Singapore to set up new research center in mechanobiology

SINGAPORE. February 20. KAZINFORM Singapore will set up a research center in mechanobiology at the National University of Singapore, the National Research Foundation (NRF) announced Friday.

Mechanobiology is the study of the interrelationship of force and biology. It merges the older science of mechanics with the newer and emerging disciplines of molecular biology and genetics. Some 150 million Singapore dollars (about 100 million U.S. dollars) will be set aside over 10 years by the National Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education (MOE) to support the Mechanobiology Research Center of Excellence in studying the mechanisms of cell and tissue mechanics in the development of therapies. The NRF said in a statement that the study at the center is expected to influence the development of specific drugs and highly accurate treatment of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and other ailments due to aging. The mechanobiology research center is the fourth funded by NRF and MOE. Three other centers had been approved previously focused on researches on quantum technologies, cancer science and Earth Observation; Kazinform quotes Xinhua.