Duke-NUS Medical School inducted as part of 43 Centres of Excellence into Global Virus Network for effective pandemic control

SINGAPORE, 22 August 2018 – A coalition of seven virology research institutions in Singapore, including Duke-NUS Medical School, has been inducted into the Global Virus Network as a Centre of Excellence, joining 42 other Centres of Excellence and seven Affiliates in 27 countries.

The seven virology research institutes comprise Duke-NUS Medical School, the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) from A*STAR, the Environmental Health Institute (EHI) from the National Environment Agency, the National Public Health Laboratory (NHPL) of the Ministry of Health, DSO National Laboratories under the Ministry of Defence, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), and NUS’ Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The announcement was made jointly by Prof. Robert Gallo, MD, co-founder and scientific director of the GVN; Prof. Linfa Wang, PhD, professor & director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS and professor at the Duke Global Health Institute; and Prof. Christian Bréchot, MD, PhD, president of the GVN. Said Prof Gallo, who is also the Homer and Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine and co-founder and director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, a GVN Center of Excellence: “Combining the seven institutions to form GVN’s latest Center of Excellence in Singapore was a terrific idea by Prof Linfa Wang. Their combined expertise and location in Southeast Asia is integral to connecting us to virus hotspots in Singapore and the surrounding region.” Prof Wang of Duke-NUS believes that, “our established platforms from pathogen discovery, serological investigation to pathogenesis, animal models, bio-containment (up to Animal Biosafety Level 3) challenge studies, and rapid biomarker assessment of countermeasure agents, strongly positions us in the region to play an important role in all aspects of viral disease investigation. We currently have a large project funded in Southeast Asia by the by the USA’s Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and have just been invited to help in the current investigation of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, India. Both initiatives serve as good examples of what the GVN-Singapore Center of Excellence can contribute to global and regional efforts in fighting and containing viral diseases.” The GVN is a global authority and resource for the identification and investigation, interpretation and explanation, control and suppression, of viral diseases posing threats to mankind. It enhances the international capacity for reactive, proactive and interactive activities that address mankind-threatening viruses and addresses a global need for coordinated virology training through scholarly exchange programs for recruiting and training young scientists in human and animal virology. The GVN also serves as a resource to governments and international organizations seeking advice about viral disease threats, prevention or response strategies, and GVN advocates for research and training on virus infections and their many disease manifestations. Added GVN’s Prof Brechot: “We look forward to GVN-Singapore making significant contributions in many areas, especially in rapid responses to outbreaks. It is not common that coalitions in countries come together to form a regional GVN Center of Excellence, and we are delighted that this terrific group of experts came together to become a strong member of the GVN. Their combined research will contribute greatly to our network and encompasses pathogen biology, epidemiology, diagnostics, pathogenesis, structural biology, animal models, counter measures such as vaccines and therapeutics, and a One Health approach to emerging infectious diseases.” The GVN, in partnership with the Fondation Mérieux (FM) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), will convene the 10th International Global Virus Network Meeting on Eradication and Control of (Re-)Emerging Viruses in Annecy, France November 28-30. About Duke-NUS Medical School The Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS, 杜克- 新加坡国立大学医学院) was established in 2005 as a strategic collaboration between the Duke University School of Medicine, located in North Carolina, USA, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Duke-NUS offers a graduate-entry, 4-year MD (Doctor of Medicine) training programme based on the unique Duke model of education, with one year dedicated to independent study and research projects of a basic science or clinical nature. Duke-NUS also offers MD/PhD and PhD programmes. Duke-NUS has five Signature Research Programmes: Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Behavioural Disorders, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders, and Health Services and Systems Research. Duke-NUS and SingHealth have established a strategic partnership in academic medicine that will guide and promote the future of medicine, tapping on and combining the collective strengths of SingHealth's clinical expertise and Duke-NUS' biomedical sciences research and medical education capabilities. For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg About the Global Virus Network (GVN) The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, exiting and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 42 Centers of Excellence and 7 Affiliates in 27 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews About the Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN) SIgN was launched by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) with the aim of expanding and strengthening immunology research in Singapore. The mandate of SIgN is to advance human immunology research and participate in international efforts to combat major health problems. Researchers at SIgN investigate immunity during infections and inflammatory conditions, including cancer, using both mouse models and human tissues. Since its launch SIgN has grown rapidly, and currently includes around 200 scientists from 25 different countries of the world, working under 21 renowned Principal Investigators. Scientists' work is supported by cutting edge technological research platforms and core services. For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Karen Koh Communications Duke-NUS Medical School Tel: (+65) 6601 2388 Email: [email protected]

Published: 23 Aug 2018

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Medicine