Medicine & Healthcare

News

21 Aug 2026
Linked studies reveal fish-based contamination in pet foods and paired serum-food evidence for feline exposure
20 Aug 2026
Scientists have identified submillimeter gray matter nuclei in the human brain involved in the distinct stages of processing information when making rapid, high-stakes decisions. These findings provide critical insights for precise targeting of the neural substrates that govern human choice behavior.
19 Aug 2026
Researchers at the University of Osaka discovered that people who reach extreme old age have an unusual immune system. Around the age of 100, they develop large numbers of rare immune cells that resemble those seen in people fighting cancer, allowing them to remain highly active in their supercentenarian years. The findings suggest that the immune system can adapt with age and may help protect some people from disease to support exceptional longevity.
18 Aug 2026
A recent study has tracked survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake over a 15-year period, discovering that continuous monitoring of mental-health care is critical for early intervention.
18 Aug 2026
Kidney disease can remain hidden until it becomes life-threatening: up to half of cases may go undiagnosed, despite simple blood and urine tests that can detect it early. This stark message is laid out in a landmark series of research papers by a team of global experts, including scientists from Duke-NUS.
17 Aug 2026
Researchers from Tohoku University and the University of Tokyo developed groundbreaking technology, earning a place among the Milestone 2 Awardee teams recognized in the XPRIZE Healthspan Competition.
Cartoon mouse happily eating soybean oil
13 Aug 2026
Mitochondrial protein in brain neurons found to regulate appetite and body weight
10 Aug 2026
A spinout from the University of Osaka is developing a slim, lightweight, single-use endoscope designed specifically for gastric cancer screening. By simplifying conventional endoscope design, the device aims to reduce patient discomfort, lower costs, and lessen the burden on healthcare professionals. Its disposable format removes the need for cleaning and disinfection, while future integration with AI and digital platforms could support more accessible and efficient screening.
07 Aug 2026
Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) can be difficult to treat once it develops, making prevention especially important. In a retrospective study, a Hiroshima University researcher found that quantitative measurements extracted from CT images taken before treatment, when analyzed with machine learning, could distinguish patients who later developed the condition from those who did not—an early step toward predicting MRONJ risk before bone resorption inhibitor therapy begins.
Comparison of final height SDS (Standard Deviation Scores) from the time of short stature diagnosis to final height between patients with and without GH therapy. (Adapted from Maiko Shimomura et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology. May 20, 2026).
07 Aug 2026
Growth impairment is a common late effect of childhood stem cell transplantation. A Japan-wide study found that growth hormone therapy improves adult height, but prior radiation therapy and transplant-related complications negatively affect how much children benefit.
07 Aug 2026
C/EBPγ coordinates cancer cell plasticity and DNA repair in lung adenocarcinoma, revealing a potential target against therapy resistance.
05 Aug 2026
A county-wide program in Taiwan combined risk-based screening with decentralized treatment, dramatically improving hepatitis C diagnosis and cure while projecting liver cancer and mortality reductions that meet the World Health Organization's elimination targets by 2030.1.
03 Aug 2026
Japan-based Elix, Inc. and the University of Vienna, Austria announce the signing of a joint research agreement aimed at advancing drug discovery using AI technologies.
03 Aug 2026
The relationship between the look of streets, feelings of safety, and sleep
03 Aug 2026
Researchers at the University of Osaka found that Bofutsushosan, a Kampo medicine used for obesity, reduced fibrosis-related changes in fat tissue and the liver of aged male mice. Cell experiments suggested that Bofutsushosan also had a direct effect on fibrosis-related signals, partly through the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway. Four ingredients showed particularly strong anti-fibrotic activity, while some mineral ingredients showed the opposite effect under cell-culture conditions. Adjusting the formula strengthened the suppression of some fibrosis-related markers in cultured cells. However, the modified formulas have not been tested in animals or people, and further research is required before the findings can guide treatment.
31 Jul 2026
Researchers from the University of Osaka found that hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles treated with sPLA2 (SPLEVs) induce a lipid counterstorm that counteracts cytokine storm in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome. SPLEVs also demonstrated significant beneficial effects in mouse models of sepsis, coagulopathy, liver injury, colitis, and pneumonia. As lysophosphatidylglycerols were identified as a key mediator of SPLEV activity, these findings suggest a promising approach for developing inexpensive, cell-free anti-inflammatory treatments.
