New institute will foster avibrant ecosystem that promotes synergistic AI research and applications,grow the AI talent pool,engage government and industry in partnerships,and expand entrepreneurship opportunities.From fortifying supply chain resilience against global disruptions and enhancing safety and resilience of energy systems to intelligent urban transport systems,personalised services and healthcare revolution–artificial intelligence(AI)is emerging as aforce with the capacity to transform facets of our daily living and the society. 查看详细>>

Engaging with industry partners is integral to bringing research innovations in sustainable energy from the lab bench to real-world solutions for Singapore to achieve its decarbonisation goals.To support Singapore in achieving these goals,NUS is offering its built environment as ahub for sustainability-related research through the Campus as ALiving Lab at NUS(CALL NUS)initiative.CALL NUS is an innovative platform that utilises the physical systems and infrastructure of the NUS campus,together with the innovative capabilities of the NUS Digital Twin platform,for researchers and industry partners to co-create and validate impactful and scalable sustainability solutions in aliving and operational environment,for future implementation in Singapore and globally.NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said,“At NUS,we are presenting the campus as aLiving Lab,where our physical infrastructure and operational systems serve as an integrative test-bed for sustainability solutions.This opens up amyriad of possibilities for impactful discoveries,game-changing innovations,and transformative education.”Leveraging CALL NUS for sustainable energy projects Making use of the unique CALL NUS initiative is the Keppel-NUS Low Carbon Living Laboratory,where NUS researchers and Keppel engineers will work on amulti-pronged project,announced on 20 November 2023,aimed at advancing NUS’Campus Sustainability Roadmap 2030 and the Singapore Green Plan 2030.This project will enhance the adoption of commercially viable and sustainable energy technologies,as well as boost energy efficiency.The Keppel-NUS Low Carbon Living Laboratory is hosted on NUS Kent Ridge campus through aMaster Research Collaboration Agreement(MRCA)signed between NUS and Keppel Corporation’s Infrastructure Division in April 2022.Through this multi-faceted project,NUS and Keppel Corporation aim to advance distributed energy management solutions,develop and deploy asmart AC/DC hybrid microgrid,as well as implement an innovative and energy-efficient district-wide cooling system.“This collaboration leverages NUS’expertise in energy and sustainability research and Keppel’s technological capabilities to develop cutting-edge technologies for smart grid management and district cooling which,once validated,could be applied within NUS,on anational-scale,and even globally,”said Prof Tan.One aspect of this multi-pronged project will be conducted from 2023 to 2026 and co-led by Associate Professor Sanjib Kumar Panda along with Professor Dipti Srinivasan from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering under the NUS College of Design and Engineering together with Keppel engineers.In this aspect,NUS researchers and Keppel engineers will implement adigital twin and leverage comprehensive sensing technologies and modelling to develop innovative distributed energy management solutions and explore the adoption of asmart AC/DC hybrid microgrid to allow seamless integration and optimisation of different sustainable energy technologies,such as renewable energy resources,energy storage devices,and smart electric vehicle charging solutions.These innovations are envisaged to create an infrastructure network that reduces energy consumption while enhancing grid reliability and climate resilience.In another aspect of this project under the MRCA,NUS researchers and Keppel Infrastructure engineers will focus on the implementation of an innovative district-wide cooling network at the NUS University Hall and its adjacent developments.This aspect will see the deployment of aproprietary material-based thermal energy storage technology jointly developed by NUS and Keppel in an earlier collaboration,techniques that use outdoor air for cooling,and real-time AI-based optimisations.These technologies will be integrated with the AC/DC hybrid microgrid,which has the potential to significantly reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption for cooling at NUS.This multi-pronged project is aimed to scale across the entire NUS campus in different phases,and replicated for third-party customers locally and abroad. 查看详细>>

