Faculty and guests gathered on 5 February 2025 at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSoM) for a special occasion—the unveiling of a plaque to mark a generous gift from the Singapore Rubber Millers Association (SRMA).
The celebratory affair was graced by Lien Ying Chow Professor in Medicine and Dean of NUS Medicine Professor Chong Yap Seng, amongst other faculty members from the School. As the red cloth was whisked away to reveal the commemorative plaque, the room was filled with hearty applause and a prevailing atmosphere of gratitude.
A history of impact
Since its incorporation in 1951, SRMA has played a pivotal role in the development and growth of Singapore’s rubber industry, which remains an integral part of the nation’s economic legacy. By promoting collaboration among industry stakeholders and working closely with government agencies, the Association has influenced policies and initiatives that support the rubber milling sector.
SRMA is no stranger to philanthropic partnership with NUS, having previously given towards the University’s Enhanced Financial Aid Scheme (EFAS) and its Faculty of Science (FoS).
The Association’s very first gift was made all the way back in 2000, in support of FoS’ Trilateral Collaborative Research with China. Since then, SRMA has continued to maintain a steady commitment towards NUS and its advancements in education.
“SRMA always believes in giving back to the community and supporting great work done by people with the same passion,” said Mr Ernest Tan, Chairman of the Association.
Breaking new grounds in renal research
Mr Ernest Tan and Dean of NUS Medicine, Professor Chong Yap Seng unveil the commemorative plaque in honour of the Singapore Rubber Millers Association’s gift.
All this led up to May 2024 – the SRMA Paediatrics Renal Research Initiative is SRMA’s largest gift yet, built on the decades-long foundation of trust and confidence in the University.
The gift will fund the Initiative’s research on developing more effective treatments for patients with immune-mediated kidney disease, which is the single largest cause of kidney failure amongst Singaporean children. Heading this research initiative is Professor Yap Hui Kim, Head of the Division of Paediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplantation at the Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital.
“Immune-mediated kidney diseases are steadily becoming more treatable due to our improving understanding of the immune system,” shared Prof Yap, who was the immediate past President of the International Paediatric Nephrology Association.
The Research Initiative will focus on the development of new tests and therapies that will allow the targeting of specific cells or molecules of the immune system that are involved in immunologically-mediated kidney diseases, so as to enable adequate immunosuppression while preventing treatment related complications. “These drugs enable us to ‘switch off’ aspects of the immune system that are abnormally activated, while allowing the rest of the immune system to function normally and fight off infections."
The gift will also fund the training of more paediatric nephrologists in the region, ensuring that more children with renal conditions will receive excellent medical care throughout the course of their treatment.
