Duke-NUS Medical School and the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine) have joined forces to establish the Systems Metabolomics Centre (SysMeC) in Singapore.
Located across two sites at Duke-NUS and NUS Medicine, the research facility is dedicated to advancing metabolomics for disease detection and precision medicine.
The initiative aims to improve the understanding of metabolic processes to enhance diagnostics and develop targeted treatments for various medical conditions.
Metabolomics, the study of small molecules that influence biological functions, plays a key role in identifying disease mechanisms. SysMeC will focus on applying this approach to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders, with the goal of detecting illnesses earlier and refining treatment strategies.
Duke-NUS research senior vice-dean Patrick Tan said: “Metabolomics is a game-changer in our quest to bring precision medicine to patients. There’s still so much we don’t understand about how subtle chemical changes in our bodies influence disease.
“But by combining the strengths of Duke-NUS and NUS Medicine, we are poised to take a global leadership role in this transformative field. Together, we can develop non-invasive tests, detect diseases earlier and guide doctors towards the most effective treatments for each individual.”
Spanning 600m2 across its two locations, SysMeC will concentrate on three primary objectives. These include large-scale population studies to identify metabolic markers linked to diseases and fundamental research into metabolism’s role in health and illness.
Another objective will be the development of advanced analytical tools in collaboration with clinicians, scientists, and industry partners.
In addition to supporting research efforts, the centre will contribute to patient cohort studies aimed at identifying metabolic variations between healthy individuals and those with specific conditions. Ongoing collaborations include projects such as DYNAMO (OF-LCG), RESET, and the national clinical translational programme CADENCE.
SysMeC’s first project will focus on improving diagnostic methods for cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disorders. The research will use mass spectrometry, a molecular analysis technique, to study ceramides, lipid molecules found in cells that have been identified as potential indicators of cardiovascular risk.
While ceramides play a structural role in maintaining the skin’s protective barrier, elevated levels in the bloodstream have been associated with atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque accumulates in arteries.
Certain ceramides are also linked to insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. By employing an ultra-fast blood analysis method, SysMeC researchers aim to evaluate the effectiveness of ceramides as predictive biomarkers for cardiovascular disease in Singapore’s population.
Beyond ceramide research, SysMeC will also explore fluxomics, a specialised field within metabolomics that tracks metabolic activity in real time. By measuring how metabolites move in and out of mitochondria, researchers aim to gain deeper insights into metabolic dysfunction and its links to diseases such as obesity, inherited metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
NUS Medicine research vice dean Roger Foo said: “The Systems Metabolomics Centre is set to drive biomarker discovery and metabolism research in Singapore’s rapidly evolving and dynamic research ecosystem.
“Through this joint collaboration, we aspire to create an exemplary model for future collaborations and a hub for industry engagement, bringing cutting-edge analytical platforms to researchers, clinicians, and innovators across the region. The potential extends far beyond metabolic diseases—SysMeC is poised to make a transformative impact across multiple domains of biomedical research.”
