6. Regional Networks

The Regional Networks Co-operative led by Associate Professor Yeo Tsin Wen seeks to create a strong regional infectious diseases research network that enables timely information exchange, technology transfer, and insights sharing. It also aims to develop a talent program for training and exchanging researchers and students between Singapore and the region, and to strengthen a regional clinical research network for rapid multicenter studies, high-quality clinical insights, and informed epidemic management.

Lead & Deputy Lead

Lead: Associate Professor Yeo Tsin Wen

Associate Professor Yeo Tsin Wen leads the PREPARE Regional Networks Co-operative. The Yeo research group at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU)’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine focuses on epidemiological and translational research in malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, and emerging infectious diseases. In 2016, A/Prof Yeo Tsin Wen was awarded the Clinician- Scientist Award from Singapore’s National Medical Research Council (NMRC).

Deputy Lead: Assistant Professor Chia Po Ying

Assistant Professor Chia Po Ying is the deputy lead of PREPARE Regional Networks Co-operative. She is a Senior Consultant, Infectious Diseases, at National Centre for Infectious Diseases Singapore, and is also the current head of the Research Office at NCID. She has completed her PhD in adult dengue pathogenesis in Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University in 2023 and has an interest in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (including arboviral infections), diagnostic stewardship, and antimicrobial resistance.

Our goals

PREPARE’s Regional Networks Co-operative strives to create a strong regional infectious diseases research network to enable timely insights sharing and information exchange. It will also establish and strengthen a regional clinical research network that can rapidly conduct multicentre studies, generate high quality insights and inform clinical management in an epidemic and lastly to develop a talent programme that supports the training and exchange of researches and students between Singapore and the region.

Our strategy

The Regional Networks Co-operative seeks to co-support existing regional clinical research networks to facilitate active participation in regional infectious diseases projects, link up local laboratories and clinical sites for joint projects and clinical trials, as well as build capability for international infectious disease research.