Health
INAUGURAL NUHS SCIENTIFIC & INNOVATION SUMMIT CHAMPIONS PREDICTIVE, PRECISE AND PERSONALISED CARE
Innovation Summit
From digital twin technology to leveraging AI in tackling obesity, the NUHS Scientific & Innovation Summit is a congregation of the brightest minds in cutting-edge medicine – with patients’ utmost care at heart
SINGAPORE, Aug. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal cancers, but Mr Ang Chin Chay, 70, was in the dark about his dire condition, until he experienced a bout of fever following a vacation to Vietnam. He quickly sought medical attention for what turned out to be a Hepatitis A infection, transmitted through contaminated food he had consumed overseas.
It was a fortuitous encounter, as routine tests revealed abnormal liver function results. Mr Ang subsequently underwent scans, which uncovered HCC, a largely asymptomatic cancer in its early stages. This was unexpected as Mr Ang was known to have fatty liver, but not cirrhosis, the most advanced form of liver scarring.
“Patients with fatty liver – but without cirrhosis – are not routinely recommended to undergo liver cancer screening,” Dr Huang explained. “But in reality, we have discovered that nearly 40 percent of HCC cases related to fatty liver occur in the absence of cirrhosis.”
Mr Ang’s prognosis would have been poor if his condition had not been detected early, as patients who are diagnosed at a late stage have an overall five-year survival rate of less than 20 percent.
Improving the screening process for patients like Mr Ang through non-invasive tests and advanced imaging is the crux of Dr Huang’s work that he will be presenting at the NUHS Scientific & Innovation Summit, on 3 August 2024.
“We aim to risk stratify people with fatty liver into those who have a high risk of liver cancer and those who do not, and to pre-emptively develop better ways to identify these people early so that they can receive some form of curative treatment,” Dr. Huang explained.
Personalising care with the digital twin
Another project pushing the frontiers of medicine with digital innovations, is the Digital Twin programme led by Dr Gao Yujia, Assistant Group Chief Technology Officer, National University Health System.
The digital twin, which is based on imaging and other data from a patient’s own tests, is a virtual 3D anatomical replica of a patient’s organs, like the liver. The digital twin will allow clinicians to transform what is usually a static scan image (such as an MRI scan), into a dynamic model that precisely recreates the shape and structural behaviour of the organ it replicates, enabling enhanced pre-surgery planning and more accurate intra-operative navigation.
Together with Holomedicine, which is a mixed reality (MR) based technology, this represents a significant leap forward in the surgeons’ ability to predict how organs will behave during a surgery, and predict how internal structures will move and change as the surgery is being performed.
“Holomedicine leverages mixed reality to interact with virtual objects superimposed onto the real world, allowing for unparalleled accuracy in pre-surgical planning,” explained Dr Gao, who will be presenting his work in mixed reality technology at the NUHS Scientific & Innovation Summit.
With this near-pinpoint precision, surgeons can minimise the risk of injuring other structures, thereby reducing potential complications and operating time, ultimately improving the patient’s overall recovery outcomes.
Innovation Summit: Tackling diseases with precision
Dr Anand Jeyasekharan, a senior consultant at the Department of Haematology-Oncology in the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), likens the human body’s reaction to cancer cells, to an intense battle between two warring armies.
It was a battle that became personal in 2023 for Mr Soegianto Nagaria, Dr Jeyasekharan’s patient. He had a large tumour in his liver excised by surgeons in Taiwan. Initially thought to be liver cancer, the reports indicated it to be a Stage 4 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma instead. The situation worsened when the doctors discovered the presence of a second lymphoma in his bone marrow.
Diagnosing and treating two concurrent cancers presented significant challenges, requiring precise and coordinated medical intervention. It was important to know if the two cancers were related, as the treatment would be very different if they were.
Upon recommendations by his cousins, who are doctors, Mr Nagaria decided to continue the rest of his treatment at NCIS, under Dr Jeyasekharan’s care.