In muscular dystrophy,genetic mutations interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.There are different types of muscular dystrophy,but the condition is generally characterised by progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass.Simple,everyday activities like using the phone can become increasingly difficult over time.As there is currently no cure for muscular dystrophy,patients will have to continuously adapt to their deteriorating condition.With the support of the Enabling Lives Initiative Grant from SG Enable,a research team from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation&Technology(iHealthtech)and the College of Design and Engineering set out to develop an assistive device to help muscular dystrophy patients use smartphones and tablets even in advanced stages of the disease.After rounds of user testing and research involving patients,caregivers,physiotherapists,and medical professionals,the team created aworking prototype known as the FUNction Device.This device uses asoft,thin,and stretchable sensor that translates minute finger movements into software controls.It is designed to be user-friendly and functions like acomputer mouse,with adjustable sensitivity.“Current assistive device–such as touch-screen devices keyboards,glidepads and the computer mouse–require aconsiderable amount of strength in wrists,hands and fingers to be used.These devices lose their usefulness in the later stages of muscular dystrophy.Therefore,the objective of the FUNction Device is to provide an adaptable interface that can be activated by miniscule finger movements for various computer functions,”said Professor Lim Chwee Teck,Director of NUS iHealthtech,who led the research team.He added,“We also intend to build gaming software to motivate the user to perform exercises to monitor their functional strength.”The team is currently working with seven patients to test the device,and has plans to recruit 20 more to further refine the technology before commercialising it in Singapore.The team also plans to adapt the device for individuals with other neuromuscular disorders and neurological disabilities. 查看详细>>

Professor Antony Anghie has been conferred the prestigious Manley O.Hudson Medal by the American Society of International Law(ASIL)for his exceptional contributions to scholarship and achievement in international law.Born in Sri Lanka and an intellectual heavyweight in the field of international law,Prof Anghie is only the second Asian to receive this prestigious accolade.The NUS Law professor joins the ranks of legal luminaries who have received the award such as Judge Stephen Breyer,former Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court;Sir Robert Jennings and Dame Rosalyn Higgins,former Presidents of the International Court of Justice;renowned transnational law academic Prof Philip C.Jessup;and pioneering human rights scholar Prof Louis Henkin.Prof Anghie is apioneering and leading authority on Third World Approaches to International Law(TWAIL)–an important field of scholarship which studies the inequalities of the international legal order.His work argues that the peoples of the Global South have been historically and systematically excluded from international law-making,resulting in ongoing inequality and justice.A cornerstone of his research is his highly influential book“Imperialism,Sovereignty,and the Making of International Law”which examines the relationship between colonialism and international law.His groundbreaking work has allowed younger generations of scholars to address the enduring legacies of colonialism and imperialism.Prof Anghie said,“This is avery unexpected honour because my arguments were viewed as radical and challenging at the time Ifirst made them.It was astruggle to get my book published.But Iwas fortunate to be able to take time over my scholarship.”Congratulating Prof Anghie,NUS Law Dean and Professor of Law Andrew Simester said,“The Manley O.Hudson Award is amajor honour,one that recognises Tony’s unwavering commitment and outstanding contribution to international law.”“Tony is unquestionably one of the finest academics globally in his field…The American Society of International Law has honoured alifetime of achievement,and NUS Law is very fortunate to have Tony as one of our colleagues,”Prof Simester added.Based at NUS Law for the past six years,Prof Anghie has taught avariety of courses in the Public International Law curriculum,including“Current Problems in International Law”,“Developing States in aChanging World Order”,and“International Economic Law and Globalisation”.In addition,he is Head of the“Teaching and Researching International Law in Asia”Programme at the NUS Centre for International Law.Prof Anghie practised law in Melbourne,Australia after qualifying as aBarrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.He then earned his Doctor of Juridical Science degree from the Harvard Law School,where he was appointed Senior Fellow in its graduate programme.He still teaches at the S.J.Quinney School of Law,University of Utah,where he previously served as the Samuel D.Thurman Professor of Law,and he was also avisiting professor at distinguished schools including Cornell Law School,the London School of Economics and Harvard Law School.The law academic’s most recent published work is an essay on the concept of“security”in international law titled“Introduction to the Symposium on J.Benton Heath,“Making Sense of Security”published in the American Journal of International Law.Prof Anghie is now working on the history of the rights of aliens−which explores how developments in that field are related to the emergence of international human rights law.Click here for the full ASIL Honors committee report and citation for Prof Anghie. 查看详细>>

