Singapore, as one of the world's most globally connected cities, remains highly vulnerable to both emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and endemic threats such as dengue and HIV. The nation's strategic location and dense urban environment necessitate robust infectious disease surveillance, research, and response capabilities.
Over the past century, Singapore has built a strong foundation in infectious disease research, contributing pioneering work in areas such as tuberculosis treatment and polio vaccination. Today, National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) together with various clinical and academic clinical partners continue world-class research to improve clinical outcomes.
Singapore's current infectious disease research strategy focuses on five key priority areas:
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Respiratory Tract Infections (RTIs)
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Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (AMR & HAIs)
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Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs)
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Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
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Tuberculosis (TB)
These areas remain central to national research initiatives and funding programmes, including the TRipartite Programme in Infectious Diseases Research for New Discoveries and TreatmENT (TRIDENT) programme and the National R&D Programme for Epidemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE). Research efforts span basic science, translational and clinical research, public health, and health services, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and strengthening Singapore's resilience against infectious disease threats.