Mr Nagaria flew to Singapore in September 2023, and underwent a molecular profiling under an NUHS programme for precision oncology (IMAC – integrated molecular analysis of cancer) to get his tumour sequenced. Following the sequencing, the NCIS team discovered that the two lymphomas were not related and drew up the vital treatment plans, providing life-saving ammunition in the cancer battle.
Mr Nagaria completed multiple rounds of chemotherapy over six months, and is now on close monitoring while in remission.
Besides sequencing, which Mr Nagaria underwent, Dr Jeyasekharan is developing a new tool in his arsenal of weapons against deadly cancers – spatial phenotyping, where advanced imaging equipment is used to analyse cancer with high molecular detail.
Spatial phenotyping represents the next frontier of cancer research, and is especially useful for solid tumours. “We are trying to draw [battle] maps of cancer at a high resolution and in great detail, in order to understand how to fight it,” Dr Jeyasekharan explained. “Spatial phentoyping’s ability to dive deep into molecular detail allows us to be more precise in diagnostics, treatment and care.”
With cancer being a leading cause of death globally, spatial phenotyping can mean a world of difference for patients afflicted with cancer. “We are never happy with just delivering standard treatment, because standard treatment simply isn’t good enough,” Dr Jeyasekharan said. “Some people get cured, some people don’t – we are trying to understand what we can do to improve the chances of curing more people.”
For A/Prof Su Xinyi, who is a senior consultant with the Department of Ophthalmology at NUH, precision medicine may be the key to restoring the vision of patients suffering from currently untreatable and blinding retinal diseases. “Every patient with retinal disease has a unique gene mutation, so the treatment that we provide is tailored specifically to the mutations that they have,” A/Prof Su explained.
Besides gene therapy, A/Prof Su also explores innovations in cell therapy, which are last options for patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – the third leading cause of blindness globally. In AMD, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the retina degenerate with age. By growing these cells in a petri dish, and then injecting them into the eye, they can replace lost cells and help patients regain vision.
While this method of treatment is not new, what makes it unique is the source of cells A/Prof Su uses in its development – cells derived from the umbilical cord. By doing so, this greatly reduces the chance of rejection or the need to use immunosuppressants.
Predicting risk factors, a step ahead
Predictive care affords patients and clinicians the precious gift of time, in preventing the onset, or minimising the severity, of diseases. For Dr Jocelyn Chew, who is an assistant professor at the NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies and Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), adopting a predictive approach to tackling a person’s dietary triggers can curb overeating and obesity.
Dr Chew has been working on an app called the Eating Trigger-Response Inhibition Program (eTRIP), which is designed to help patients identify moments where they are prone to overeating. These include emotional eating, or even ingrained habits such as over-ordering during family gatherings.
eTRIP will be used in tandem with Adipoview, an AI-based dashboard that Dr Chew has created with the team from the NUHS Group Chief Technology Office. Adipoview will gather patient data throughout NUHS to generate insights, such as the diagnosis rate of obesity and treatment rate, to proactively predict who may need further support.
At the Innovation Summit
More than 60 clinician-scientists will be presenting their work at the NUHS Scientific & Innovation Summit, which will be graced by guest-of-honour Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, Permanent Secretary for National Research and Development as well as for Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office, Prime Minister’s Office.
Themed “Tomorrow’s Health Today – Predictive, Precise and Personalised”, the summit will bring together over 500 international and local healthcare experts, opinion leaders and scientists to shape the future of healthcare.
Over the past decade, the NUHS academic health system has secured more than $1 billion in competitive grants (cumulative from FY2011 to FY2021). These funds have fuelled scientific innovations in predictive, precise and personalised care, ensuring improved health outcomes for patients now and in the future.
About National University Health System
The National University Health System (NUHS) is an integrated Academic Health System and Regional Health System in Singapore that delivers value-driven, innovative, and sustainable healthcare.
As Singapore’s only academic health system, we are uniquely positioned to draw on the academic, research and creative capabilities residing within the National University of Singapore (NUS). This collaboration allows us to develop solutions for existing and emerging health and healthcare needs of the Singapore population.