31 Jul 2026
Hiroshima University researchers show that natural tooth count serves as a prognostic marker associated with long-term overall survival following pancreatectomy for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
31 Jul 2026
Researchers at National Taiwan University engineer an ENDOG anchoring on mitochondrial surface, namely MOM-ENDOG, which expression efficiently degrades the viral RNA transcripts synthesized at mitochondrial sites without causing nuclear DNA damages. Delivery of modified mRNA encoding wild-type but not catalytic-dead MOM-ENDOG markedly suppresses the propagation of VSV, Influenza, Dengue, and Zika virus.
older adults and exercise habits
31 Jul 2026
Accessible group programs could combat mental decline in older adults
Undaria pinnatifida seaweed
30 Jul 2026
In a breakthrough clinical trial undertaken by Australian biotechnology company Marinova, a unique seaweed extract has been shown to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
30 Jul 2026
Using direct electrical recordings from individual lysosomes, researchers discovered that sugar chains attached to the lysosomal ion channel TPC2 act as a molecular brake. Because TPC2 dysfunction has been linked to viral infections, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer, the findings may provide a new framework for understanding disease mechanisms and developing more targeted ways to regulate lysosomal signaling.
29 Jul 2026
A team of international scientists led by Dr. Patricia Angela R. Abu have developed an AI model that accurately predicts how effectively the heart pumps blood.
29 Jul 2026
Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a method to build stable, tubular hydrogel structures at the arteriole scale. Using a technique called meniscus-guided interfacial ring-by-ring assembly, UV light is used to form ring-shaped structures at an oil–hydrogel interface, which combine to form hollow tubes. Different tubes could be created with good stability, controlled sizes, complex shapes, and multi-component structures. These structures could help to create vascular networks for artificial tissue models.
28 Jul 2026
Have you ever felt strangely exhausted after waking up from a dream? Researchers took a look at how the brain allocates energy during sleep to explain this “paradoxical sleep.”
24 Jul 2026
Professor Yasutoshi Kido of Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), in collaboration with K.K. DNAFORM and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is developing a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). The project has been selected for funding by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund).
23 Jul 2026
Researchers find dormant pigment cells in vitiligo patches, suggesting a new treatment strategy
22 Jul 2026
Photothermal therapy is a cancer treatment option lacking the negative side effects associated with chemotherapy. Near-infrared laser light selectively heats and destroys cancer cells. However, two issues have stopped this less invasive treatment from becoming mainstream. Scientists have long sought to find a way to prevent nanoparticle clearance - where the immune system clears the nanoparticles carrying therapeutic agents before they can reach tumors - and better laser efficacy so it can reach deeper tumors. Now, a research team has overcome these challenges.
ABO blood types and cardiovascular mortality risks
21 Jul 2026
Certain blood types may have increased risk of mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis
17 Jul 2026
Host genetics-driven expansion of invasive Escherichia coli in the gut microbiome exacerbated tumorigenesis by targeting Hippo pathways to induce cancer stemness via CD44 upregulation. Mouse models of Apc gene mutation and bacteria-epithelial cell cocultures provided proof of concept that invasive bacteria derived from commensal microbes enhanced epithelial clonogenicity. Our data support the use of bacterial precision medicine as an alternative strategy for managing colorectal cancers, even in the hereditary subset.
17 Jul 2026
Researchers from the University of Osaka found that localization of the CLK1 kinase to nuclear stress bodies during thermal stress and recovery is regulated by PP1-mediated dephosphorylation and RIOK2-mediated rephosphorylation. This mechanism, which controls pre-mRNA splicing under stress conditions, could provide new insight into stress-related diseases.

Events

09 Aug 2023 to 11 Aug 2023
The Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2023: Advanced Healthcare and Life Sciences International Innovation Awards & Expo (AHLS IIAE) is set to take place virtually on 9-11 August 2023, bringing together the best and brightest minds from the healthcare and life sciences industries.
