Philanthropy can help bridge Singapore’s medical research funding gap

SINGAPORE is strategically placed to establish itself as Asia’s centre for medical research and healthcare. With an enviable combination of scientific prowess, a conducive environment that draws top talent from across the globe and committed support from the government, the Little Red Dot has the potential to become a powerhouse in this sector.

This is showcased by the recent Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan, which saw the government earmark a record S$25 billion for this strategic initiative, a significant increase from 2020’s S$19 billion. Of this new budget, S$6.5 billion is dedicated to the plan’s expanded mission, which emphasises human health and potential.

Nevertheless, the journey is still evolving, and challenges like the “valley of death” in medical research need to be addressed head-on for the city-state to fully realise its research potential.

Valley of death can be a driver of change

The term “valley of death” refers to a detrimental phase when promising medical research projects, even after initial seed funding, face stagnation due to resource limitations. As such, the need for sustained, long-term financial support, including from non-government sources, and the imperative for fostering closer collaboration across medical institutions become critical in the efforts to reduce the incidence of “funding gap” barriers in smaller-scale research projects.

Understanding the valley of death is pivotal. It represents those gaps in Singapore’s research trajectory that, if not addressed in a timely manner, could stifle innovation and delay critical advancements in healthcare. And as the city-state stands on the cusp of being a healthcare research hub, it is essential that it not just identifies but actively bridges these gaps.

A strong medical research foundation

Singapore has consistently shown promise in the medical research frontier. Government policies and support mechanisms have made the country an attractive destination for top-tier healthcare professionals and researchers worldwide. This recognition extends to the pharmaceutical industry with Big Pharma companies such as Abbott, GSK, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer setting up manufacturing bases here.

These efforts target crucial health concerns that resonate not just within the city-state’s borders but also throughout Asia, addressing areas like cardiology and maternal and child health. Medical research developed in Singapore has more relevance in Asia than much of that developed in the West.

But as it forges ahead, local clinicians see potential for greater efforts in this sector. While there are sizeable government-driven initiatives in play, some smaller to medium-scale research projects teeter on the brink due to inadequate funding – that is, the valley of death.

How philanthropy and the private sector can help fill the gap

Here is where the private sector, and particularly philanthropy organisations, can step in. While the government’s role in supporting medical research remains paramount, the onus of progress should not rest solely on its shoulders. Philanthropy organisations, with their considerable resources and innovative approaches, can be game changers in the process. By facilitating catalytic funding, offering a longer-term perspective on research risks and introducing agile methodologies, they can significantly complement government efforts.

For instance, there have been remarkable success stories in such partnerships between the public sector and private and philanthropic organisations across the region. In Sri Lanka, Tropical and Environmental Disease and Health Associates (Tedha) collaborated effectively with the government’s anti-malaria campaign (AMC) during the post-civil war phase from 2010 to 2014. Tedha set up 50 malaria diagnostic laboratories and 17 entomological surveillance sites in war-impacted regions, which are typically hard for government officials to access.

Their efforts led to the screening of nearly one million individuals and logged over 13,000 days of entomological activities, with crucial data shared with the AMC. This robust partnership was vital in achieving Sri Lanka’s malaria-free certification in 2016, showcasing how collaboration can rebuild health systems even in post-conflict scenarios.

A local example is Japan’s Santen Pharmaceutical’s five-year partnership with the government-owned Singapore Eye Research Institute (Seri), inked in 2017, to advance ophthalmic R&D, particularly targeting diseases common in Asia. With a combined investment of S$37 million, they established a joint Santen-Seri lab, pooling resources from both Santen and the Singapore government. This partnership expanded ongoing programmes while integrating Santen’s drug development expertise with Seri’s innovative technologies and translational research.

From a philanthropy perspective, at Tanoto Foundation, we recently launched the Medical Research Fund (MRF). The fund has been set up to become a beacon for long-term, catalytic funding by providing up to S$5 million a year to support research into a range of diseases that are prevalent in Singapore. They cover cardiology, maternal and child health, diabetes, oncology and infectious diseases.

It is now time for this collaborative model to be channelled into the medical research arena, serving as a cornerstone to fortify Singapore’s healthcare research landscape as well as reducing the impact of the valley of death.

Collaboration the way forward

The crux of this discourse is not about delineating roles between government and private organisations. Rather, it is about amalgamating strengths, weaving a tapestry of shared goals, expertise and resources to advance medical research. It is about realising that in working together, therein lies the power to transform and step up Singapore’s medical research milieu, both on granular and overarching scales.

It is also a clarion call to business magnates, family foundations, philanthropists and other private entities to join this collective effort to not only bolster Singapore’s medical research ambitions, but also craft a healthier future for all its residents. Together, in tandem with governmental vision and support, we can redefine the contours of medical research and innovation in Singapore.

The writer is managing director of RGE Group and a member of the board of trustees at Tanoto Foundation