News Story: The RISE Against Cancer - LKCMedicine and NCCS Launch Joint Cancer Research Centre
By Edwin Ong
LKCMedicine, in partnership with the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), launched the Research Institute for Cancer Prevention, Screening and Early Detection (RISE) on 13 May 2026.
This progressive initiative represents a significant step forward in Singapore’s preventive health landscape, especially with the consideration that cancer incidence rates continue to rise, against the backdrop of low screening participation.
RISE was established to generate robust, population-specific evidence. By combining LKCMedicine’s multidisciplinary primary care research strengths with NCCS’s clinical expertise, the institute is well-positioned to address ongoing challenges in cancer prevention and align with the national Healthier SG initiative.
Notably, RISE fills a gap in the region, as there are currently no other centres in Asia conducting this specific type of clinical translational research and policy development focused on cancer prevention and early detection. Read news release here.
Targeted Research: The CRAnE Study and MCED Trials
To drive this mission, RISE initiated two key studies targeting different facets of early detection:
| Study Name | Led By | Focus Area | Key Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRAnE Study | LKCMedicine | Metabolic dysfunction-linked cancers | Utilising multi-cancer risk prediction models, including polygenic risk scores, in primary care settings. |
| MCED Trial | NCCS | Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) | Evaluating blood-based MCED tests in high-risk individuals to assess practical diagnostic improvements. |
Zooming in on the LKCMedicine-led CRAnE (Cancer Risk Assessments and Early detection) study – it focuses on cancers linked to metabolic risk factors such as diabetes, excess body fat, and high blood pressure. By generating tailored reports outlining specific cancer risks and recommended screening tests, the study aims to move away from a standard screening approach and toward highly personalised, preventive primary care.
Progress Update: Moving Towards Implementation
Since the launch, the LKCMedicine team has been working to translate this research into actionable clinical practice. Providing a progress update in early July 2026, Professor Jon Emery, Co-Director of RISE and Professor of Family Medicine at LKCMedicine, noted steady headway in preparing the CRAnE study for its first cohort.
"In terms of the CRAnE study, we are working closely with our NHG polyclinics and TTSH partners to finalise the clinical pathways for people identified at increased risk," Prof Emery shared. "We are making final revisions to the protocol in response to IRB review and hope to commence recruitment in August."
Furthermore, RISE is expanding its research scope to understand the broader patient experience. Prof Emery also shared on a new collaborative project with 365 Cancer Prevention to study the psychological consequences of undergoing multi-cancer detection (MCD) testing, ensuring that future screening programmes are designed with patient well-being in mind.
Shaping Policy: The Road Ahead
As a forward-thinking medical research hub, LKCMedicine is actively participating in national healthcare policy discussions. Translating research into systemic change is a key objective for RISE, and the institute is preparing to address specific public health challenges in the near term.
Prof Emery shared more on this: "We just concluded a symposium on lung cancer screening on 15 Jul 2026, including speakers from Australia and Taiwan, which included a closed session to develop a policy statement (which we are working on with Academy of Medicine Singapore) on lung cancer screening in Singapore.
Through targeted research, strategic clinical partnerships, and active policy engagement, LKCMedicine and RISE are contributing to the field of preventive oncology, working to ensure that Singaporeans are well-equipped to detect and prevent cancer early.