About
We propose to tackle some of the major challenges in dengue, malaria and bacterial infections by
1) expanding the infectious disease knowledge base through discovering novel mechanisms of pathogen-host interactions,
2) translating these findings into interventions, especially vaccines, in animal models of human infection and into human studies,
3) building a culture of translational science and biomedical entrepreneurship so as to move scientific discoveries and inventions into the commercial realm to directly impact human health.
To achieve these goals, the ID IRG will deploy a two-pronged strategy that combines the power of collaboration between MIT and Singaporean investigators with the synergy of converging life and physical sciences with engineering. Every research project in the ID IRG is a joint collaboration between MIT and Singaporean PIs. By bringing together complementary expertise and unique technologies to bear on the same research problem, it is possible to tackle research problems that would otherwise be untenable by individual investigators. In addition, many of the ID IRG PIs bring expertise in the physical sciences and engineering, with specialties in nanomechanics, modeling, informatics and chemistry. These specialties bring unique perspectives and novel technologies, which thus lead to new opportunities to tackle major obstacles associated with preventing, diagnosing and treating four major infectious diseases of importance to Singapore.