We also work in close collaboration with community hospitals, general practitioners, family medicine clinics, nursing homes and other community and social partners to provide integrated care to the wider community.
With member institutions ranging from community hospitals to academic centres, NUHS creates synergies as a fully integrated cluster to provide seamless care, develop solutions for Singapore’s healthcare challenges and nurture the next generation of healthcare professionals.
National University Health System (NUHS)
SOURCE National University Health System (NUHS)
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Child Health
Pediatric Cancer Goes Beyond a Victory Bell: How Research and Innovation Improve Survivorship Rates
(Feature Impact) For every tear-jerking video found online of a child ringing a bell that signifies a cancer journey victory, there are dozens, if not more, people working behind the scenes. From leading minds in cancer research to doctors, nurses and support staff, a vast network of people and decades of medical advancements make those moments possible.
In fact, in the last 10 years, the FDA approved 10 new immunotherapies and 20 molecularly targeted therapies to treat pediatric cancers, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Those breakthroughs – and the children they impact – come with a cost, which is why Hyundai Hope on Wheels has served as a pioneer in increasing survival rates by investing $303 million in pediatric cancer research over nearly three decades.
Those funds have supported more than 1,600 grants to 210 institutions, leading to new insights into cancer biology, clinical trials and new drug development while bringing hope at all stages of a child’s cancer journey.
However, there remains work to be accomplished. According to a survey conducted by Atomik Research on behalf of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, 46% of U.S. adults believe that a child ringing a hospital bell after cancer treatment signifies the child is cancer-free and their medical journey is largely over. The reality is more nuanced than that. In fact, more than one-third of respondents said they’re not familiar with the term cancer survivorship or they have heard the term but don’t fully understand what it means.
Many health care organizations define survivorship as beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing through treatment and beyond. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, children who survive cancer face several long-term physical and psycho-social challenges due to their cancer and treatment, including planned surgeries, additional rounds of radiation or other forms of medical treatment to address common physical challenges stemming from chemotherapy.
Survival rates continue increasing with scientific and technological breakthroughs, up from 75% to 85% in nearly three decades, representing roughly 40,000 more children surviving their diagnoses. More than 3 in 4 U.S. adults are encouraged by that progress.
For survivors, treatment is just the beginning. Research, follow-up care and long-term funding determine what comes next, and every grant funded and every survivorship program backed means more children reaching adulthood.
According to the survey, more than 80% of adults said they’re more likely to support organizations that fund survivorship services, creating opportunities to fund crucial research and support for children facing pediatric cancer. Collaboration among leading minds, made possible by funding from organizations like Hyundai Hope on Wheels, has led to the development of comprehensive approaches to help children thrive during life after cancer, including enhanced medical records, AI integration, socioemotional support and combatting long-term side effects.
Find more information and ways you can join the fight by visiting HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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Food and Beverage
4 Daily Brain Health Habits for Better Cognition
Daily Brain Health Habits: Your brain works hard for you, so it’s only fair to return the favor by practicing simple everyday habits to keep this important organ strong and thriving. Start by tweaking your daily routine to focus on these four habits and eating nourishing recipes like California Grape and Sardine Avocado Toast.
4 Daily Brain Health Habits for Better Cognition
(Feature Impact) Your brain works hard for you, so it’s only fair to return the favor by practicing simple everyday habits to keep this important organ strong and thriving.
Start by tweaking your daily routine to focus on these four habits.
Prioritize Sleep
Getting quality sleep is vital for proper brain function. If you find you’ve slipped into the habit of staying up later than you should or notice your sleep being disrupted during the night, those are signs to revisit your sleep hygiene practices. Start by establishing a regular bedtime and wake-up time that will give you the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep. Turn your bedroom into a comfortable refuge from the world – keep it cool and dark, and set up fans or noise machines if you need them to quiet your mind. Avoid consuming caffeine or alcohol too close to bedtime and try switching to a book instead of a screen when it’s time to wind down.