26 Jul 2023 to 30 Jul 2023
BIO Asia–Taiwan is Asia's largest biotech networking event, and is jointly organized by the global Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO).
24 Sep 2023 to 28 Sep 2023
RehabWeek is a week-long event that brings together different conferences in the field of rehabilitation technology at the same time and place in order to foster cross-disciplinary communication and the development of relationships between different players.
21 Feb 2023 to 22 Feb 2023
The 2nd Edition Asia Healthcare Analytics Summit by 3novex aims to bring together experts and key-players to present and discuss current trends in healthcare technology to catapult your data-driven outcomes.
07 Nov 2022 to 11 Nov 2022
The World One Health Congress is the world’s premier conference to advance the One Health agenda, profiling and advancing transdisciplinary efforts that further our collective understanding of animal-human disease transmission alongside their social and environmental determinants.
27 Jul 2022 to 31 Jul 2022
BIO Asia–Taiwan is Asia's largest biotech networking event, and is jointly organized by the global Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization (Taiwan BIO).
20 Jun 2022 to 24 Jun 2022
This event, held alongside the COVID-19 International Innovation Awards from 20 to 24 June, will bring forth and showcase innovations that are driving improvements and transforming the healthcare industry.
20 Jun 2022 to 24 Jun 2022
COVID-19 International Innovation Awards (a virtual event), part of MTE 2022 year-long innovation awards programme, is scheduled to return on 20-24 June 2022. The awards are created to acknowledge and celebrate all innovations in response to COVID-19.
17 Jan 2022 to 21 Jan 2022
World’s brightest minds converge at virtual summit to inspire young researchers and discuss key issues
25 Jan 2022 to 26 Jan 2022
With a brand-new focus, join us to explore Asia Healthcare Analytics Summit happening LIVE on 25 & 26 January 2022 via Hopin platform with 30+ Inspiring speakers, 100+ Virtual attendees, 4+ Networking session, 3+ Panel discussions of healthcare experts globally participating in this summit.
25 Nov 2021
Speakers from Singapore, India and Korea, invited to speak at Regional Webinar on virtual surgical planning in oral and facial surgery
11 Oct 2021 to 14 Oct 2021
Pandemics and Policy: Protecting Health and Promoting Economic Recovery
18 Oct 2021 to 19 Oct 2021
Now in its 14th installation, the HIMSS21 APAC Conference will converge under the theme of Future-Proof Healthcare: The Emergence of Asia Pacific.
12 Oct 2021 to 15 Oct 2021
The Asia's Largest Partnering “BioJapan” will be held both digitally and physically. Meet your potential business partners in this Partnering Event!
28 Sep 2021 to 30 Sep 2021
TECHINNOVATION is a premier technology-to-industry matching event presented by IPI. It brings together international technology providers and enterprises to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies, seed licensing opportunities and foster open innovation collaborations.
07 Oct 2021 to 08 Oct 2021
The National Healthcare Group (NHG) is proud to present the 19th Edition of the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress (SHBC).
07 Apr 2021 to 09 Apr 2021
Join us from 7 to 9 April 2021 at the Precision Public Health Asia 2021 Conference to find out how precision public health can improve health outcomes and equity to deliver ‘personalised’ public health.
24 Feb 2021 to 26 Feb 2021
INTERPHEX Week Osaka is Asia's leading exhibition for pharmaceutical industry, consists of 2 exhibitions for pharmaceutical technologies - INTERPHEX OSAKA (Manufacturing & Packaging) and PharmaLab Expo OSAKA (Pharma R&D and Drug Discovery).
12 Jan 2021 to 15 Jan 2021
Organised by the National Research Foundation – Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, the ninth edition of the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS@one-north) will take place 12 to 15 January 2021 as a virtual event.
23 Nov 2020 to 24 Nov 2020
Global health emergencies look set to be a part of our lives. What awaits us in 2021 and what lessons can we draw from COVID-19 coverage? How can we support newsrooms and journalists for more informed and impactful journalism about global scientific, technical and human challenges? What role does journalism play in seeking solutions for a better world that is both healthy, and sustainable?
