with the autonomy and support to pursue the questions and lines of enquiry that emerge from their research, and to create new knowledge in the areas that they are passionate about.

Third, we will double our pipeline of world-class clinician-scientists by 2015, to strengthen our translational and clinical capabilities. This growing pool of talent will help develop thought leadership in Asian disease biology, in areas such as cancer, neurosciences, eye diseases, infectious diseases, and metabolic disorders. For example, the National University Health System, Singapore General Hospital, and Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences have developed an Asian metabolic phenotyping platform for testing diagnostics and therapeutics in diabetes and obesity.

Fourth, we will foster greater collaboration amongst scientists across the BMS landscape, especially between basic science researchers and clinician-scientists, who treat patients. Such partnerships lie at the heart of the important endeavour of transforming laboratory discoveries into meaningful applications that benefit patients.

Fifth, we will strengthen public and private sector R&D collaboration to facilitate the translation of research results into impactful applications for better health and better value. We will anchor more corporate R&D labs through our capabilities and technology platforms. These labs will contribute to our vibrant BMS landscape, creating more opportunities for our scientists.

Conclusion

Singapore’s BMS initiatives have come a long way in the past decade.As we look ahead, our accent will continue to be on attracting and nurturing top scientific talent, and fostering deep and broad collaborative research across the BMS landscape, and with the private sector.Conferences such as this play an important role in seeding the interactions and ideas that lead to meaningful collaborations down the road.

I commend the Federation on its continuing efforts to bring together scientists and students in this region. And, I wish all of you a fruitful exchange of ideas, and a productive time at this conference.Thank you.

[1] PCR is a technique used to generate multiple copies of DNA outside the living cell. The reaction requires repeated cycles of heating and cooling. Taq polymerase is thus highly suitable as an enzyme as it is heat-stable. PCR is a common and indispensible technique used for DNA sequencing, functional analysis of genes, the detection of genetic fingerprints (used in forensic sciences) and the detection and diagnosis of infectious diseases.

[2] Approx $3b. E.g. MOE Academic Research Fund, parts of BMS Open Collaborative Fund. This funding has not been earmarked by sector, i.e. it is available for basic science whether in biomedical sciences or physical sciences and engineering, depending on the quality of the proposal