According to NUCOT, fatty liver and viral hepatitis are the top causes of liver transplants in Singapore. To address the shortage of donated livers, machine perfusion, a method to keep organs in a viable condition for longer outside the body, is being explored for liver transplants to expand the deceased donor pool. Adj Prof Mark Dhinesh Muthiah, Medical Director & Senior Consultant of NUCOT’s Adult Liver Transplantation Programme, said there are plans to carry out machine perfusion in the near future, adding that NUCOT has set the processes in place but has to ensure that the roll-out is done safely and the necessary individuals are trained.    

• The Straits Times Online, Growing number of liver transplant patients linked to obesity and diabetes, instead of hepatitis B

Figures from the National Trauma Registry showed that 95 per cent of children aged 10 to 16, and more than half of adults, were not using a seat belt when an accident happened. Speaking at the second edition of the National Injury Prevention Conference (NIPC) on 2 April, Adj Asst Prof Raj Menon, Centre Director, National University Centre for Trauma, NUH, highlighted the importance of seat belt usage, which can significantly reduce head injuries and injuries to the trunk of the body.

Highlighting the story of a paediatric patient who was run over by a van while crossing the road on a scooter with her helper, Dr Ivy Ang, Consultant, Children’s Emergency, Department of Paediatrics, KTP-NUCMI, NUH, shared that children may suddenly dash across the road, or cross in front of large vehicles, creating a dangerous blind spot that significantly increases the risk of an accident. Dr Ang elaborated on practical measures to reduce risk, such as teaching children to make themselves more noticeable by raising their hands while crossing the road.

• The Straits Times Online, Almost all children with severe road injuries in Singapore were unbuckled: Trauma expert
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 2022年至2024年 本地居民中度至重度创伤率增约11% (Moderate to severe trauma cases among local residents increased by about 11% between 2022 to 2024) 
• Lianhe Zaobao, Page 9, 报告：年长者和孩童案例令人关注 本地居民中重度创伤率近年出现涨势 (Trauma cases involving older individuals and children raise concerns, as moderate to severe trauma cases among local residents show an upward trend in recent years) 
• Lianhe Zaobao, Page 9, 专家提醒家长务必牵着孩童过马路 (Experts urge parents to always hold their children’s hands when crossing the road)
• Shin Min Daily News, Page 4, 9岁及以下孩童遇车祸 八成未用安全椅 (Eight in ten children aged nine and below involved in car accidents were not using a safety seat)
• 8world, 本地创伤率三年内增加约11% 七成中度至重创案例涉及年长人士 (Local trauma rates rose by about 11% over three years, with 70% of moderate to severe cases involving older adults)
• Berita Mediacorp, Jumlah kes kecederaan sederhana hingga teruk naik 11% dari 2022-2024 (Number of moderate to severe injury cases rose by 11% from 2022 to 2024) 
• The Star Malaysia, Almost all children with road injuries in Singapore were not buckled up: Trauma data

The launch of the National University Centre for Genomic Medicine (NUGEM) was announced at the National University Health System (NUHS) Scientific and Innovation Summit on 2 Apr. NUGEM aims to expand the use of genomic testing beyond rare paediatric conditions and embed genomics across clinical specialties. 

Situated at National University Hospital and led by Centre Director A/Prof Ng Kar Hui, NUGEM brings together multidisciplinary expertise from National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Heart Centre, Singapore and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine to support earlier diagnosis, more personalised treatment and safer prescribing for patients with undiagnosed or genetically complex conditions.

Ms Ng Zhuang Shu, who was diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes at three months of age, underwent genetic testing to identify a rare INS gene mutation. Through in vitro fertilisation with preimplantation genetic testing, she was able to prevent the mutation from being passed on to her child. In another case, a woman in her 30s recovered from a life threatening bacterial infection after targeted therapy guided by immunological and genetic testing.

• The Straits Times Online, 2 April 2026, New NUHS centre to expand genomics testing efforts
• Bio Spectrum Asia, 2 April 2026, Singapore launches National University Centre for Genomic Medicine (NUGEM)
• Yahoo Finance Singapore, 2 April 2026, NUH launches innovation hub to accelerate smart solutions and transform healthcare delivery
• Lianhe Zaobao, 3 April 2026,  制定更具针对性治疗方案国大医学组织成立新中心推动基因检测 (NUHS establishes new centre to promote genetic testing for more targeted treatment plans)
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 2 April 2026, 制定更具针对性治疗方案国大医学组织成立新中心推动基因检测 (NUHS establishes new centre to promote genetic testing for more targeted treatment plans) 
• Shin Min Daily News, 2 April 2026, 幼人工受孕和基因检测时女郎诞下健康女婴确诊, (Young woman undergoes IVF and genetic testing, gives birth to healthy baby girl confirmed)
• Tamil Murasu, 3 April 026, மரபணுவியல் சோதனை முயற்சிகளை விரிவுபடுத்தப் புதிய நிலையம் (New facility opens to expand genetic testing efforts)
• PR Newswire, 2 April 2026
• The Andalusia Star News,  2 April 2026
• AP News, 2 April 2026
• Ainvest, 2 April 2026
• Bitget, 2 April 2026
• Daily Leader, 2 April 2026
• Elizabethon Star, 2 April 2026
• Ironton Tribune, 2 April 2026
• The Jewish Link, 2 April 2026 
• Le Lezard, 2 April 2026 
• The Oxford Eagle, 2 April 2026 
• The Post Searchlight, 2 April 2026
• The Tryon Daily Bulletin, 2 April 2026
• Washington City Paper, 2 April 2026
• State Journal, 2 April 2026