Eat Smart
Just like the rest of the body, the brain is nourished by food. Some of its favorite foods are options rich in healthy fats like fish, avocado, olive oil and nuts, as well as vegetables like leafy greens, which offer carotenoids, and fruits such as grapes, which deliver antioxidants and other polyphenols.
Combine several of these powerful brain-boosting foods at once with this California Grape and Sardine Avocado Toast recipe. The fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and the avocado offers a boost of healthy unsaturated fat, while the grapes add protective dietary flavonols, which may help promote anti-inflammatory and beneficial antioxidant activity.
A study published in the scientific journal “Neurology” found a higher intake of certain flavonols – including three naturally found in grapes – is associated with a 48% decreased risk of developing Alzheimer dementia.
Get Moving
Adding even more proof that what’s good for your body is good for your mind, getting regular exercise is one of the best things you can do for your brain. Motivate yourself by choosing a form of movement you genuinely enjoy, whether it’s a daily walk on a nearby nature trail, a dance class, a bike ride or a heart-pumping workout video.
Challenge Your Mind
Don’t forget to give your brain its own workout, too. Doing something mentally stimulating every day is a great way to keep yourself sharp, and there are plenty of ideas to choose from. Try learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, playing a mind-engaging card or board game, doing a puzzle, reading a book or immersing yourself in a creative writing or art project. The options are nearly endless, and if you want to make your brain extra happy, you can snack on handfuls of grapes as you enjoy your hobby.
Learn more about the connection between grapes and brain health and discover more recipes by visiting GrapesFromCalifornia.com.
California Grape and Sardine Avocado Toast
Prep time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
- 1 large firm, ripe avocado, halved and pitted
- 4 small slices rustic whole grain bread (1/2-inch thick), toasted or grilled
- 1 individual container sardines in olive oil or water, drained
- 1/2 cup quartered red and black Grapes from California
- Aleppo pepper flakes
- fresh cilantro, snipped
- 1 lemon half
- salt (optional)
- With spoon, scoop avocado out of skin and use fork to coarsely mash.
- Spread onto bread slices and top with whole or torn sardines. Sprinkle grapes over sardines.
- Top with generous sprinkle of Aleppo pepper, cilantro, squeeze of fresh lemon and salt, if desired.
Nutritional information per serving: 290 calories; 11 g protein; 29 g carbohydrates; 16 g fat (50% calories from fat); 2.5 g saturated fat (8% calories from saturated fat); 20 mg cholesterol; 210 mg sodium; 6g fiber.
SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission
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Health
Truth Initiative and NAACP Expand Partnership to Advance Health Equity and Increase Access to Proven Quit Resources
Health Equity
When we talk about health equity, we’re really talking about who gets the chance to live a longer, healthier life — and who has been systematically denied that chance. Tobacco and nicotine addiction remain a clear example of that imbalance, especially in Black communities and other historically marginalized groups.
That’s why Truth Initiative and the NAACP are expanding their partnership to increase access to proven quit support and to reframe nicotine cessation as something bigger than an individual choice. Their new phase of collaboration launches the Breath of Freedom Movement, powered by Truth Initiative and the NAACP — a community-centered effort that combines civil rights leadership with public health expertise.
A movement rooted in community and accountability
The Breath of Freedom Movement builds on the work of the Breath of Freedom coalition, an alliance led by Truth Initiative across Black-led organizations. The coalition’s mission has been to reclaim the narrative around tobacco use, confront the ways the industry has shaped that narrative, and connect people to support that respects culture, history, and lived experience.
This expansion arrives at a critical moment. According to the press release, approximately 45,000 Black Americans die each year from smoking-related illness. The burden is not accidental — it has been driven in large part by decades of targeted marketing of menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products.
The release highlights another stark disparity: more than 80% of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, compared with 43% of adult smokers overall. Menthol products are often described as easier to start and harder to quit, which makes access to culturally relevant cessation resources not just helpful, but essential.
