The BALANCE study utilises novel smartphone-based approaches to comprehensively explore the digital determinants of health among university students in real-time. The study integrates online questionnaires administered through REDCap, passive smartphone sensing, and Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) to capture real-time digital behaviors and related health indicators. Questionnaire data include demographics, health behaviors, personality traits, self-reported anthropometrics, and mental and cognitive health. Passive tracking collects smartphone engagement patterns, GPS-derived environmental data and pedometer data in real time for 10 days. Repeated EMAs assess momentary digital media use, health behaviors and cognitive performance. The study aims to examine how real-time digital media use is associated with cognitive health outcomes.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider (falk.m-r@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: –

BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) is a pilot risk-based screening programme that aims to study the acceptability of risk stratification to aid women in their decision making to attend regular screening. Shifting the paradigm from an age-based risk screening, BREATHE integrates both genetic and non-genetic factors to predict one’s breast cancer risk. Participants who have consented to the study would be required to attend three sessions; recruitment, 1st follow-up session and final follow-up session. With the data and biospecimens donated, participants would receive a tailored breast cancer risk report at the 1st follow-up session. The final follow-up session is conducted to evaluate the changes in the screening behaviours of participants, and assess if risk-based screening has improved an individual’s willingness to screen regularly.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Mikael Hartman (mikael_hartman@nuhs.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://blog.nus.edu.sg/breathe/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 35358246

Over the course of 2009 and 2010, Singaporean women were enrolled in GUSTO, from a point in early pregnancy. With the longitudinal cohort study being in its 14th year, mother-child dyads have been extensively phenotyped with continuous collection of data. As the GUSTO children journey through life, we are there every step of the way. The detailed observations and sampling on these mothers and children have been instrumental in discovering features more representative of the local and Asian population that can be used to improve the health and potential of our communities, with an earlier start.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Chong Yap Seng (obgcys@nus.edu.sg) and Professor Johan Eriksson (obgjge@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): Huang Lehui Ann (annhuang@nus.edu.sg) and Vicky Tay (medthkv@nus.edu.sg)

Website: www.gusto.sg

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 23912809

Health@NUS 2020 is a prospective cohort study conducted by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in partnership with the Singapore Government’s Health Promotion Board (HPB). Health@NUS 2020 follows NUS students longitudinally over a 2-year period during university and transition to early working life. The study leverages on mHealth data collection methods, including a Fitbit smartwatch and the Health Insights SG (hiSG) mobile app, which collects health behaviours, health and well-being data continuously over the 2-year period. Online surveys were administered through REDCAP survey tool at baseline, 12- and 24-month follow-ups, covering key areas such as demographics, subjective health, lifestyle behaviours, personality traits, mental well-being, and objective health outcomes. Clinical measurements, including height, weight, and blood pressure, were collected onsite by a trained study team.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider (falk.m-r@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://blog.nus.edu.sg/sphpanda/research-projects/healthnus/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 39018103

The Health@NUS 2025 cohort study aims to understand the health of full-time NUS undergraduates and their transition over their university studies since their matriculation. The study includes yearly online surveys administered through the REDCap survey tool, covering key areas such as demographics, subjective health, lifestyle behaviors, personality traits, mental well-being, and objective health outcomes. Clinical measurements, including height, weight, and blood pressure, were collected onsite by a trained study team or during pre-matriculation medical examination.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider (falk.m-r@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: –

The Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) cohort study aims to understand the health of full-time NUS undergraduates and their transition over their university studies since their matriculation in Semester 1, of Academic Year 2021-22. The study includes three online surveys administered through the REDCap survey tool, covering key areas such as demographics, subjective health, lifestyle behaviors, personality traits, life priorities, mental well-being, and objective health outcomes. Clinical measurements, including height, weight, and blood pressure, were collected onsite by a trained study team. Data collection is scheduled at three time points: Baseline (AY 2021-22, Semester 1), after around two years, and after four years.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Falk Mueller-Riemenschneider (falk.m-r@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://blog.nus.edu.sg/sphpanda/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 39095795

