Download POLARIS™ TGFBI test - Singapore General Hospital

Singapore, 23 July 2014
EMBARGOED for broadcast, print and online till delivery on 23 July 2014, 2pm
Media Release by Singapore National Eye Centre and Singapore Eye Research
Institute with Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR, Singapore General Hospital
and National University Hospital for the POLARIS Programme.
SINGAPORE TEAM DEVELOPS ASIA’S FIRST GENETIC TEST THAT CAN
PREVENT CORNEAL BLINDNESS
A team of eye doctors and scientists from Singapore have developed Asia’s first
genetic test for identifying patients with a type of eye disease that affects the cornea
called corneal stromal dystrophy which can lead to blurring and loss of vision.
Called the POLARIS™ TGFBI (Transforming Growth Factor beta Induced) test, this
genetic test is designed to aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with
corneal stromal dystrophies. It can also identify family members carrying a TGFBI
mutation who may also be at risk of developing corneal stromal dystrophy.
The test was developed as part of the Personalized OMIC Lattice for Advanced
Research and Improving Stratification (POLARIS) programme, a national initiative
with multiple partners funded by A*STAR, to translate research findings from
Singapore back to Singapore patients.
Building on prior research performed by
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Singapore Eye Research Institute
(SERI), the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Singapore General Hospital
(SGH) developed the clinical test, which was then validated by the National
University Hospital (NUH). Subsequently, clinical samples will be sent to NUH’s
Molecular Diagnosis Centre (MDC) for analysis.
This genetic test provides corneal stromal dystrophy patients with a personalized
diagnosis of their TGFBI mutation, facilitating downstream clinical care in order to be
able to prognosticate future disease progression and selection of mutation-specific
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therapies. Test results can also assist in genetic counselling of families with affected
individuals, and pre-surgical risk assessment of these family members before any
eye surgery.
Patients with corneal stromal dystrophy will be advised by their eye doctors and
counselled accordingly on the next steps. Individuals who may have a family history
of the disease and wish to know the likelihood of inheriting the condition can take the
test. Those who fall in the above categories and considering corneal surgery such as
LASIK can discuss taking the test with their eye surgeon. The POLARIS™ TGFBI
test is now available at SNEC if the eye doctor determines that it is appropriate for
the patient.
“It has been our privilege, as POLARIS, to work with the best and brightest clinicians
and scientists across Singapore, to bring research findings back to Singapore
patients. We are united by a common passion, which is to improve patient outcomes
and healthcare”, said Prof Patrick Tan, Program Director, POLARIS.
“The development of such a test is a testament to the value of collaborative medical
research conducted here in Singapore, where high quality and complex scientific
bench research in genetics directly translates to the bedside, and our clinics, to
actually help eye physicians diagnose, restore and maintain good vision in our
patients, to prevent blindness, and to provide better a better quality of life in a costeffective manner”, said Prof Donald Tan, Medical Director, SNEC.
Speaking on the benefits of the POLARIS programme, Dr Benjamin Seet, Executive
Director of the Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR said: “This is an excellent
example whereby we bring science out of the research lab and right to the point of
patient care. The first POLARIS test screens for a genetic eye disease. Beyond this,
our scientists are developing screening panels for common cancers seen in
Singapore, that will allow doctors to personalise treatments according to a patient’s
genetic information. This is the future of how medicine will be practised.”
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“Singapore General Hospital’s Pathology department closely collaborates with
research scientists and clinicians to translate research discoveries into clinical
assays for better patient care. The development of this test, which helps clinicians to
identify and address the problem earlier, is a very good example of how research
and convergence of experts from various fields can improve patient care and clinical
outcomes,” said Prof Tan Puay Hoon, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of
Pathology, SGH.
"We are privileged to be invited by the POLARIS project team to be involved in the
lab setup and test validation for this national programme, and are proud to be
working with such an enthusiastic group of people, "said Assoc Prof Evelyn Koay,
Centre Director, Molecular Diagnosis, Dept of Laboratory Medicine, National
University Hospital
END
Media Contact
Ravi Chandran
Corporate Communications
Singapore National Eye Centre
Hp: 8121 8569
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About POLARIS
POLARIS (Personalized OMIC Lattice for Advanced Research and Improving
Stratification) is a strategic program funded by A*STAR to pilot the use of OMIC
information into the diagnosis and treatment of medical diseases in Singapore.
Leveraging on A*STAR's proven competencies in the OMIC sciences, and the
hospitals' expertise in clinical treatment, POLARIS seeks to translate the latest
biomedical findings back to Singapore healthcare, thereby providing patients with
better access to a new generation of clinical care based on precision medicine.
