Shimadzu Corp and A*STAR’s DxD Hub establish joint lab at Singapore’s Biopolis research foundation

Shimadzu Corporation, a global leader in the precision instrumentation industry, and Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub), a national platform hosted by Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration to establish the Shimadzu – DxD Hub Diagnomics Centre (SDDC) at Biopolis, Singapore. The SDDC has been created to drive innovation and development of diagnostic products by integrating Shimadzu’s technological expertise with the DxD Hub’s productization platforms.

The complex process of developing diagnostic products requires extensive validation, clinical studies and regulatory approvals – which can lead to extended development times and large costs. The SDDC collaboration aims to accelerate the development of diagnostic solutions remaining of high-quality but also cost-effective.

This will include the productization of advanced multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits for faster and more accurate disease detection, as well as the use of Shimadzu’s cutting-edge MALDI1 and FTIR2 platforms.

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These technologies support high-precision diagnostics, enable the rapid identification of bacteria and/or fungi in clinical samples, as well as biomarker detection, tissue analysis and quality control of diagnostic products.

SDDC will focus on three key areas – infectious diseases, cancer and metabolic disorders. In infectious diseases, the hub’s efforts will focus on developing solutions for the early detection of pathogens with the potential to cause future pandemics. In cancer diagnostics, the lab will harness advanced technologies to drive early screening and precision medicine approaches. And in metabolic disease, research will focus on enhancing diagnostic accuracy to support disease management.

“Today, the world is experiencing a global surge in infectious diseases, with over 40 countries reporting outbreaks at levels ten times higher than pre-pandemic rates. In response to this urgent challenge, we are proud to partner with DxD Hub to make new strides in delivering solutions to infectious disease diagnostics. We are confident in achieving breakthroughs through our integrated Analytical and Medical solutions, uniquely offered by Shimadzu,” said Prem Anand, managing director of Shimadzu (Asia Pacific).

“As we mark Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary [established in 1875] this year, we will continue our collaborative efforts with our partners and customers to unlock new possibilities in Advanced Healthcare,” he added.

“Our collaboration with Shimadzu Corporation supports Singapore’s efforts to grow as a global hub for diagnostic innovation,” said Dr Weng Ruifen, chief executive Officer of DxD Hub.

“By contributing our productization expertise and working closely with industry partners, we help commercialise high-value intellectual property and translate scientific discoveries into practical healthcare solutions. Together, we look forward to developing impactful diagnostic tools that enhance healthcare delivery and promote greater health equity,” he concluded.