NUH officially opened the NUH Innovation Hub on 31 March, a collaborative space driven by the Kent Ridge Office of Innovation (KROI), and designed to accelerate healthcare transformation through partnerships and AI-driven solutions. It is part of the broader endeavour for innovation within NUHS. 

Ms Sandy Ho, Assistant Chief Operating Officer (Plans and Strategy), NUH and co-chair, KROI, said embracing a spirit of innovation is crucial to staying agile amid challenges.

Dr Ian Mathews, Senior Consultant, Emergency Medicine Department (EMD), NUH and co-chair, KROI, elaborated on the ED Summarizer, which has reduced at least 50 per cent of clinicians’ documentation time at the ED. 

Ms Goh Sok Hiang, Principal Clinical Pharmacist, NUH, shared that the MedBot, a virtual pharmacy assistant, provides patients with essential information about the prescribed medications before collection, reducing waiting time for patients.

At the launch, NUH also formalised two strategic partnerships through Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with the NUS College of Design and Engineering and Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd respectively, reinforcing the NUH Innovation Hub’s role as a nexus for academia-industry-healthcare collaborations.

The NUH Innovation Hub also houses the Singapore–Shanghai Medical Innovation Centre Singapore office. Prof Aymeric Lim, CEO, NUH, said NUH and its Shanghai partners are building a cross-border pipeline where solutions are co-developed, validated, and implemented across both markets. 

• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 国大医院创新中心开幕 利用人工智能加速医疗转型 (NUH Innovation Hub opens, using AI to accelerate healthcare transformation)

• 8world, 虚拟药房助理投入使用 国大医院AI推动医疗转型 (Virtual pharmacy assistant deployed, NUH uses AI to drive healthcare transformation)

• 8world, 国大医院成立创新中心 加速医疗服务转型 (NUH establishes Innovation Hub to accelerate healthcare transformation)
• Biospectrum Asia, Singapore NUH launches Innovation Hub to accelerate smart solutions and transform healthcare delivery
• Yahoo Finance Singapore, NUH launches innovation hub to accelerate smart solutions and transform healthcare delivery
• Manila Times, NUH launches innovation hub to accelerate smart solutions and transform healthcare delivery
• Hospital Management Asia, NUH launches innovation hub to accelerate smart solutions and transform healthcare delivery
• Third News, NUH Innovation Hub: Pioneering intelligent solutions to redefine healthcare delivery
• Singapore Business Review, NUH Innovation Hub set to test and scale AI, advance industry partnerships

Kidney and liver transplant patients at NUH have gone on to live much longer than those in other countries, with some living-donor kidney patients surviving three or even four decades after surgery. To commemorate their survivorship, NUCOT held a celebration on 27 March, attended by 35 patients who have survived at least 25 years after their transplant, as well as their living donors, family members and healthcare professionals. 

Prof A Vathsala, Director of NUCOT, said that the positive outcomes for NUCOT’s transplant patients could be attributed to the centre’s holistic and multidisciplinary care and the efforts of the patients, donors and the Government. She also credited NUCOT’s surgeons, transplant coordinators, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and social workers for their expertise and dedication.

Reports highlighted the journeys of long-term survivors Dr Leong Sai Fan, whose wife donated a kidney to him in 1997, and Mdm Leong Kwai Sin, who received a kidney from her brother in 1985 and is one of NUCOT’s longest surviving patients at 41 years post-transplant.  

• The Straits Times Online, NUH living-donor kidney transplant patients survive an average of 31 years, beating global norms
• Lianhe Zaobao Page 7, 换肾后获新生四十余载组家庭诞新生三代同堂 (A family reborn after a kidney transplant, three generations living together, celebrates the birth of a new member after more than forty years)
• Lianhe Zaobao Online, 换肾后多活41年仍“未完待续” 69岁妇女：每一天都是恩赐 (A 69-year-old woman who lived 41 years longer after a kidney transplant says her story is "to be continued": Every day is a blessing)
• 8world, 活体肾移植平均存活期31年 本地移植成效达国际领先水平 (The average survival time for living donor kidney transplantation is 31 years; local transplantation success rates have reached international leading levels)
• Shi Cheng News, 活体肾移植平均存活期31年 本地移植成效达国际领先水平 (The average survival time for living donor kidney transplantation is 31 years; local transplantation success rates have reached international leading levels)
• Channel 8 news