Singapore: The Fortis-IBN TissueBank (FIT) for research and development in colorectal diseases will help accelerate translational research in colorectal cancer.

FIT is the result of a S$4.5 million investment from a partnership between the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), the world's first bioengineering and nanotechnology research institute, and Fortis Colorectal Hospital (FCH), Southeast Asia's first hospital dedicated to the full spectrum of colorectal disease management.

Prof Jackie Y Ying, executive director of IBN, said, "This partnership is an exciting collaboration between medical doctors and researchers from the private and public sectors. Both IBN and Fortis have a strong track record of bringing advances from research and innovation to clinical practice and industry. We are now working together to develop and deliver novel technologies for colorectal cancer patients. This new initiative will contribute to the biomedical enterprise in Singapore and help us make a difference to healthcare providers."

Dr Jeremy Lim, CEO of FCH, said, "Fortis Colorectal Hospital's collaboration with IBN is one of the many steps we are making towards contributing to the larger healthcare community in Singapore and the region, and is part of our strategy to create value. We hope that bringing doctors and researchers together will enable us to develop innovative treatments for patients with colorectal diseases. This partnership represents our commitment to not only being a leading hospital for colorectal care, but also a hospital focused on creating and sharing new knowledge to benefit many more patients beyond our doors."

Located at IBN, the biobank will store and maintain patient samples from FCH such as tissue, blood and bodily fluids for research on various aspects of colorectal cancer. Chaired by Dr Tan Min-Han (Team Leader and Principal Research Scientist, IBN; Visiting Consultant, Medical Oncology and Cancer Genetics, National Cancer Centre Singapore) and Dr Koh Poh Koon (Adjunct Clinician Scientist, IBN; Senior Consultant and Director, Colorectal Surgical Oncology & Cancer Genetics Service, FCH), FIT will focus on expanding the epidemiology of colorectal cancer in Singapore and Asia to develop new approaches that can improve diagnosis, treatment and personalized therapy.