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The GISAID Initiative is a global advocate for the rapid exchange of data related to various infectious diseases, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV, Mpox, Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika, and soon West Nile virus and Yellow Fever virus.

GISAID curates genetic sequences, epidemiological, geographical, clinical, and species-specific data associated with these diseases. GISAID Singapore plays a pivotal role by developing advanced software tools and sequence-based resources. Their contributions support public health, research, and industry stakeholders.

Notably, the team developed the innovative Fortitude kit for COVID-19 diagnostics, deployed in numerous countries.

GISAID Singapore collaborates with various partners, enhancing disease monitoring and assisting in global health initiatives, positioning them to tackle future pandemics and outbreaks.

Globally, future disease outbreaks are inevitable.

True to the name, the Epidemic Preparedness Platforms by A*STAR’s Infectious Diseases Labs (ID Labs) are designed to enhance the readiness of companies in tackling such outbreaks, offering a diverse suite of biological, immunological and biomedical technologies and approaches.

From pathogen surveillance to drug screening to vaccine immunity-monitoring, the cutting-edge platforms strengthen scientific expertise and translational research to improve infectious disease management.

Leveraging virtual reality technology and gamification, AchieVR is used to promote healthy eating habits and improve nutrition knowledge.

The innovative brainchild of two A*STAR research entities, the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS) and the Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre (ARTC), AchieVR can be personalised to meet the different needs of clinical and non-clinical populations.

Its prototype has been used by caregivers of toddlers at risk of developing childhood obesity, and there are plans to adapt the technology for testing in bariatric patients in Singapore.

A*STAR’s Wearable Integrated Sweat-Sensor for Health (WISH) reflects the growing potential of wearable technologies for healthcare.

User-friendly, modular and non-invasive, WISH is a comprehensive health monitoring device enabling continuous, real-time multi-marker monitoring of chemicals in human’s sweat. It uses a replaceable sensor strip to take readings from different parts of the body, including the wrist, arm, forehead and chest, which can be transmitted to a mobile app for effortless tracking and recording on the go.

The potential applications of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in regenerative medicine are as limitless as the self-renewal capacity of the cells into different cell types.

At A*STAR’s Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), researchers are in pursuit of a cure for diabetes—a common metabolic disorder affecting millions worldwide—by differentiating hPSCs into pancreatic organoids for more effective disease modelling, drug screening and cell replacement therapy.

A*STAR’s digital health spin-off CareCam provides unprecedented insights into mobility and gait disorders by enhancing healthcare expertise with state-of-the-art technologies.

Powered by advanced AI models and deep biomechanics knowledge, CareCam’s patented solutions and flagship innovation, 3DGait, put orthopaedic, neurology and rehabilitative practitioners at the forefront of revolutionary healthcare diagnostics and treatment.

In response to the aging population in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region, RavSense and A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Reserch (I2R) has developed ViSiDar, a contactless vital sign monitoring system utilising multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar technology.

With IP licensed and technical support from ASTAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I²R), the development of ViSiDar serves multiple purposes:

• Fall detection for elderly care
• Smart occupancy monitoring, and
• Vital sign tracking with AI algorithms.

ViSiDar's millimeter wave complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) chipset technology offers precise detection of human presence, locations, respiration, heartbeats, and tiny body movements, making it an ideal solution for smart home and healthcare applications.

Prospective users include nursing homes, households with elderly members, and those seeking energy-saving human presence detection.

Auristone is an Asian-based epigenomic profiling company with data analytics capabilities, aimed at driving new epigenomic insights and tailored analysis that can lead to novel drug and biomarker discoveries.

Their flagship product EPI-CALLTM, is a second-generation genomic test that provides epigenomic analysis on top of genomic information. The test uses RNA-Sequencing, Whole Transcriptome Sequencing to provide clinical insights and support therapy selection for cancer patients.

Driven by their aspiration to improve the quality of patient care and treatment outcomes, Auristone actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with partners and advance precision oncology testing.

Lion TCR, a clinical-stage biotech spin-off from A*STAR, specialises in engineered T-cell therapies for infectious diseases and associated cancers, particularly HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

They have received FDA IND approval for a Phase 1b/2 trial—the world's first international multi-centre trial for HBV TCR-T therapy against HCC. Enrolment and treatment for the trial have begun.

Their lead product has received dual Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA.

Using mRNA to encode HBV-specific TCR in patients' T cells, Lion TCR targets HBV epitopes expressed in liver cancer cells.

Their success positions them to tackle various solid cancers and chronic viral diseases, including chronic hepatitis B, a major driver of liver cancer.