18 Nov 2020 to 20 Nov 2020
The Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit will focus on accelerating innovation in supply chain resilience, urban food systems, alternative proteins, and affordable nutrition. Will you be joining the conversation virtually on November 18-20?
27 Nov 2020 to 28 Nov 2020
ACRLS 2020 aims to contribute to strengthening cooperation and relationship among members worldwide and forming a strong global network by providing various benefits to robotic clinics in rapidly growing nations throughout Asia.
10 Nov 2020 to 11 Nov 2020
A gathering of healthcare leaders, key government representatives and healthcare IT experts, this conference provides an exclusive platform for you to network with your important stakeholders in Singapore’s healthcare industry.
16 Nov 2020
Optimising Clinical Trials | Commercialising Great Science | Partnering for Growth
02 Nov 2020 to 06 Nov 2020
We invite scientists, doctors, students and other delegates engaging in scientific research related to cancer to join us at Singapore’s preferred cancer conference.
01 Oct 2020 to 02 Oct 2020
The 6th annual RNA Biology Symposium jointly organized by the RNA Biology Centre of CSI Singapore (NUS), Skin Research Institute of Singapore (A*STAR), Duke-NUS Medical School, School of Biological Sciences (NTU) and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)
10 Jul 2020
Tohoku University is hosting an online lecture on COVID-19 on July 10. Led by top virologist Hitoshi Oshitani, the panel will share the latest on the pandemic, and discuss how history, culture and religion can help us understand the challenges ahead.
26 Jun 2020
Flattening the Curve with Digital Health: Episode 7 - Australia
18 Jun 2020
Flattening the Curve with Digital Health: Episode 6 - Thailand
10 Jun 2020
Flattening the Curve with Digital Health: Episode 5 - Japan

Researchers

Dr. Iyaswamy Ashok
Dr. Iyaswamy Ashok is currently a Research Assistant Professor at School of Chinese Medicine.
A PhD student in the health sciences department, studying population studies in health. A graduate student researcher at the University of Lethbridge, under the guidance of Dr. Olu Awosoga and Dr. Hendrika Beaulieu. Majoring in Indigenous health and conducting research on perceived mental and general health status of Indigenous women with chronic illnesses, relating to past experiences of discrimination, trauma and racism. Also focusing on the impact of health policies on the perception of wellness and health. Prior to coming to Canada, worked under the supervision of the UNHCR in Malaysia in project on the access and utilization of healthcare services among refugees. Holds an MSc in public health from the International Medical University and a Bachelor degree in Dental Surgery from Sana’a University.
Dr. Brian Man Yu Bon
Dr. Brian Man Yu Bon is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong.
Dr Kwa is currently a Pharmacy Clinician Scientist and Assistant Director, Pharmacy (Research), at the Singapore General Hospital. She specializes in critical care medicine, infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance research.
Dr. Dong currently works at the Asian Institute of Technology. He does research in Aquaculture, Pathology, Infectious Diseases, and Aquatic Bioscience.
Suraj Bhattarai
Suraj Bhattarai is a global health specialist and tropical medicine physician with research interests in infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance, health systems, and urban health. He is a co-founder and research fellow at the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies, a Kathmandu-based academic institute that promotes and conducts interdisciplinary research. He is a member of Global Young Academy and an Alumni steering committee member of IAP-Young Physician Leaders Programme. He obtained medical training in Nepal and masters in Tropical Medicine & International Health from the LSHTM, UK.
Dr. Brian Kot Chin Wing
Dr Brian Kot is a registered diagnostic radiographer and veterinary imaging researcher in the City University of Hong Kong.
Takashi Hashimoto's major expertise is clinical and basic research for both autoimmune bullous diseases and hereditary skin diseases.
Professor Chou has wide research interests in areas concerning geriatric psychiatry, elderly policies, population policy especially immigrant policy, poverty, welfare reform, income inequality and health policy.
Dr. Salizar Binti Mohamed Ludin is an Assoc. Prof at the Kulliyyah of Nursing of International Islamic University Malaysia.
Dr. Louisa Chung is a Registered Nutritionist of Association for Nutrition (UK) with ten years experience in weight management and physical fitness projects. She is now working on an innovative dietary intake method which aims better result in weight loss and nutrition education.
