Sinapore: Bayer HealthCare in Singapore in collaboration with five research institutions have kaunched new Integrated Translational Oncology Network to enhance R&D collaborations in fight against the growing cancer burden in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. The establishment of the network was supported and facilitated by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Partners in the Integrated Translational Oncology Network are Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Duke-NUS, National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS), National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore General Hospital and A*STAR's Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC).

The Integrated Translational Oncology Network takes Bayer HealthCare's ongoing preclinical and clinical collaborations with various Singapore institutions to the next level. The network will aim to comprehensively tackle drug discovery and development challenges for Asian prevalent cancers and bring novel therapies from bench to bedside.

The partners will share their strategic vision and jointly develop and evaluate novel treatment options for Asian prevalent cancers in collaborative projects and trials. In addition, they will organize joint activities, such as annual meetings, workshops, or lectures and link their network and activities to other leading centers in Asia Pacific.

Mr Kevin Lai, director, biomedical sciences, EDB, said, "The establishment of Bayer's Integrated Translational Oncology Network demonstrates the strengths of Singapore's translational clinical research ecosystem. Singapore will continue to enhance the ecosystem through investments in new infrastructure and capabilities."