The Health for Life in Singapore (HELIOS) Study is a prospective cohort study, which aims to identify the genetic and environmental factors that underpin development of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other complex diseases in Singapore. The ultimate goal is to use the knowledge generated to develop new approaches for prediction, prevention, early detection and better treatment of these chronic diseases, thereby promoting healthy aging and well-being in Singapore.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor John Chambers (john.chambers@ntu.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): Professor John Chambers (john.chambers@ntu.edu.sg)

Website: https://www.healthforlife.sg/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 41469377

The Integrated Women Health Programme (IWHP) was initiated to identify and address in a comprehensive fashion, the health care needs of mid-life Singaporean women, particularly in relation to bone mineral density, muscle, and adiposity. The study recruited women aged 45 to 69 attending well-woman clinics at the National University Hospital Singapore. We also plan to explore novel correlates of important health issues related to midlife women through the use of objectively-measured and novel technologies such as D3-creatine using LC-MS/MS technology, serum biomarkers, and a 6-minute magnetic resonance imaging of the whole body using AMRA Medical technologies.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Yong Eu Leong (obgyel@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/obgyn/research/reproductive-development-biology-research-program/iwhp.html/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 29415269

Repository of healthy volunteers, patients with cardiometabolic and cardiomyopathies. Stored samples include serum and whole blood. All individuals have cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Calvin Chin (gmsccwl@gms.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: –

PHASE is a nationally representative longitudinal survey of older community-dwelling Singapore citizens and permanent residents aged 60 years and above at baseline, with three waves of data –  Wave 1 in 2009 (n=4,990); Wave 2 in 2011-2012 (n=3,103; follow-up of Wave 1 participants); Waves 3 2015 (n=1,572; follow-up of Wave 2 participants).

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Rahul Malhotra (rahul.malhotra@duke-nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): care-datarequest@duke-nus.edu.sg

Website: www.duke-nus.edu.sg/care/research/dataset-codebook

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 31377801; 30165421; 29190378

PIONEER is a nationally-representative and a population-based study investigating the clinical, biological, anthropomorphic, and psychosocial phenotypes of elderly (≥ 60 years) Singaporeans (Malays, Indians and Chinese) to better understand the epidemiology, burden, and complex mechanisms associated with age-related sensory deterioration.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Prof Ecosse Lamoureux (ecosse.lamoureux@duke-nus.edu.sg) and Dr Preeti Gupta (preeti.gupta@duke-nus.edu.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 33269099

SG100K is a multi-institutional cohort study in Singapore which aims to recruit 100,000 diverse Chinese, Malay, and Indian participants to identify the social, environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors associated with diseases prevalent in Singapore. SG100K comprises participants from four cohort studies in Singapore: Health for Life in Singapore (NTU), Singapore Population Health Studies (NUS), Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SERI) and SingHeart (NHCS). The study will collect detailed information on health, lifestyle, environment, and physical well-being from 100,000 volunteers. This includes assessment of diet and lifestyle choices through a structured questionnaire, and measurement of waist-hip circumference, blood pressure, physical fitness, lung function, body composition, skeletal health, cardiovascular health, cognitive performance, as well as glucose and cholesterol levels. Key biological samples such as blood, urine and skin tapes are also collected.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor John Chambers (john.chambers@ntu.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 31626772; 34960161; 35361824

Initiated in 1993, the main objective of Singapore Chinese Health Study (SCHS) is to build a stable cohort for long term study of dietary, genetic, and environmental determinants of cancer and other chronic diseases in Singapore. The cohort included Chinese Singaporeans residing in public housing. One of the major strengths of SCHS is its ability to examine potential disease-protective dietary factors that are rarely consumed among the well-studied occidental populations.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Koh Woon Puay (kohwp@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://www.schs.pitt.edu/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 28535164; 29457582; 30165478