Current POLARIS tests under development cover multiple disease areas, including
genetic disease (POLARIS™ TGFBI test); cancer (POLARIS™ GI Cancer Panel);
and infectious disease (POLARIS™ tuberculosis test). POLARIS CAP-accredited
laboratories (expected 2015) at A*STAR and SingHealth will also facilitate the ability
of researchers and clinicians to translate local bio-marker discoveries into clinicallyvalidated and implementable assays, and facilitate more clinical drug trials in
collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.
POLARIS also supports education, outreach, and engagement efforts to facilitate the
ability of basic scientists to partner with local clinician scientists and hospitals. More
information is available at http://polaris.a-star.edu.sg
About Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was incorporated in 1989 and commenced
operations in 1990. It is the designated national centre within the public sector
healthcare network, and spearheads and coordinates the provision of specialised
ophthalmological services with emphasis on quality education and research.
Since its opening in 1990, SNEC has achieved rapid growth and currently manages
an annual workload of 300,000 outpatient visits, 34,000 major eye surgeries and
laser procedures. Ten subspecialties in Cataract, Corneal and External Eye Disease,
General
Cataract
and
Comprehensive
Ophthalmology,
Glaucoma,
Neuro-
Ophthalmology, Oculoplastic and Aesthetic Eyeplastic, Paediatric Ophthalmology
and Strabismus, Refractive Surgery, Ocular Inflammation and Immunology and
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Vitreo-Retina have been established to provide a full range of eye treatment from
comprehensive to tertiary levels for the entire spectrum of eye conditions. SNEC is a
member of Singapore Health Services (SingHealth). See www.snec.com.sg for more
information.
About Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI)
SERI is the national research institute for ophthalmic and vision research in
Singapore. Serving as the research institute of the Singapore National Eye Centre,
and directly affiliated to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of
Singapore, as well the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, SERI undertakes vision
research in collaboration with local clinical ophthalmic centres and biomedical
research institutions, as well as major eye centers and research institutes throughout
the world. See www.seri.com.sg for more information.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead
public sector agency that fosters world-class scientific research and talent to drive
economic growth and transform Singapore into a vibrant knowledge-based and
innovation driven economy. In line with its mission-oriented mandate, A*STAR
spearheads research and development in fields that are essential to growing
Singapore’s manufacturing sector and catalysing new growth industries. A*STAR
supports these economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial
capital to its partners in industry. A*STAR oversees 20 biomedical sciences and
physical sciences and engineering research entities, located in Biopolis and
Fusionopolis as well as their vicinity. These two R&D hubs house a bustling and
diverse community of local and international research scientists and engineers from
A*STAR’s research entities as well as a growing number of corporate laboratories.
Please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
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About the Genome Institute of Singapore
The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) is an institute of the Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR). It has a global vision that seeks to use
genomic sciences to improve public health and public prosperity. Established in 2001
as a centre for genomic discovery, the GIS will pursue the integration of technology,
genetics and biology towards the goal of individualized medicine. The key research
areas at the GIS include computational & systems biology, stem cell and
developmental biology, cancer stem cell biology, cancer therapeutics and stratified
oncology, human genetics, infectious diseases, genomic technologies and
translational technologies. The genomics infrastructure at the GIS is utilized to train
new scientific talent, to function as a bridge for academic and industrial research,
and to explore scientific questions of high impact. Please visit www.gis.a-star.edu.sg.
About Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital, a member of Singapore Health Services, is the public
sector's flagship hospital. Established in 1821, SGH is Singapore's largest acute
tertiary hospital with 1,700 beds and national referral centre offering a
comprehensive range of 36 clinical specialties on its campus. Every year, about 1
million Singaporeans benefit from advanced medical care delivered by its 800
specialists.
As an academic healthcare institution and the bedrock of medical education, SGH
plays a key role in nurturing doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and is
committed to innovative translational and clinical research in her continual strive to
provide the best care and outcomes to her patients. See www.sgh.com.sg
About the National University Hospital
The NUH is a tertiary hospital cum academic medical centre and major referral
centre for a comprehensive range of medical, surgical and dental specialties
including
Cardiology,
Gastroenterology
and
Hepatology,
Obstetrics
and
Gynaecology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedic Surgery and
Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery. The Hospital also provides organ transplant
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programmes for adults (in kidney, liver and pancreas) and is the only public hospital
in Singapore to offer a paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme. Staffed by
a team of healthcare professionals who rank among the best in the field, the NUH
offers quality patient care by embracing innovations and advances in medical
treatment.
In 2004, the NUH became the first Singapore hospital to receive the Joint
Commission International (JCI) accreditation, an international stamp for excellent
clinical practices in patient care and safety. Today, patient safety and good clinical
outcomes remain the focus of the hospital as it continues to play a key role in the
training of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and in translational
research which paves the way for new cures and treatment, offering patients hope
and a new lease of life.
A member of the National University Health System, it is the principal teaching
hospital of the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and the NUS Faculty of
Dentistry.
For more information about the NUH, please visit www.nuh.com.sg
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