Launching at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago
The Breath of Freedom Movement will officially launch at the NAACP National Convention, taking place July 18–22, 2026, in Chicago. The convention theme, “We, The People,” commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary and marks 100 years since Chicago first hosted the NAACP conference in 1926.
As part of the convention programming, Truth Initiative will debut the Rise Together EXperience: Culture, Community, and Nicotine-Free Lives — an immersive mobile exhibit designed to explore how tobacco use and industry marketing tactics have impacted Black, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities. The exhibit is also meant to connect people to quit support in a way that feels accessible and grounded in real community conversations.
What the expanded partnership will do
Truth Initiative and the NAACP say this partnership is designed to move beyond awareness and into action — action that’s rooted in community spaces where trust already exists. The expanded collaboration will focus on:
- Hosting culturally relevant presentations, community forums, workshops, and healing-centered discussions about the health consequences of smoking, vaping, and nicotine addiction, with a focus on disproportionate impacts.
- Advancing the Breath of Freedom mission by reframing nicotine cessation as an act of liberation and resistance to the tobacco industry’s exploitation of Black communities.
- Co-developing and distributing culturally relevant public health content, including toolkits, digital resources, and community-informed cessation materials.
- Promoting awareness of and access to proven quit resources — including Truth Initiative’s EX Program — in partnership with Black-led organizations, faith-based groups, LGBTQ+ advocates, and other culturally aligned stakeholders.
- Strengthening local, regional, and national outreach strategies that elevate community voices and mobilize grassroots support for nicotine prevention and cessation.
In the release, Dr. Chris T. Pernell, Director of the NAACP Center of Health Equity, underscored that health equity requires more than information — it requires accountability and community-rooted action that connects people with tools for healing and freedom from addiction.
Quitting as liberation — not just willpower
One of the most important shifts in this work is the language: quitting isn’t framed as a moral test or a matter of “just trying harder.” Instead, it’s positioned as a supported process — and as a way for communities to push back against systems that have profited from addiction.
As Dr. Dartis noted in the announcement, the tobacco industry has targeted Black communities for generations with products and marketing designed to drive nicotine addiction. The expanded partnership aims to meet people where they are — in trusted spaces, through meaningful conversations, and with resources that recognize culture and lived experience.
Bridging public health data and lived experience
The press release also notes that Dr. Dartis will be featured in an upcoming NAACP docuseries focused on bridging the gap between public health data and the lived experiences of Black men in America. The project will explore the systems, relationships, and environments that shape health outcomes, while highlighting resilience and calling for accountability from the systems meant to serve communities.
How to get free quit support
If you or someone you care about is ready to quit smoking, vaping, or other nicotine products, free support is available through Truth Initiative’s EX Program.
- Text JoinFreedom to 88709
- Visit exprogram.com
Local resources (Arizona)
If you’re in Arizona and want additional, local support, consider these options:
- Arizona Smokers’ Helpline (ASHLine): Call 1-800-55-66-222 or visit https://www.azdhs.gov/ashline/ for free quit coaching and support for Arizona residents.
- Arizona 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211arizona.org) to get connected to local health services, community programs, and support resources.
- Primary care clinics and community health centers: If you have a regular doctor or use a community clinic, ask about quit plans and nicotine replacement options. Many clinics can help you build a step-by-step approach and connect you to additional programs.
The takeaway
The Breath of Freedom Movement is a reminder that nicotine addiction doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s connected to policy, marketing, access to care, and the long history of unequal health outcomes in the United States. By combining community leadership with proven quit resources, Truth Initiative and the NAACP are working to ensure that communities most impacted by tobacco-related harm have the support they need to heal, quit, and thrive.
Credit: Truth Initiative. News provided by Truth Initiative via PRNewswire, July 17, 2026.
- Related Links
- https://www.exprogram.com (or exprogram.com)
- https://www.azdhs.gov/ashline/
- https://211arizona.org
💪 Your health journey starts here! Explore the latest health news, fitness tips, wellness trends, and healthy living advice. Share your thoughts in the comments and subscribe to the STM Daily News newsletter to stay informed and inspired every day.
