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  • Tanoto Foundation Awards First Medical Research Grants of S$5M to Advance Research in Maternal & Child Health and Cardiology

    Tanoto Foundation Awards First Medical Research Grants of S$5M to Advance Research in Maternal & Child Health and Cardiology

    Singapore, 4 July 2024 – Tanoto Foundation today announced the first three recipients of the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund (“MRF”) at Tanoto Foundation’s inaugural Medical Philanthropy Forum. The funding of up to S$5 million per year has been awarded to three research projects, which were selected out of over 100 applications. The MRF was launched in 2023 to support research excellence and collaborative efforts to generate innovations that will address Asia-prevalent diseases. As the first private philanthropic foundation to launch such a fund in Singapore, Tanoto Foundation seeks to foster a culture of sustainable giving that amplifies the long-term impact of philanthropy-funded research. The MRF’s main objectives are to support effective research (new discoveries), catalyse additional funding and cultivate local research talent. Ultimately, the research outcomes should be made accessible and beneficial for the public good. For the inaugural MRF call for proposals, Tanoto Foundation has prioritised two research focus areas namely: 1) Cardiology and 2) Maternal and Child Health, for funding.

    The following three proposals have been awarded based on these criteria: potential for impact, robustness of approach, track record of study team and strength of collaboration. The chosen projects cover:

    1. Improving Cardiometabolic Risk Management in Diabetes: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of death in Singapore, with heart attacks and strokes occurring a decade earlier and with a 2 to 4 times higher rate in diabetes patients than non-diabetics. Associate Professor Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, has identified factors contributing towards worse metabolic and vascular function in type 2 diabetes patients. Her research team will look to generate evidence contributing towards a low-cost solution to manage and lower cardiovascular risks in type 2 diabetes patients.

    2. Understanding Fertility Decline: Professor Brian Kennedy, National University of Singapore, will be furthering his studies into maternal fertility decline due to ovarian aging, looking to identify its most prolific causes and investigate safer and more effective reproductive interventions to preserve ovarian functions, extend fertility, mitigate menopause-related complications and promote the general well-being of aging women.

    3. Addressing the Increase in Childhood Allergies: With allergy sufferers on the rise and long-term adverse effects on children becoming more common, Associate Professor, Ashley St John, from Duke-NUS Medical School, will investigate the transmission of allergic diseases from mother to offspring in humans during pregnancy. The research will help better understand the risks and long-term consequences of childhood allergies and potentially discover prevention therapies.

    Bey Soo Khiang, Executive Advisor, Tanoto Foundation, commented: “Tanoto Foundation was founded based on the belief that everyone has the right to maximise his or her full potential. If one is burdened by illnesses, he or she cannot live life to the fullest. Hence, we leveraged Singapore’s quality healthcare and research ecosystem and set up the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund to support impactful ground-up medical discoveries, catalyse additional and consistent funding opportunities, and nurture local research talent in Singapore. Our grant of S$5 million per year will contribute to the advancement of new medical solutions and improve population health in Singapore.”

    The research projects were announced at the first Tanoto Foundation Medical Philanthropy Forum. The forum which convened clinicians and scientists included a panel discussion titled ‘Philanthropy’s Impact on Medical Innovation: Accelerating Research to Real-World Medical Solutions in Singapore’, featured medical experts and speakers:

    • Associate Professor Lim Su Chi, Clinical Director, Clinical Research Unit, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
    • Professor Chong Yap Seng, Dean, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
    • Clinical Associate Professor Ng Kee Chong, Chief Executive Officer, Changi General Hospital

    During the panel, the three speakers highlighted that medical research serves as a critical extension and reflection of unmet healthcare needs. They note that many areas are currently underfunded, and affirmed the role of philanthropy in addressing these funding gaps. The panellists also emphasised the importance of encouraging collaboration between medical professionals, philanthropists and policymakers, to ensure the implementation of scalable medical interventions from ideation to fruition, for the benefit of communities in Singapore and the region.

    The application process for Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund 2025 opens in September 2024. Find out more here: www.tanotofoundation.org/en/medical-research/

    For further information, images or interviews, please contact
    Yeelim Lee, Tanoto Foundation: Email: yeelim_lee@tanoto-foundation.org
    Dian Anderson, Tanoto Foundation: Email: dian_anderson@tanoto-foundation.org
    Merlyn Kang, FTI Consulting: Email: merlyn.kang@fticonsulting.com

    About Tanoto Foundation

    Tanoto Foundation is an independent philanthropic organisation founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto based on the belief that every person should have the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. Tanoto Foundation programmes stem from the belief that quality education accelerates equal opportunity. We harness the transformative strength of education to realise people’s full potential and improve lives. Tanoto Foundation focuses on making an impact in three main areas: improving learning environments, future leader’s development, as well as medical research and sciences. More information is available at www.tanotofoundation.org/en/.

