The National Medical Research Council, established in 1994, oversees the development and advancement of medical research in Singapore. It provides research funds to healthcare institutions, awards competitive research funds for individual projects and is responsible for the development of clinician-scientists through awards and fellowships.
In 2006, the Ministry of Health established a new mandate to support translational and clinical research in areas where Singapore has great potential. With this in mind, NMRC's role is ever more important in the leading, promotion, co-ordinating and funding of medical research in Singapore.
NMRC-funded research has led to inter-disciplinary partnerships and international collaborations. It also evaluates the outcomes of the research projects and facilitates the commercialization of research findings.
Since its inception, it has built up the medical research capabilities in Singapore through the funding of more than 1100 individual research projects and 13 national research programmes.