Dr. Akira Kaneko
Akira Kaneko was appointed as Professor of Parasitology of Osaka City University in 2010. Since then, he has conducted global health research with a particular focus on malaria elimination on islands in Vanuatu, Oceania and Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Dr. Esther Lau Yuet-ying
Dr Esther Lau specializes in clinical psychology and clinical neuropsychology. Currently, her primary line of research aims to uncover some of the complex relationships between sleep, emotional and cognitive functioning.
Jung Ah Cho
Jung Ah Cho is a Visiting Professor at the School of Undergraduate Studies, College of Transdisciplinary Studies, DGIST.
Prof. Hiromitsu Toyoda
Hiromitsu Toyoda is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Medicine of Osaka City University.
Kazuhisa Asai
Kazuhisa Asai is currently an associate professor at the Graduate School of Medicine of Osaka City University.
Tomoya Kawaguchi is a professor at Osaka City University. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, EGFR Positive Lung Cancer, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Picture of Dr. Anna Kam Chi-shan
Dr.Anna Kam's research interests include advanced technologies in aural rehabilitation, automated hearing screening, tinnitus management and auditory processing.
Dr. Yuen has dual professional qualifications as an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist (or speech therapist). He is also an experienced cochlear implant clinical specialist audiologist.
Picture of Ann-Marie Chacko
Prof. Ann Marie Chacko lead the translational efforts for a portfolio of in vivo PET, SPECT, CT and optical imaging agents that span key therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, infectious disease and neurobiology.
Prof. Patrick Tan's research focuses on developing genomic approaches to unlock the molecular and clinical diversity of gastric cancer (aka stomach cancer)- a leading cause of global cancer mortality.
Picture of Prof. David Bruce Matchar
Prof Matchar's research relates to clinical practice improvement - from the development of clinical policies to their implementation in real world clinical settings
Prof. Ooi Eng Eong
Professor Ooi Eng Eong is a clinician-scientist by training and his research on dengue is positioned at the interface between clinical epidemiology, virology and immunology. His laboratory is interested in how antibodies either protect against or enhance dengue virus infection and what viral factors influence epidemic dengue activity.
Prof. Kiyomi Shitaoka's research aims to obtain effective antibody genes and T cell receptor genes by single-cell analysis of B cell and T cell receptors on lymphocytes. In addition, to apply these genes to develop new treatments for overcoming infectious diseases and cancer.
Yohei Kawano is currently and Associate Professor at the Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University.
Prof. Tomoharu Yasuda
Prof. Tomoharu Yasuda's laboratory studies how immune system is regulated through the antigen receptor, intracellular signaling and lymphocyte programming.
Picture of Prof. Antonio Bertoletti
Prof. Antonio Bertoletti's current research focuses on the development of new immunological based therapies (TCR-redirected T cells, HLA-peptide specific antibodies) for the treatment of HBV and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the characterization of human intra-sinusoidal hepatic immune system.
Picture of Anthony Tanoto Tan
Dr. Anthony Tan is actively involved in clinical trials in Singapore and China to test the safety and efficacy of adoptively transferring T cells engineered against HCC with HBV integration in collaboration with Lion TCR Pte Ltd.
Picture of Goh Bee Tin
Cl A/Prof Goh Bee Tin is Head and Senior Consultant in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), Research Director and Deputy Director (Research and Education) at the National Dental Centre of Singapore (NDCS)Education. Her research interests include bone tissue engineering and mandibular reconstruction.
Picture of Prof. Jan Schnupp
Prof. Jan is interested in how sensory processing interpret auditory inputs to the brain are transformed to underpin subjective perceptual qualities of sound such as pitch, timbre and sound source location, and how the brain learns to adapt to the statistical structure of the sounds in our environment to form efficient neural representations of sound and to support auditory scene analysis.

Giants in history

A Japanese surgeon, Tetsuzo Akutsu (20 August 1922 – 9 August 2007) built the first artificial heart capable of keeping an animal alive.
Esther Park (1877-1910), born Kim Jeom-dong, was the first female Korean physician to practise modern medicine in Korea and trained the first generation of Korean female doctors.