Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) of Singapore have established the Johns Hopkins Medicine Division of Biomedical Sciences in Singapore. The move marks the first time JHM has created such a full division outside its home base in Baltimore, Maryland.

"The new enterprise is intended to further strengthen the link between Hopkins and Singapore while enhancing joint research and training activities in Singapore," according to Steve Thompson, CEO of Johns Hopkins International and vice dean at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The division will include 12 full-time Johns Hopkins faculties to be based in Singapore to lead training and research initiatives focused on such life science disciplines as immunology, cancer biology and experimental therapeutics. Johns Hopkins first began its programs in Singapore in 1998.

An international search for a director to lead the Hopkins venture in Singapore is under way

"During the last five years, we have conducted research programs in Singapore, and we now want to expand our commitment to Singapore's biomedical science industry so that our efforts will more quickly bear fruit," said Edward Miller, M.D. dean and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. "We are proud to be part of Singapore's rapid development as a global leader in the biomedical sciences sector."

Says Philip Yeo, chairman of A*STAR, "Johns Hopkins has been a long-standing international partner in the development of Singapore's biomedical sciences. Its continuing presence is indicative of confidence in Singapore and the region's future growth. This program will be invaluable in training our pool of local talents, and through this collaboration, we are strengthening our links to one of the best universities in the world."

Graduate training (PhD programs) in basic and clinical research will be offered to Singaporeans and Southeast Asian nationals. The PhD training conducted in Singapore and Baltimore will lead to either a Hopkins PhD or National University of Singapore (NUS) PhD degree.

The new academic division will begin operations in the first quarter of 2004 at the same site of other A*STAR research institutes and industrial companies. Within two years, it plans to build a staff of 150 research professionals. A grant review committee will be set up to review the division's progress, and a scientific advisory committee consisting of renowned scientists from USA, Singapore and other nations will offer guidance on research priorities.

Johns Hopkins Singapore was established in 1998 and currently carries out research in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and the development of biopolymer substrates to support the tissue engineering industry, and leading is the way in developing DNA vaccines for diseases such as SARS, HIV, Japanese encephalitis and dengue. In Singapore, Johns Hopkins also provides patient care for patients suffering from cancer through the Johns Hopkins NUH International Medical Center

A*STAR is organized into four arms: two research councils, the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Science & Engineering Research Council (SERC), a Corporate Planning and Administration Division (CPAD) and the agency's commercialization arm, Exploit Technologies Pte Ltd. BMRC supports and oversees biomedical research at five national research institutes, with core competencies in bioinformatics, genomics, molecular biology, bioprocessing technology, bioengineering and nanotechnology.