​Inaugural Singapore-Ireland Collaborative Research Symposium off to flying start

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On 11 March, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) successfully hosted the inaugural Singapore-Ireland Collaborative Research Symposium with several top name Irish institutions, namely the University College Dublin, University College Cork and the National University of Ireland Galway. Held at LKCMedicine's central campus in Novena, the symposium was graced by Guest-of-Honour His Excellency Patrick Bourne, Ambassador of Ireland to Singapore. LKCMedicine Dean opened the symposium bright and early at the Lecture Theatre of the campus' Toh Kian Chui Annex, first acknowledging the esteemed guests present and also thanking Dr Stanley Quek, Chairman of The Ireland Funds Singapore, who has been instrumental in securing support for the symposium.

"Singapore and Ireland have much in common in terms of GDP, population size and a strong focus on education. It is also interesting to think of our Garden City and Emerald Isle serving as gateway: Singapore to Asia and Ireland to Europe", he said. Prof Best also hopes through the symposium, multidisciplinary collaborative partnerships can be established between Ireland and Singapore, further cementing existing relationships, as well as serving as a platform that will lead to transformative research that will improve healthcare and the lives of people in Ireland and Singapore, and by extension, the world.

Echoing Prof Best's sentiments, His Excellency Patrick Bourne said, "Singapore and Ireland share many architectural, historical and educational linkages. It is important that we grow enduring connections between institutions and continuously strengthen them so that the many strengths of Ireland can become part of Singapore's fabric of life and vice versa."

The symposium featured four sessions of presentations by LKCMedicine faculty as well as their Irish counterparts, oriented around the themes of Regenerative Medicine, Dermatology and Genetics, Neuroscience and Ageing, Medical Education, and Infection, Immunity and the Microbiome, which were respectively chaired by Toh Kian Chui Distinguished Professor and Professor of Developmental Biology Philip Ingham FRS; Irene Tan Liang Kheng Professor in Neuroscience George Augustine; Assistant Dean for Educational Development Dr Preman Rajalingam; and Associate Professor of Infectious Disease Kevin Pethe. The symposium concluded with Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine Sanjay Chotirmall delivering the closing remarks.

The Irish delegates then broke off to have collaborative discussions, with some choosing to tour LKCMedicine's bespoke-built Clinical Sciences Building (CSB), led by Director of Operations and Resources Mr Tan Hee Kiang. Delegates also had the opportunity to try their hand at the medical school's hallmark pedagogy – Team-Based Learning (TBL) - under the guidance of LKCMedicine TBL Facilitator Ms Yang Lishan.

The packed programme concluded with an evening drink reception and formal dinner at the School's Medical Library located on the CSB's 20th floor where the delegates chatted and explored collaboration opportunities while enjoying panoramic views of Singapore's evening skyline.