On December 7^th 2006, approval was given for the creation of the seventh institute in the biomedical sciences cluster of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). One year later to the day, the Institute of Medical Biology has its formal opening. The IMB started operating in April 2007 with a coalescence of research programmes from the Centre for Molecular Medicine and the laboratories of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium. It has already been joined by groups from top institutions in Singapore and the USA, and from the biotechnology industry, and more teams will come next year.

Research activities in IMB today range across stem cells, development and differentiation, cancer and genetic diseases. By studying how molecular changes lead to increasing cell specialization and complexity in the context of human tissues and diseases, new knowledge will be gained that will lead the biomedical science community to novel therapeutic strategies for improved quality of life. From Singapore and around the world, our scientists are now coming together, bringing their pioneering spirit and their creative talent to form a research institute of international excellence. IMB’s research will help to build the bridges between basic science and clinical medicine that are so necessary to nurture an innovative and productive biomedical industry here in Singapore.