Sectors & markets
A*STAR IMCB Celebrates Four Decades of Scientific Excellence and Biomedical Innovation
PHOTO: A*STAR
Market Info | Health & Lifestyle | Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Date: 1 May 2025
Region: ASEAN-O
Country: Singapore
Sector: Health & Lifestyle
Sub-sector: Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Section: Market Trends
Theme: Medical Research
The A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), a pioneering biomedical research institute under Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), celebrated its 40th anniversary on 10 April. The event was graced by Guest of Honour Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry. The celebration highlighted four decades of scientific breakthroughs and IMCB’s ongoing role in shaping Singapore’s biomedical innovation landscape.
A*STAR IMCB is a leading research institute with a mission to harness biology for transformative biotherapeutics and diagnostics. With a strong focus on collaboration across Singapore’s ecosystem, the institute continues to pursue scientific excellence while nurturing the next generation of scientists to drive growth and improve lives.
Dr. Tan acknowledged IMCB’s vital contributions to Singapore’s progress, stating:
“IMCB’s achievements go hand-in-hand with Singapore’s rise as a regional biomedical hub. We began as a nation of technicians. Today, Singapore is a key node across the entire biomedical value chain, home to more than 60 pharmaceutical and medtech manufacturing plants, and over 500 biomedical startups.”
Among IMCB’s major milestones are the discovery of critical protein kinases and phosphatases involved in cell signalling — an achievement commemorated on Singapore’s 10,000 SGD banknote — and the mapping of the Fugu fish genome. Sequenced before the human genome, Fugu’s compact genome played a crucial role in identifying disease-related genes. These efforts accelerated global precision medicine by enabling the discovery of genes linked to cancer and other genetic disorders.
IMCB’s research has led to the creation of biotech spin-offs such as Albatroz Therapeutics, Sunbird Bio, BioCheetah, and Intra-ImmuSG, reflecting the institute’s commitment to translating deep science into promising therapeutic approaches and supporting Singapore’s growing biotech ecosystem.
Looking ahead, the institute will build on its four decades of excellence to advance research in key areas such as translational neuroscience, advanced cancer immunotherapies, and AI-based disease modelling.