    About Tanoto Foundation’s Medical Research Fund

    Tanoto Foundation (TF) supports medical research with the aim of improving population health in Singapore and beyond. With the launch of the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund (MRF), TF intends to support research excellence and collaborative efforts to generate new discoveries, catalyse additional funding and cultivate local research talent. Ultimately the research outcomes should be made accessible and beneficial for the public good.

    With this fund, TF seeks to foster a culture of sustainable giving that amplifies the long-term impact of philanthropic-funded research through partnerships with leading healthcare and research institutions in Singapore.

    Quotes From Grant Winners

    Associate Professor Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, comments: “Understanding and mitigating cardiovascular risks is critical for the long-term health of diabetes patients. One of the gaps in cardiometabolic risk management is inefficient evidence-based interventions to manage low-grade inflammation. Through the support of the Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund, our research team of clinicians, engineers and immunologists will be investigating the potential of Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug traditionally used to treat Gout, as a low-cost solution to reduce cardiovascular risk for type 2 diabetes patients.”

    Professor Brian Kennedy, National University of Singapore, comments: Our society is changing. The need to understand modern medical issues and create solutions is an imperative. The Tanoto Foundation’s Medical Research Fund grant will make it possible for us to investigate the causes of ovarian aging. At present the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. As fertility and birth rates fall and the population is increasingly elderly, a limiting factor for women looking to have children later in life is the aging of the ovaries. Our research will investigate the causes of ovarian aging and ultimately seek to understand how to facilitate ovarian health longevity and extend the fertility period.

    Associate Professor Ashley St John, Duke-NUS Medical School, comments: “Allergies affect up to 30% of the global population, with increasing prevalence in Southeast Asia. Current studies emphasize the long-term adverse effects on childhood wellbeing as a result of allergies, yet there are no known strategies to prevent the initiation of allergic responses. The Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund grant will facilitate our investigation into allergic transmissions from mother to offspring during pregnancy, analysing why and how infants develop allergies to the same allergens as their mothers, with the ultimate goal of finding preventative solutions to stop the transfer of allergens and diminish the number of infant cases.”

    Ko Zin Thet

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  • President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation Unveil Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians Sculpture at Gardens by the Bay

    President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation Unveil Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians Sculpture at Gardens by the Bay

    Singapore, 2 April 2022 – President Halimah Yacob and Member of the Board of Trustees at Tanoto Foundation Anderson Tanoto today unveiled American artist Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians sculpture at Gardens by the Bay’s (the Gardens) Cloud Forest. The unveiling took place in the presence of Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee.

    Independent philanthropic organisation Tanoto Foundation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto commissioned the internationally-renowned blown-glass art piece to commemorate the Gardens’ 10th anniversary. The spectacular Ethereal White Persians will be a permanent installation, suspended over the water, atop the Cloud Forest Mountain.

    President Halimah Yacob and Tanoto Foundation’s Anderson Tanoto at the unveiling of the sculpture in Cloud Forest.

    A blown-glass masterpiece, each element of Ethereal White Persians is unique and bears its own signature due to Dale Chihuly’s production technique of utilising gravity and centrifugal force to let molten glass find its shape in its own organic way.

    Anderson Tanoto, Member of the Board of Trustees, Tanoto Foundation, said, “We are honoured to have President Halimah Yacob and Minister Desmond Lee with us to unveil the new sculpture. Tanoto Foundation’s work has been driven by our mission to provide equal opportunities to the community, mainly through education, medical research, and youth leadership. Similarly, we believe access to internationally-renowned art, such as Dale Chihuly’s Ethereal White Persians, should be for all in Singapore to enjoy. We are thankful to be collaborating with a like-minded partner, Gardens by the Bay, which shares similar values in terms of availing accessibility and fulfilling our roles as social-levelers in Singapore.”

    The decision to make Ethereal White Persians a permanent feature was influenced by the overwhelming response to Chihuly’s Glass in Bloom exhibition, which was held in Singapore last year at the Gardens. With this permanent art sculpture at the Cloud Forest, Singaporeans can now experience one of Dale Chihuly’s most famous art pieces anytime.