Assistant Professor Koh Ming Joo from NUS Chemistry has been conferred the prestigious Young Scientist Award(YSA),which recognises the accomplishments of researchers under 35,who have shown strong potential to be world-class experts in their fields.The award is administered by the Singapore National Academy of Science and supported by the Agency for Science,Technology and Research.Asst Prof Koh received the award from Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Mr Heng Swee Keat on 9December 2022 at apresentation ceremony held at The Istana.Transforming sustainable chemistry through more efficient catalysts and reagents Asst Prof Koh has been recognised for his research in sustainable catalysis and radical chemistry.His work has led to the discovery of cheaper,energy-efficient catalysts and reagents that significantly enhance chemical synthesis efficiency.Asst Prof Koh and his team have leveraged these innovative catalyst systems to transform cheap and abundant feedstock chemicals into value-added functional products with less energy consumption,less waste production and lower environmental footprint.This is expected to revolutionise the way important chemicals are prepared,and make adifference in many areas including agriculture,therapeutics and plastic waste upcycling.Asst Prof Koh also co-owns anumber of patents,some of which have been licensed by XiMo AG,a Swiss-based company that develops catalysts for use across various chemical sectors.Beyond research,Asst Prof Koh has akeen interest to promote chemical science as away of contributing back to society.He participates in local and international science forums as well as outreach programmes to share his research work and experiences with young science enthusiasts,inspiring them to pursue their interests in science.“It is an incredible honour to be selected for the Young Scientist Award.I believe this recognition is atestament to the value of our work in sustainable catalysis.I wish to thank my research team and NUS for the tremendous support given throughout my career.More importantly,I hope this will raise public awareness on the importance of sustainable chemistry to solve challenges for the future development of Singapore,”said Asst Prof Koh. 查看详细>>

The development of an embryo is awell-orchestrated string of processes,ensuring correct formation and positioning of vital organs of the growing organism.At the molecular level,these processes are controlled in aprecise manner by switching on or off specific factors such as genes or proteins.Any errors in these processes could result in physical defects or disease in the newborn organism.A team of scientists from the National University of Singapore(NUS)led by Assistant Professor Xue Shifeng from the Department of Biological Sciences has discovered anew way to interpret unsolved Mendelian diseases–diseases inherited from either parent due to gene mutations in the developing egg or sperm–through studying the inheritance of aprotein known as SMCHD1 which is coded by the SMCHD1 gene.Mutations in the SMCHD1 gene can cause diseases such as facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy(FSHD)which is amuscle degenerative disorder,and Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome(BAMS)which causes abnormalities of the nose and eyes.The researchers found that SMCHD1 from mothers controls the expression of agroup of genes in offspring,known as the HOX genes,which determines the position of body parts in an embryo along the axis from its head to tail.The researchers also found that the inactivation of SMCHD1 in female zebrafish results in alterations to HOX gene expression leading to skeletal defects in their offspring.The study led by NUS researchers,in collaboration with A*STAR,Yale-NUS and Aix-Marseille University,was published in Nature Communications on 23 June 2022.Inheritance of mother’s genes and structural defects In mammals,SMCHD1 plays akey role in X-inactivation in females,a process where one of the copies of the Xchromosome is randomly selected and disabled.This makes it challenging to study the role of the SMCHD1 gene inherited from mothers because inactivating the SMCHD1 gene is lethal for female mammals.The research team decided to use zebrafish,a vertebrate commonly used as amodel organism in biomedical research,to circumvent this issue.Zebrafish lack X-inactivation,allowing the team to study the role of the SMCHD1 gene inherited from mothers.The researchers inactivated the SMCHD1 gene in zebrafish to study how it will affect gene expression and structural development in zebrafish offspring.NUS scientists observed that SMCHD1 protein is placed into the egg by the mother.The inactivation of the SMCHD1 gene in female zebrafish caused alterations in HOX gene expression in their fertilised eggs.HOX genes play an important role in ensuring the specific patterns and identities of different body parts in the baby.The loss of the SMCHD1 gene resulted in premature activation of HOX genes resulting in skeletal patterning defects in the zebrafish offspring.Asst Prof Xue and her team demonstrated anew concept that gene products such as proteins from the mother’s egg can control gene expression occurring in the developing embryo.Factors that control gene expression produced by the mother in the developing egg can set up the conditions for proper gene activation after the egg is fertilised with asperm.Through further lab studies,the team found that the same principle applied to mammals.Interpreting unsolved genetic diseases The results of the study could change the way unsolved Mendelian diseases are interpreted.Based on this study,some genetic abnormalities in parents could manifest in their children,opening possibilities of explaining birth defects seen in children by examining the genetic make-up of their parents.“When we think about genetic diseases,we usually think that amutation in the patient caused the disease.In our study,we found using zebrafish,the abnormalities in the offspring are not caused by agenetic mutation in the individual but in its mother.This will change how we think about unsolved inherited diseases,”said Asst Prof Xue.Future research Following their current study,the researchers hope to continue exploring how,at the molecular level,maternal genes control embryo gene expression after birth.“We want to understand,molecularly,what marks are left by the maternal SMCHD1 gene on the offspring’s genome that will affect the embryo.We are also interested in studying the SMCHD1 protein,its mutations that are involved in different diseases,as well as how it works,”shared Asst Prof Xue. 查看详细>>