The Singapore Cohort Of Risk factors for Myopia (SCORM), the first myopia cohort study launched in Asia and one of the first studies in the world, launched in the year 1999. It has provided rich information on the aetiology, pathological abnormalities, genetic and environmental risk factors for myopia in Singapore children. The SCORM study included a total of 1,979 children aged 7 to 9 years to determine the environmental and genetic risk factors for myopia, ocular biometric changes and pathological abnormalities. The SCORM Children were recruited from three schools in Singapore during the years 1999 and 2001 and were followed up annually until 2006 (1,053 children).

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Saw Seang Mei (sphssm@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 11211020

The Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) study aimed to investigate prevalence, incidence, risk factors and impact of Asian eye diseases in the three major racial/ethnic groups (Chinese, Malays, Indians) in Singapore. It used an age-stratified random sample selected from 15 districts approximating Singapore’s socio-economic and demographic structure. SEED has three further follow-ups: 6-year follow-up (SEED-2), 12-year follow-up (SEED-3) and 20-year follow-up (SEED-4). The detailed phenotyping conducted by SEED highlights ethnic differences in disease prevalence and risk factors, which provides important insights into global eye health.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Cheng Ching-Yu (chingyu.cheng@duke-nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): 

Website: https://blog.nus.edu.sg/seed/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 33393587; 30529130; 25104651

The Singapore Life Panel (SLP) was launched in 2015 under the stewardship of the Centre for Research on the Economics of Ageing (CREA) and followed more than 12,000 Singaporeans aged 50–70 at baseline (July 2015) for a period of five years. Across 60 completed monthly waves, the average number of responses per wave remained stable at approximately 7,500, resulting in nearly 500,000 completed interviews. During the CREA period, the SLP captured detailed self-reported indicators of individuals’ economic well-being, supplemented by more limited measures from other domains of well-being. Surveys were administered primarily through an online survey portal, supported by operational efforts to sustain participation. The SLP has continued beyond its initial five-year period under the Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) from 2021 onward, featuring a refreshed design and an expanded focus on holistic well-being. However, the current release includes only the first five years of SLP data collected under CREA.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Paulin Straughan (paulints@smu.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): rosa@smu.edu.sg

Website: https://rosa.smu.edu.sg/singapore-life-panel/about-singapore-life-panelr

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 37073729, 38603917, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217590818420043  

The primary objective of SLAS-YS was to furnish scientific evidence to support policy development and implementation of strategies, programs, and practices related to disability prevention and the promotion of healthy ageing in Singapore. The Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies (SLAS) comprised of two cohorts aged 55 and above: SLAS-1 (commenced in 2003) and SLAS-2 (commenced in 2008). The Yishun Study (YS) recruited 542 adults (≥21 years) from Yishun via stratified random sampling. Additional recruitment of older individuals (>75 years) occurred at senior activity centres.

SLAS-1

SLAS-2

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails) for SLAS 1 and 2:  Professor Roger Ho Chun Man (pcmrhcm@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails) for SLAS 1 and 2: –

Website for SLAS 1 and 2: –

Selected Research Outputs for SLAS: PMID: 33589714

YS

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Dr Rachel Cheong Chin Yee (cheong.chin.yee@ktph.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 33589714

The Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS) seeks to understand factors that can enhance or hinder Singaporean children’s early childhood development with an aim to inform public policies that can help each child reach his or her potential. SG-LEADS is a nationally representative household survey that focuses on Singaporean households with children aged 0–6 at the baseline. It adopts a multi-stage probability sampling — clustered and stratified sampling strategy — with an oversample of the low-income households residing in 1–3-room HDB (Housing Development Board) public housing units. In-home face-to-face interviews were conducted on the computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) systems. The baseline survey was conducted between 2018 and 2019. Up to two eligible children and their primary caregivers were interviewed in each household. In total, 5,005 Singaporean children aged 0–6 in 3,476 households and their primary caregivers were successfully interviewed. In 2021, 4,351 children in 3,017 households were successfully re-interviewed. Wave 3 data collection is conducted in 2025.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Wei-Jun Jean Yeung (yeungwjj@sics.a-star.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: https://sg-leads.org/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 38419773

