National Heart Centre Singapore Unveils Pioneering Centre for Advanced Metabolic Imaging launched by Mr Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister at the 5th NHCS Heart To Heart Gala 2024

11/15/2024 9:00:00 PM |

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News Release

National Heart Centre Singapore Unveils Pioneering Centre For Advanced Metabolic Imaging Launched By Mr Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister At The 5th NHCS Heart To Heart Gala 2024

Singapore, 15 November 2024 – Mr Goh Chok Tong, Emeritus Senior Minister, launched the National Heart Centre Singapore’s (NHCS) new Centre for Advanced Metabolic Imaging (CAMI) at the 5th NHCS Heart to Heart Gala on 15 November 2024 at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. The CAMI is a state-of-the-art research facility that sets to revolutionise the study of metabolic health and its profound impact on heart disease.

A Timely Response to Singapore’s Growing Health Challenges

With obesity and diabetes on the rise in Singapore1, the burden on public health is immense, both in terms of quality of life and economic costs. These conditions are linked to cardiovascular diseases, which remain a leading cause of death in Singapore. The launch of CAMI represents a significant leap forward to tackling this pressing issue. By providing insights on how metabolic disorders and fat accumulation affect cardiovascular health, CAMI will enable clinicians and researchers to develop targeted interventions for preventing and treating heart disease in Asians.

CAMI addresses a critical gap in current diagnostic tools. Traditional metrics like body mass index (BMI), often fail to accurately reflect an individual’s risks of developing cardio-metabolic diseases. While BMI is widely used, its limitations are evident, especially for Asians. Research shows that up to 20% of Asians with diabetes have a "normal" BMI range, compared to just 5% of Caucasian populations2. This alarming discrepancy underscores the urgent need for more advanced and nuanced assessments.

Key Features and Roles of CAMI: A New Frontier in Understanding Fat Distribution and Metabolic Health

By harnessing cutting-edge imaging technologies, CAMI will redefine how obesity and metabolic disorders are assessed. CAMI’s innovative approach enables researchers to map fat deposition and analyse organ metabolism with precision, providing insights into the relationship between obesity, metabolic health and cardiovascular.

1. Cutting-Edge Technology

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) CAMI utilises advanced MRI techniques to provide high-resolution images that enable detailed analysis of fat distribution throughout the body. This is essential for identifying specific areas of fat accumulation, including visceral fat surrounding vital organs, which have been closely linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies at CAMI will focus on the unique fat distribution patterns of Asian populations, which differ significantly from those seen in other ethnic groups.
Carbon-13 (C-13) Hyperpolariser The C-13 Hyperpolariser is a revolutionary breakthrough in metabolic imaging, enhancing the sensitivity of metabolic measurements by more than 10,000-fold. This advanced technology allows real-time tracking of how the body metabolises sugars into energy, offering unprecedented insights into metabolic pathways and pinpointing how different organs process nutrients into energy. With CAMI being among fewer than 20 global sites – and the first in Southeast Asia –equipped with this technology, it positions NHCS at the forefront of metabolic research.

Refer to Annex A for details on CAMI facility.

2. Asian Patient-Centric Focus

Many of the current research findings are focused on the Western population and often extrapolated to the Asian population despite differences in genetic make-up and lifestyle differences which limits generalisability.

CAMI’s research aims to change this and will prioritise on the unique metabolic profiles of Asian populations, where traditional health models often overlook serious risks. Take for example, many Asians, despite having a “normal” BMI, are at increased risk for conditions like fatty liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease. By translating cutting-edge research into eventual clinical practice, CAMI aims to develop tailored interventions that address these unique metabolic risks, significantly improving health outcomes for Asian individuals at risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Refer to Annex B for case studies.

3. Pioneering Clinical Research with Global Impact

CAMI has already begun its pioneering studies on healthy volunteers, using its C-13 Hyperpolariser and advanced MRI systems. These studies will soon extend to patients with diabetes and obesity, investigating the metabolic changes that drive cardiovascular health risks. This pioneering research has the potential to reshape the understanding of cardio-metabolic diseases, influencing treatments not only in Singapore but globally.

CAMI: A Gamechanger in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research

"Our commitment at the Centre for Advanced Metabolic Imaging is to deepen our understanding of metabolic health in Asian populations. By doing so, we can create targeted strategies to combat cardio-metabolic diseases and improve patient outcomes,” said Associate Professor Calvin Chin, Senior Consultant and Clinician Scientist, Department of Cardiology, NHCS. Assoc Prof Chin is also Director, Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Deputy Director, National Heart Research Institute Singapore (NHRIS), NHCS.

"With the launch of CAMI, NHCS reinforces our commitment to tackling diabetes and heart disease through continuous innovation and research. We believe that CAMI will provide breakthrough insights and pave the way for new, personalised treatments that improve health outcomes for patients in Singapore and beyond," said Prof Yeo Khung Keong, Chief Executive Officer, NHCS.

CAMI’s mission extends beyond diagnosis – it aims to reshape the understanding and treatment of metabolic diseases. CAMI will serve as a hub for groundbreaking research, bringing together world-leading researchers and clinicians to collaborate on finding novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. With its focus on the unique metabolic challenges faced by Asian populations, CAMI is set to become a critical driver of innovation in cardiovascular care.

The setup of CAMI has been made possible with various philanthropic support, including those made in the name of the Anjuman & Aziz Charitable Trust, as well as from our collaborators such as the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School.

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