A team of researchers from the College of Design and Engineering,the N.1 Institute for Health and the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore has recently engineered in vitro tumour models to better understand the crosstalk between liver cancer cells and their microenvironment.Using lab-grown mini liver tumours co-cultured with endothelial cells–these are cells that form the lining of blood vessels–to conduct their study,the research team investigated the role of endothelial cells in liver cancer progression.“The conventional understanding is that endothelial cells are structural cells that form blood vessels.Our latest findings suggest that these cells also give‘instructions’to liver cancer cells to increase the production of aprotein called CXCL1,which is associated with poor survival outcome in liver cancer patients,”explained Assistant Professor Eliza Fong,who led the research study.CXCL1 is atype of chemokine,which are signalling proteins secreted by cells to regulate the infiltration of different immune cells into tumours.Hence,these molecules affect tumour immunity and may influence therapeutic outcomes in patients.“Our results pave the way for new therapeutic targets to control tumour development,and further our team’s understanding of the mechanisms behind the progression of liver cancer,”Dr.Toh Tan Boon added,who is also akey member of the research team.The team’s results were published in the journal Biomaterials on 16 April 2022.Breakthrough in understanding liver cancer progression Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the sixth most commonly occurring cancer and remains the second leading cause of cancer worldwide.While several therapeutics have been approved in the recent years to treat advanced HCC,the impact of anti-angiogenic treatment on the overall survival of HCC patients remains elusive.Previous studies have shown that tumour growth is facilitated by abiological process called angiogenesis(the development of blood vessels)which provides the tumour with oxygen and nutrients to grow.Unfortunately,the benefits of angiogenesis inhibitors are only temporary,following which the tumour resumes growth.To find new therapeutic targets to better control tumour development,the NUS team decided to study the role of endothelial cells in cancer development using engineered in vitro tumour models.Unlike previously reported models that rely on the use of immortalised cancer cell lines,the NUS team incorporated patient-derived xenograft organoids and endothelial cells in their new model,which led the team to their significant discovery.“We found that the‘communication’between liver cancer cells and endothelial cells contribute to the generation of macrophages.These immune cells are pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenesis,potentially creating avery conducive microenvironment for tumour expansion,”explained Associate Professor Edward Chow,also akey member on the research team.Advancing cancer research using complex tumour models This latest study,which is acontinuation from their previous work in 2018,highlight the significance of setting up such complex co-cultures to better understand the liver cancer milieu.Importantly,these co-culture models may be useful for drug development studies looking to target liver cancer and can also serve as valuable platforms to better understand how inflammation is promoted in liver cancer,and how it contributes to cancer progression.Moving forward,the research team hopes to leverage their practical knowledge to set up such co-cultures and extend this area of expertise to other cancer types.Their research work will provide an enhanced road map for the study of cancer-endothelial crosstalk. 查看详细>>

In the animal word,numerous mechanisms have been described that allow for extremely fast actions or reactions via the slow storage of energy,typically in elastic structures which is then nearly instantly released,similar to the operation of acatapult.Many of these mechanisms are employed for prey capture or predator avoidance,however such superfast actions have not yet been reported as ameans to dodge sexual mechanism.Associate Professor Li Daiqin from the National University of Singapore(NUS)and ateam of scientists have discovered amechanism in the legs of male spiders enabling them to undertake asplit-second catapult action immediately after mating to avoid being cannibalised by their partner.This is the first time acatapult mechanism to escape sexual cannibalism has been observed in any animal.The scientists demonstrated that male communal orb-weaving spiders(Philoponella prominens(Family:Uloboridae))activate the catapult mechanism by extending ajoint that lacks extensor muscles,called the tibia-metatarsus,on their forelegs via hydraulic pressure.The rapid expansion of the legs greatly reduces the likelihood of the male being sexually cannibalised.“Our novel discovery shows that the catapulting behavior is adirect adaptation to female cannibalism among communal orb-weaving spiders.Males with superior locomotory performance and physical capacity may be able to perform the rapid catapulting behavior multiple times,thereby increasing their chance of paternity.This creates the stage of coevolution in the male and female spiders,where females can afford high levels of sexual cannibalism while still having mating opportunities as some males are able to escape from being killed,”said Assoc Prof Li who is from NUS Biological Sciences.The findings were first published in the journal Current Biology on 25 April 2022.Catapulting to safety Sexual cannibalism is observed among spiders and insects,such as praying mantises,for avariety of reasons.Females may cannibalise males as ameans to choose high quality mates or obtain nutrients.As away of escaping the femme fatales of their species,the male communal orb-weaving spider has aspecial catapulting mechanism that allows them to escape being cannibalised after mating.The researchers conducted 155 successful matings,among which 152 males performed the catapulting behavior after their first mating and survived.However,three males that did not perform the catapulting behavior were captured,killed and consumed by the females.In addition,the scientists found that male spiders which were physically blocked from catapulting were eventually consumed by the females.As an additional adaptation to improve their chances of paternity,the male spiders spun silk“safety lines”that were connected to the females’web which prevented them from falling to the ground,and allowed them to climb back to the web for further mating attempts.A male can mate up to six times with the same female. 查看详细>>