    Anderson added, “At nine feet tall and an assembly of 97 individual glass pieces, the Ethereal White Persians by Dale Chihuly is awe-inspiring. It is also a vision of hope, a testament to human resilience and perseverance. He has stayed true to his pursuit of pushing something as fragile as glass to new forms, creating ambitious and stunning installations in prominent landmarks across the globe. The Persian series is a culmination of a year’s experimentation by Dale Chihuly – it signifies perseverance, the pursuit of excellence, and reflects the positive spirit of constantly pushing boundaries to open new horizons. We hope this art piece can inspire many Singaporeans.”

    Leslie Chihuly, President & CEO, Chihuly Studio, said, “Last year, we had the incredible opportunity of mounting Dale’s first major garden exhibition in Asia, at Gardens by the Bay. We are honoured that this installation will remain in the Gardens for all to enjoy, and we are grateful to the Tanoto Foundation for making this possible.”

    Ko Zin Thet

  • Project Sukacita VIII 2021: Serving Children and Migrant Workers

    Project Sukacita VIII 2021: Serving Children and Migrant Workers

    Held in accordance with safe distancing measures, Project Sukacita in 2021 was rolled out in two instalments to support children in North Sumatra, Indonesia, as well as migrant workers in Singapore.

    Founded, led and coordinated by Tanoto Scholars, Project Sukacita is an annual community service program that brings together Tanoto Scholar volunteers from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and Singapore Management University. In previous editions of Project Sukacita, the scholars visited rural communities in Pangkalan Kerinci to conduct programs aimed at raising awareness on health, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, and education.

    Project Sukacita 2021’s first instalment saw the scholars interacting with three-to-eight-year old children from four partner schools in Bloksongo and Besitang, North Sumatra. Conducted for the first time through live video conferencing in August-September 2021, the team helped raise awareness on matters related to dental health, nutrition, personal hygiene, and learning the English language. The sessions were accompanied by sing-a-longs, colourful visuals, and video demonstrations – educating and delighting the children at the same time.

    Following that, in November 2021, Tanoto Scholars partnered HealthServe, a social service agency supporting the migrant worker community in Singapore. This marked the first time Project Sukacita was held in Singapore.

    Together with HealthServe, the Project Sukacita team conducted two sessions in early November with the migrant workers, sharing useful information on pandemic-related best practices, chronic diseases, personal hygiene, and workplace safety. These educational materials by Tanoto Scholars were further distributed to over 7,000 migrant workers together with care packs.

    Hear from our scholars!

    Rachel Tan, NUS Medicine, M2

    This year’s edition of Project Sukacita has shown me how it is still possible to carry out meaningful volunteer work even amidst the pandemic. Seeing the bright smiles on the children’s face really warms my heart and reminds me of the power of a single action to brighten someone else’s day.

    Shaik Mohideen Shemin Ayesha, NUS Medicine, M2

    Through Project Sukacita, I was able to contribute to our migrant worker community! Although we only interacted with the migrant brothers for a few hours, we managed to educate them on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We even answered some of their queries regarding chronic diseases and nutrition. Overall, it was a fruitful experience! By joining Project Sukacita, my soft skills such as communication and teamwork also improved!

    Saw Lip Wei, NUS Medicine, M2

    Since joining Tanoto Foundation in M1, I have heard a lot about Project Sukacita from seniors and alumni about how meaningful the project is for them volunteering overseas. Although for my year we did not get the opportunity to travel and meet with the beneficiaries physically due to Covid-19 constraints, I am heartened that we were still able to serve through online platforms. This exemplifies the spirit that even when faced with constraints and barriers, we can always continue to strive to help and serve others, albeit in different ways. As a Tanoto scholar, I thought the brief experience volunteering with Project Sukacita was meaningful, as it aligned with both my values as well as Tanoto Foundation’s belief in giving back to others, in addition to empowering education.

    Rachel Ong Li Lin, NUS Medicine, M3

    I had the honour of being part of the Project Sukacita 2021 team and despite the evolving Covid-19 situation and that we could not be physically in Indonesia this year, it was amazing to have witnessed how the team managed to adapt to conduct the sessions online while also being able to preserve the missions of what Project Sukacita aims to bring about. It was such a great joy when the Indonesian students interacted and responded to our questions despite the language barrier. Besides, it was heartening when the migrant brothers from HealthServe opened up to share their personal stories and although our interactions may be short, we hope that our partners took away some insights from our sharings.

    Ko Zin Thet

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