Download 35 - Asia Pacific Biotech News

Research in Ophthalmology and
Vision in the Asia-Pacific Region:
The
ingapore Eye
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Research Institute Story
The Singapore Eye Research Institute
(SERI) was established in 1997, with a
mission to conduct research in sight
threatening disorders and eye diseases
of particular relevance to Asia-Pacific
and to develop new and effective
treatment modalities for eye disorders.
SERI today is one of the world leaders
in myopia research, and with its close
integration of clinical, basic science and
epidemiological research, the institute
is now one of the leading centers for
ophthalmic research in Asia.
M
edical research in the fields of ophthalmology
and the visual sciences is on an upward trend
in the Asia-Pacific region. Asian scientists
feature significantly in the ophthalmic research literature,
and with the growth and maturity of major ophthalmic
clinical centers and institutes in East Asian countries such
as Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, the
development of new research capabilities and major programs
in Asian eye disease research in these and other Asia-Pacific
nations is a major aspect of the growing industry in
biomedical and life sciences research in the region.
Donald Tan
Singapore Eye Research Institute
and Singapore National Eye Center
Wallace S. Foulds
University of Glasgow
and Singapore Eye Research Institute
A model example of the rapid development of vision
research in the Asia-Pacific is the establishment of the
Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI). SERI was established
in 1997, with a mission to conduct research in sight
threatening disorders and eye diseases of particular relevance
to our part of the world, and to develop new and effective
treatment modalities for eye disorders. Since its foundation,
SERI has established a high international profile for its work,
and is gaining recognition for its specialized research at the
cutting edge of the visual sciences. SERI today is one of the
world leaders in myopia research, and with its close
integration of clinical, basic science and epidemiological
research, the institute is now one of the leading centers for
ophthalmic research in Asia. With the collaboration of key
clinicians and scientists from many institutions worldwide,
SERI’s role in the promotion of international and global
exchange in vision research has significantly aided the
development of strategic research initiatives for Asian eye
diseases.
APBN • Vol. 6 • No. 2 • 2002
35
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An Asian Focus with Research Impact
First SERI International Meeting in Singapore
To be relevant, ophthalmic and vision research in Asia
In line with Singapore’s drive to develop research in
must center on Asian eye diseases in which significant impact
the biological life sciences, SERI recently hosted the First
can be generated. This strategy has been adopted by SERI,
SERI International Meeting, in September 2001, in
which remains focused on those major ophthalmic disorders
conjunction with the third Singapore National Eye Research
pertinent to Singapore. The four major eye disorders on
Meeting, and the second meeting of the Asia-Pacific Society
which SERI is concentrating its research effort are myopia
of Eye Genetics. The meeting coincided with the official
and diabetic eye disease, both
opening of SERI in its new
common in Singapore, and
premises within the new
The
four
major
eye
disorders
on
which
glaucoma and ocular surface
wing of the Singapore
SERI is concentrating its research
d i s o rd e r s t h a t h a ve
National Eye Center. The
effort are myopia, diabetic eye disease,
peculiar Asian characteristics.
meeting was the first in
glaucoma
and
ocular
surface
disorders.
Each of these diseases carries
the region to focus presignificant morbidity. Unlike
dominantly on research in
cataract, which is an easily
ophthalmology and the
treatable disorder, much research is still needed for the
vision sciences. International scientists and research clinicians
understanding and development of prophylaxis or effective
from the UK, US, Italy, China, Taiwan, India, Hong Kong
treatment for the clinical conditions being researched. To
and Australia participated in this three-day meeting that
this end, SERI has developed core research competencies
attracted over 300 delegates.
that include a clinical trial center, an epidemiological work
force, and research laboratories for molecular and cell biology,
This special issue of the Asia Pacific Biotech News
tissue engineering and stem cell culture, micro-analytical
features key events occurring in ophthalmic research in the
chemistry, and functional genomics, including DNA microAsia-Pacific, and new findings and discoveries in vision
array technology.
science that were presented at the First SERI International
Meeting.
Image courtesy of Singapore National Eye Centre
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APBN • Vol. 6 • No. 2 • 2002