25 August 2021 ResearchImpact Butterfly wings,breathing viruses,and breakthrough devices 2021 08 CRP-1 Scientists at NUS seek to address real-world problems through their research Science and technology are the cornerstones of developing solutions for modern world challenges,and deriving innovations that can improve the lives.In the last century,curiosity-driven research has brought about revolutionary transformations,such as the World Wide Web,which was originally built to automate information-sharing between scientists around the world,as well as theoretical physicist Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity that is now commonly used in GPS devices.At NUS,scientists are conducting cutting-edge fundamental research with the aim of translating novel discoveries into practical applications to solve pressing real-world problems.This article shines the spotlight on the work of three multidisciplinary teams led by NUS scientists.These three projects are funded by National Research Foundation Singapore’s Competitive Research Programme(CRP),a scheme that allows multidisciplinary teams to conduct cutting-edge research projects that are of relevance to Singapore.The aim of the research project is to be motivated by an important problem that needs to be solved.The discoveries from CRP projects will hopefully have significant impacts on industry and society as awhole.Uncovering how butterflies get their colours Have you ever wondered where butterflies get their colours from?The answer is surprisingly complex,but it can open the door to developing coloured materials that are biodegradable and non-toxic.Butterfly wings are covered by millions of dead wing scale cells that are made of arigid substance called chitin.These scales are responsible for producing the wings’striking iridescent colours,but do so in several different ways.Professor Antónia Monteiro,who is from NUS Biological Sciences and Yale-NUS,and her team want to understand the mechanisms behind these beautiful colours.With her team,Prof Monteiro brings together biologists,physicists and material engineers.“Butterfly wing scales are some of the most complex cells in the living world.We would like to understand how these cells produce bright iridescent colours,from agenetic,physical,and materials perspective,”she said.One of the team’s goals is to reproduce some of the butterfly‘s brilliant colours in the lab,using non-toxic,biodegradable polymers,such as chitosan.So far,the team has produced materials that are biodegradable and non-toxic,and could eventually be used in avariety of industries,such as in cosmetics or food production.Another goal of the team is to investigate the multiple ways butterflies have evolved certain colours,from the perspective of the scale’s skeleton architecture.“We have been able to mill down very thin layers of chitin from individual scales,and discovered the optical functions of each of the layers in isolation,and how they contribute to the final colour and optical properties of ascale,”Prof Monteiro explained.The researchers subsequently produced avariety of structurally coloured materials in the lab by using anano-printing method,a shrinking method,as well as acasting method for the polymer chitosan.A more fundamental goal for Prof Monteiro and her team is to study how genes regulate scale development,and in turn build their extremely complex chitinous skeletons that produce colour.The team has discovered avariety of genes that,when disrupted,alter the colour as well as the shape of wing scales.They found that butterflies have evolved five distinct ways to produce blue and green iridescent colours across their radiation. 查看详细>>

Religion has been transformed by digitalisation.This has been more pronounced in the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic which has kept many worshippers largely at home with religion delivered online at home.In arecent keynote address on"Freedom of Religion in the Age of Social Media",Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo,Director of the Centre for Asian Legal Studies at NUS Law,discussed this rapid digitalisation and the rise of social media,and considered the impact of this phenomenon on how religion is understood and experienced.She examined the shifts in technological impact from religion online to online religion,and finally to digital religion today.In the final part of her lecture,she examined how these changes are challenging existing intellectual frames for the right to freedom of religion,including aclaim for apublic-private dichotomy,before exhorting for fresh approaches to advancing religious freedom.The keynote address was delivered at the Professor Shah Alam Memorial Lecture on 24 June 2021 at the opening of the 2nd Professor Shah Alam Constitutional Law Virtual Moot Court Competition 2021.The event was organised by Empowerment through Law of the Common People(ELCOP),an organisation of law professors and students from different universities in Bangladesh. 查看详细>>