Over the course of 2015 and 2017, Singaporean women without fertility issues and intending to get pregnant were enrolled in S-PRESTO. S-PRESTO has the advantage to prospectively assess a wide array of potential determinants of future health outcomes in women from preconception to post-delivery and in their offspring across the earliest development from embryonic stages into early childhood.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Chong Yap Seng (obgcys@nus.edu.sg) and Professor Johan Eriksson (obgjge@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): Huang Lehui Ann (annhuang@nus.edu.sg) and Vicky Tay (medthkv@nus.edu.sg)

Website: www.gusto.sg

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 33222050

The Singapore Population Health Studies (SPHS) is a population-based health research initiative that aims to (i) investigate the interactions between lifestyle, physiological, genetic and other omics biomarkers and their impact on health and longevity; (ii) serve as a platform to monitor risk factors in the population and gain insight into determinants of health-related behaviours; and (iii) understand disease aetiology in urban Asian settings, and the development of improved preventive and therapeutic measures for Singapore and other Asian populations. Over a span of 20 years, health, lifestyle, environment, and physical well-being from over 70,000 volunteers across a collection of seven independent cohorts, including (i) three independent phases of the Multi-Ethnic Cohort (MEC1, MEC2 and MEC3), (ii) Diabetic Cohort (DC), (iii) Singapore Health Studies (SH2012, SH2) and (iv) Community Healthy Study (CHS).

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Sim Xueling (ephsx@nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): SSHSPHDataRequest@nus.edu.sg

Website: https://blog.nus.edu.sg/sphs/

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 29452397; 32474429; 25884916; 29544448; 34360408; 34476210

SingHeart proposes to study a prospective cohort of relatively healthy individuals, using comprehensive clinical information, advanced imaging (including cardiac MRI and CT calcium score), cardiovascular exercise physiology, metabolomics, circulating markers of cardiac injury, genetic analysis stool microbiome and non-mydriatic retinal imaging. These findings will be correlated with adverse clinical outcomes including death, stroke and myocardial infarction. In selected cases, follow-up imaging and biomarker samples will also be obtained. These studies will enable us to begin to address a critical gap in our knowledge as to how best to interpret the very large number of cardiovascular tests done in Singapore and how to better predict outcomes and manage healthcare costs in our local populations.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Yeo Khung Keong (yeo.khung.keong@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): –

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 31752689

The Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC) Cancer Data Commons is a national infrastructure comprising of all oncology patients seen in Public Healthcare Institutions, amalgamated through linkages to clinical, specimen, research data (institutions / LCG / research programmes) and as well as other data types and is made available for research via data sharing on national platforms such as STCC Research Warehouse, Integrated Research Datahub and TRUST.

STCC

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Chng Wee Joo (weejoo.chng@nus.edu.sg) and Professor Iain Tan Bee Huat (iain.tan.b.h@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): catalogue.administrator@stcc.cris.sg

Website: https://www.stcc.sg/

Selected Research Outputs: –

Singapore Lymphoma Study (SLS)

The Singapore Lymphoma Study (SLS) aims to comprehensively characterize the molecular landscape of lymphoma, with a particular focus on subtypes that occur at higher frequencies in Asian populations. Through this in-depth evaluation, the study seeks to identify and develop novel biomarkers, diagnostic assays, and therapeutic targets, as well as to inform new treatment strategies, especially for lymphoma subtypes that are unique or more prevalent among Asians.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Lim Soon Thye (lim.soon.thye@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): catalogue.administrator@stcc.cris.sg

Website: https://www.nccs.com.sg/research-innovation/our-researchers/dmo-researchers/dmo-research-signature-programmes

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 37032358; 35021606; 35075133

Colo-SCRIPT 

Colo-SCRIPT (Colorectal cancer subtype-specific research informs phenotypes, diagnostics and treatments) is a national colorectal cancer program that performs multi-modal molecular characterisation of colorectal neoplasms (CRNs) and colorectal cancers (CRC) with the objective to understand subtype-specific biology in the course of oncogenesis and cancer progression to enable the development of tailored strategies for subtype-specific prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. 

