Singapore’s NUS launches Southeast Asia health research hub for population and sustainable health
The Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington have launched the NUS-IHME Global Burden of Disease Research Centre. The Centre will serve as a regional hub, generating scientific evidence to guide policy decisions across Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia, home to nearly one in 10 people worldwide, faces a convergence of health challenges, including an ageing population, shifting disease patterns, and the health impacts of climate change. Many countries in the region lack essential data to allocate resources effectively, address inequities, and respond proactively to outbreaks or pandemics. The Centre will study healthy ageing, environmental threats like extreme heat, antimicrobial resistance, metabolic risks, women’s health, and dietary and lifestyle factors.
Associate Professor Marie Ng, Director of the Centre with appointments at NUS Medicine and IHME, said the Centre aims to empower decision-makers by embedding global health methodologies in local contexts, translating data into actionable policies.
Based at NUS Medicine, the Centre combines IHME’s global expertise in health metrics with NUS Medicine’s regional networks, research capabilities, and academic leadership.
Professor Chong Yap Seng, Dean of NUS Medicine, said that Singapore’s strategic location and academic strength make it a natural base for health intelligence research. The Centre’s findings are expected to inform regional health strategies and contribute to global discussions on population health and sustainable health systems.
IHME, known for its Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, has guided health policy in more than 200 countries and territories. IHME Director Dr Christopher J.L. Murray said that combining their expertise with NUS will help identify the main causes of death and disability and deliver solutions grounded in regional and local realities.
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