NHCS launches centre to advance cardiovascular research for Asian patients

It also established a $2.5m professorship to support its cardiothoracic surgery leadership.

The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) has launched a centre to develop cardiovascular disease models using heart cells derived from Asian patients.

The Centre for Integrative Human Cell Research and Translation (CIPHER), launched on 16 October, uses blood samples from Asian patients to grow heart muscle cells for disease research and drug testing.

It is the first centre in Singapore dedicated to cardiovascular research using this approach.

NHCS also announced the establishment of the Tong Ming Chuan Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery, the first professorship in the field under the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (AMC).

CIPHER aims to address gaps in cardiovascular research, as some heart conditions develop earlier and present differently in Asian populations than in Western populations. Many treatments have historically been developed using models that do not fully reflect Asian biology.

The centre uses blood samples to generate induced pluripotent stem cells, which are developed into heart muscle cells carrying features of each patient’s disease. Researchers can use these cells to study disease mechanisms and test potential drug treatments.

NHCS has developed more than 40 patient-derived disease models covering heart failure, arrhythmogenic disorders and cardiomyopathies. The collection forms the foundation of CIPHER’s research programme and is among the most well-characterised of its kind in the region.

CIPHER has partnered with Medera Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cardiovascular therapies, and its wholly owned pre-clinical subsidiary Novoheart, which specialises in human-based cardiac tissue engineering.

The partnership produced the Human Heart-in-a-Jar, a miniaturised bioengineered human ventricular chamber developed jointly by NHCS and Novoheart. The model allows researchers to study selected features of human heart disease under controlled laboratory conditions.

CIPHER will study heart muscle contraction, electrical signalling, energy production, and the organisation of heart cells and tissues.

Its technologies can measure contraction force, arrhythmias, and energy production to assess disease characteristics and potential treatment responses.

Separately, the Tong Ming Chuan Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery was established through a $2.5 million gift from Dr Tong Ming Chuan to advance surgical research, clinical excellence and training for future surgeons.

Tong previously led cardiothoracic surgery and the heart transplant programme at Singapore General Hospital and was part of the team that established these services in Singapore.

The professorship falls under the Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme at the SingHealth Duke-NUS AMC. Duke-NUS Medical School will award it to support a cardiothoracic surgery leader at NHCS in advancing clinical and academic work.