Fujitsu builds first bio-medical research lab in Singapore

By Enterprise Innovation Editors | May 31, 2010

Fujitsu recently announced the opening of its new bio-medical research facility in the city-state of Singapore, a part of a comprehensive ecosystem of labs where partners can do diagnostics application and business development trials.

Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore will support a number of key research initiatives, working in collaboration with A*STAR, Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), National University of Singapore (NUS), National University Hospital (NUH) and the Cancer Science Institute (CSI) to explore improvements in diagnostics of diseases such as prostate and gastric cancer, cardiovascular diseases and dengue through the development of aptamers.

Currently, antibodies are used in diagnostics of diseases. The use of aptamers versus antibodies ensures higher consistency, stability and overall quality, resulting in a more efficient and cost effective diagnostic process. Using aptamers for diagnostics will see individuals benefit from more effective and cheaper diagnoses of diseases, which will result in earlier detection and treatment. This will ultimately translate into higher cure rates and a better quality of life. Governments globally will also benefit as this will mean lower healthcare costs. In addition, Fujitsu’s proprietary methodology for aptamer development enables optimisation in the development process benefitting the pharmaceutical, healthcare and biomedical industry.

“One of the missions of Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore is to conduct strategic research that addresses important biomedical problems, through our novel technology methodology that presents major commercial potential. This is closely aligned with Fujitsu Laboratories’ greater vision of creating a “human-centric networked society”. The launch of Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore and our collaboration with A*STAR symbolises our commitment to contribute to the Asia region by improving human life through innovative technologies,” said Kazuo Murano, Chairman, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited

“Our partnership with A*STAR is further testament of our goal of advancing open innovation, which encourages information exchange across institutions and geographies free of barriers. By encouraging open information exchange between universities, government and research institutes globally, we hope to increase collaborations resulting in R&D that will drive new innovations in Information Communication Technology,” Dr. Murano added.

“The opening of the Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore reaffirms Fujitsu Asia’s broader goal of bringing the best technologies from around the world to Singapore. Fujitsu is the first Information Communications Technology company to provide innovative methodology for aptamer development. Fujitsu’s collaboration with A*STAR represents our commitment to being part of an ecosystem that enables Singapore to harness innovations in technology, with the aim of developing a world-class R&D hub for diagnostic aptamer research,” said Lawrence Wee, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd.

Through R&D in electronics, Fujitsu Laboratories started research in nanotechnology in 2000, with one of the focus areas being nano-biotechnology. The world-unique methodology in modified DNA aptamer applied in Fujitsu Laboratories Singapore is a result of 10 years of R&D in nano-biotechnology. The opening of this new lab facility and collaboration with A*STAR reaffirms the company’s commitment to enhancing human life through the application of technology.