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Iain Tan Bee Huat (iain.tan.b.h@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): catalogue.administrator@stcc.cris.sg

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 40187357; 39725547; 40299767

CaLiBRe

CaLiBRe (Cancer Liquid Biopsies for Real-time diagnostics and early intervention) is an end-to-end national cancer liquid biopsy program that seeks to use multi-modal profiling of liquid biopsies and data analytics to transform cancer care.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Professor Iain Tan Bee Huat (iain.tan.b.h@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): catalogue.administrator@stcc.cris.sg

Website: https://www.a-star.edu.sg/gis/our-science/precision-medicine-and-population-genomics/calibre

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 39216476; 37713482; 40664638

TETRAD 

Recognising the need for a nationwide registry, members of the Singapore Leukemia Workgroup initiated the development of a unified Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) clinical database. This registry incorporates standardized data fields and harmonised database definitions to be adopted across participating centres, enabling consistent and comprehensive data collection. The database currently comprises clinical data from more than 1,500 AML patients treated at Singapore General Hospital, the National University Cancer Institute Singapore, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Charles Chuah (charles.chuah.t.h@singhealth.com.sg) and Associate Professor Linn Yeh Ching (linn.yeh.ching@singhealth.com.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): catalogue.administrator@stcc.cris.sg

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 36709073; 38820078; 34904798

THE SIGNS Study is a nationally-representative, longitudinal survey of community-dwelling older Singapore residents (i.e., citizens and permanent residents), aged 60 years and above at baseline. It collects comprehensive data, through survey questionnaires and physical measurements on the status of and change over time in the health and wellbeing of older Singapore residents. To date, four waves of THE SIGNS Study have been completed or planned: Wave 1 in 2016-2017 (n=4,549); Wave 2 in 2019 (n=2,887; follow-up of Wave 1 participants); Waves 3a and 3b in 2023-2025 (n=6,841; comprising Wave 3a (n=1,535; follow-up of Wave 2 participants) and Wave 3b (n=5,306; enrolment of new participants to refresh and replenish the cohort, to account for ageing and attrition, and serving as a second baseline); and Wave 4 in 2027 (expected n=4,500; follow-up of Waves 3a and 3b participants).

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Rahul Malhotra (rahul.malhotra@duke-nus.edu.sg) and Associate Professor Angelique Chan (angelique.chan@duke-nus.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): care-datarequest@duke-nus.edu.sg

Website: https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/care/research/the-signs-study

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 32744310; 38364320; 36626304

UTOPIA cohort comprises more than 7000 individuals, including those with cancer or elevated cancer risk and healthy individuals. Eligible participants may have known or suspected genetic mutations, atypical cellular changes (e.g., polyps), or previously diagnosed gene variants linked to cancer. Participants include adults and children recruited across several hospitals including the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Changi General Hospital (CGH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Data collected encompasses detailed medical and family histories, genetic information, proteomics, histopathology, biochemical labs, treatment records, and biospecimens (including blood, saliva, buccal swabs, urine, tissue biopsies, and other bodily fluids).

Principal Investigator(s) (Emails): Associate Professor Joanne Ngeow (joanne.ngeow@ntu.edu.sg)

Primary contact(s) (Emails): Caitlin Nicole Samy Victoria (caitlin.nicole.s.v@nccs.com.sg)

Website: –

Selected Research Outputs: PMID: 40138602, 36562461, 37046302