The Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Imperial's joint medical school with Nanyang Technological University, has unveiled a new research strategy.

The new strategy, which aims to address Singapore’s key health challenges, is published six months since the School welcomed its first intake of 54 students. In August 2013 the students began working towards their Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, pursuing an innovative curriculum developed by a team in Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine since 2010.

The medical school has now identified the areas in which it could best achieve research excellence and support the healthcare needs of Singapore’s ageing population. The four themes of the new strategy are: Infectious Disease, Metabolic Disease, Neuroscience and Mental Health, and Dermatology and Skin Biology.

LKCMedicine Dean Professor Dermot Kelleher, who is also Dean of Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine, said, "If you look at the areas that we've chosen, they are areas that are going to be of critical importance for the people of Singapore. We're hoping that we'll find increasing solutions for diabetes and neuro-degeneration over the next five to 10 years, but it may take longer."

Professor Ingham said, "As Vice-Dean Research, I intend to work closely with the Dean and Core Leadership of LKCMedicine to develop and drive forward our research strategy and capability. Strengthening the research partnerships that we have with Imperial, NTU and the School’s hospital partners is one of the many areas that I am keen to explore and expand further so as to promote impactful fundamental and translational research. It is an honour to lead a faculty comprised of such internationally-renowned researchers.”