Singapore's healthcare landscape entered a new era today as the National Healthcare Group (NHG) joined forces with NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) to unveil the Centre of AI in Medicine (C-AIM). This pioneering initiative promises to transform the way healthcare professionals diagnose, treat, and care for patients through the power of artificial intelligence.

At a landmark event that signals Singapore's commitment to healthcare innovation, Senior Minister of State, Mr Tan Kiat How, officially launched Centre of AI in Medicine (C-AIM), marking a watershed moment in the evolution of local healthcare delivery. The centre emerges as a natural progression of the National Healthcare Group (NHG)'s ongoing journey to harness technology for better patient outcomes, building upon years of successful collaboration with NTU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine).

Think of C-AIM as a bridge connecting two shores: on one side, the vast potential of artificial intelligence; on the other, the practical realities of daily patient care. The centre focuses its efforts on four crucial battlefronts in modern healthcare: supporting mental health through innovative tools, tackling the challenges of an aging population through elderly frailty research, enhancing diagnostic accuracy through advanced medical imaging, and revolutionizing cancer screening processes.

The launch event witnessed two significant partnerships taking shape. NHG and NTU cemented their commitment through a Memorandum of Agreement, while a separate Memorandum of Understanding with Olympus-Singapore opened doors to cutting-edge medical technology development. These alliances reflect C-AIM's philosophy that healthcare advancement requires a symphony of expertise rather than solo performances.

"Ultimately, the patient remains on the centre-stage. The true test for AI is how its deployment in the hospital, clinic or community impacts health outcomes for patients and the population. We would want to see its impact and value in a real-world setting."

Professor Benjamin Seet, Group Chairman Medical Board (Research), NHG

Already, the centre's impact is becoming tangible. At NHG’s Geylang Polyclinic, healthcare professionals are preparing to deploy PRIME-CXR, an AI-powered chest X-ray analysis solution that promises to speed up diagnostic processes while maintaining accuracy. Meanwhile, researchers are breaking new ground with a home-based anxiety management tool that uses Brain-Computer Interface technology, bringing mental health support directly to patients' homes.

The centre's reach extends beyond Singapore's borders through a strategic partnership with Yale School of Medicine, creating a knowledge bridge that spans continents. This international collaboration ensures that C-AIM's innovations will benefit from and contribute to global healthcare advancement.

With over 100 researchers and clinicians working under one roof, C-AIM represents more than just a research facility – it's a testament to NHG's vision of adding years of healthy life to our population. The centre brings together minds from diverse fields including medicine, computer engineering, data analytics, and social science, creating a melting pot of expertise where innovation thrives.

"While Singapore has a strong foundation for the safe growth of AI in healthcare, more needs to be done to bridge the gap between technology development and real-world clinical application. Our unique multidisciplinary research across fields will ensure that AI solutions are not only innovative but also accessible, affordable, and scalable."

Professor Joseph Sung, NTU Senior Vice-President (Health and Life Sciences) and Co-Director of C-AIM

As Singapore moves forward in its healthcare digital transformation journey, C-AIM stands as a beacon of progress, ensuring that artificial intelligence serves not just as a technological achievement, but as a practical tool that enhances the human touch in healthcare delivery.