Today, the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) announced an exciting new partnership with Stanford University’s Byers Eye Institute (Palo Alto, CA, USA). This three-year collaboration aims to advance the fields of ophthalmic education, clinical care, and research—demonstrating each institution’s commitment to combating vision impairment worldwide.
The agreement, signed by Prof. Aung Tin, CEO of SNEC, Prof. Jodhbir Mehta, executive director of SERI, and Prof. Jeffrey Goldberg, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford, builds on a strong foundation of collaboration, with new goals set to foster breakthroughs in eye health.
A key focus of this alliance is training and mentorship. Aspiring ophthalmologists and junior faculty from Singapore will gain valuable hands-on experience at Stanford through internships and fellowships, immersing them in a range of patient care practices while exposing them to the nuances of different healthcare systems. This cross-cultural knowledge exchange promises to enrich Singapore’s clinical expertise and introduce new perspectives to patient care. Additionally, Stanford faculty will mentor Singapore’s emerging ophthalmologists, fostering a new generation of leaders in eye care.
Technology is also at the heart of this partnership, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health. By pooling their expertise, SNEC, SERI and Stanford plan to advance diagnostic accuracy and broaden access to remote care. A primary goal is to expand retinal image datasets across diverse populations, improving early detection of eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. This collaborative effort to embed AI in clinical workflows seeks to address the growing demand for novel solutions in retinal care.
Sight-saving research is another pivotal element of the partnership, with a strong emphasis on advancements in the corneal and retinal fields. With each institution bringing extensive expertise in areas such as tissue engineering and AI-based research, this alliance is poised to accelerate the development of new treatments for chronic eye diseases. Through collaborative research, SNEC, SERI, and Stanford hope to make significant strides for patients affected by complex retinal and corneal conditions.
This formal agreement builds on a longstanding relationship, including their joint efforts in the Singapore Biodesign program—a platform that brings together clinicians and engineers to develop solutions for real-world clinical challenges. Now, with an expanded focus on education and research, the collaboration aligns with a broader shared vision to alleviate the global burden of vision impairment and blindness. The worldwide productivity loss due to vision impairment is estimated at $411 billion annually, underscoring the critical need for proactive and innovative cross-border alliances in eye care.1
“Our faculty are excited to grow this culture of innovation through this partnership with our colleagues in Singapore,” stated Prof. Goldberg in a media release. “We anticipate great acceleration in what we can achieve together, starting with educational programming and research collaborations.”
As this collaboration takes shape, it holds promise for advancing ophthalmic science, technology and care delivery, potentially setting new standards for eye care globally.
Reference
- World Health Organization. Blindness and vision impairment. World Health Organization. August 10, 2023. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/blindness-and-visual-impairment. Accessed on November 12, 2024.
