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LOCAL researchers are one step closer to reconstructing the human food tube, which will give a new lease on life for cancer patients.
Associate Professor Sandy Chian of the Nanyang Technological University and his team are working on growing new oesophagus tissue - the tube that connects the mouth and stomach.
They have successfully grown the tissue in the lab, and the next phase of study will involve fine-tuning techniques to transfer the tissue into animal test subjects, and eventually humans.
'None of this would have been possible without the grant,' said Prof Chian.
To help them move forward, the team was awarded $1.3million by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star), which handed out a total of S$41 million to 61 research projects in the latest grant call by the Biomedical Research Council.
There were 170 applications.
The projects were selected after a stringent review process involving both local and international expert reviewers.
It is estimated that this year's projects will create 100 scientific positions, ranging from laboratory technicians, research assistants to research fellows.
The annual funding support has led to the publication of 460 scientific papers, 15 primary patent applications and 300 research positions created over the last three years.
BMRC executive director Professor Lee Eng Hin said the grants were 'essential in nurturing scientific vibrancy' here.
In line with the government's push on disease research, a majority of the projects focused on the topics of cancer and diseases involving the body's natural defenses.
Since 2002, some $260 million has been awarded to over 350 projects, an investment that has produced 460 scientific papers, 15 primary patent publications and 300 research positions in the last few years.
The seventh grant call is expected to open for application in May this year.
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