In an evening that gathered over 60 distinguished Named Professorship holders, NUS celebrated the impact of philanthropy on research and academic excellence. A toast to endowed chairs, the Named Professorship Event held on 8 November 2024 at the University Cultural Centre was also a call to action for ambitious thinking.

Dating back to 1975 with the Tan Chin Tuan Professorship in Banking and Finance, named professorships have long been a cornerstone of NUS’ academic prestige. Today, the University boasts 153 such chairs, each a testament to the generosity of donors. In her speech, NUS Deputy President (Research & Technology) Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor Liu Bin (Chemistry ’01) underscored the importance of these endowments in allowing NUS to “aim higher and do even better” by raising the bar in research and education.

Prof Liu Bin emphasised the importance of named professorships in driving life-changing research breakthroughs. 

Illustrating her point was a video showcase of the groundbreaking CAR-T cell therapy developed by Professor Allen Yeoh (Medicine ’90) and his team to treat a previously treatment-resistant form of childhood leukaemia. Highlighted through the story of Chriscavin Wijaya, the first patient to receive the treatment locally, this life-saving therapy was made possible through donor-funded research.

“The Professorships are important because they provide an additional source of funding to allow  the professors to tackle a problem,” shared Prof Yeoh, the Viva-Goh Foundation Professor in Paediatric Oncology since 2012. “Constant funding is critical for us to sustain this investigation,” he highlighted, stating that his research has been ongoing for over 25 years.

Prof Liu also urged her peers to “make the NUS name shine brighter” by inspiring donors to create new chairs through the impact of their work or to support research causes at the University, stressing that every gift matters.

The Big Question

A panel discussion further posed food for thought with a hypothesis: If money were no object, what challenge would you solve?

A multidisciplinary panel of professors offered an intriguing diversity of proposals. Professor Heng Chye Kiang, Provost’s Professor at the NUS College of Design and Engineering, envisioned an international network to improve design as a means to build resilient settlements that are able to mitigate environmental challenges, such as Asia’s typhoon crises.

From left to right: Prof Liu Bin (Chemistry ’01), Prof Heng Chye Kiang, Prof Lynette Chua (Law ’03) and Prof Thomas Coffman hosted an engaging panel discussion around a big question.

Professor Lynette Chua (Law ’03), Vice Dean (Research) at the NUS Faculty of Law, addressed ethics in elder care, questioning societal values in ageing populations. Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School, Professor Thomas Coffman, shared hopes of eradicating kidney disease, citing its silent toll on 10% of the global population.

Regardless of their areas of expertise, the panellists recognised that donors seek causes with measurable impact and emotional resonance. One of the panellists noted: “Not everybody is going to necessarily resonate with the thing that you're interested in, but you have to be able to tell it passionately, and to be able to connect…with the donor.”

Attendees were then treated to a sustainable feast courtesy of alumni start-ups, such as GreenLoop Farm’s vertical greens, Resavour’s upcycled foods and Singrow’s tropical strawberries. These local ingredients perfectly mirrored the evening’s theme of innovation rooted in community. As academics and donors connected over an evening of sparkling conversation, the easy camaraderie among those in the room offered a glimpse into how NUS can leverage its endowed scholars to inspire more transformative giving. A strong sense of community could well be the key to garnering greater support.

“Through vision, collaboration and innovation, the possibilities for positive changes are endless,” Prof Liu emphasised. “Together, we can garner more support from our donors for translational research and big ideas that can solve many pressing issues that our society is facing today.”

Beyond just another celebration, the 2024 Named Professorship Event was a call to turn philanthropic vision into influential research and visionary enterprise to serve Singapore and beyond.