Singapore launches six new research projects to strengthen biosurveillance against zoonotic threats

Singapore has allocated $15 million to six new research projects aiming to enhance early detection and prevention of zoonotic threats, amid rising pet ownership and urban wildlife sharing.

Singapore is stepping up its defences against zoonotic threats with six new research projects under a $15 million biosurveillance programme, as authorities look to sharpen early warning systems in a city where pet ownership is rising and people increasingly share space with wildlife.

According to NParks, the projects were selected from seven proposals and are being led by teams from Duke-NUS Medical School, the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. The work is intended to improve understanding of how climate change, land use and cross-border movement of people, animals and disease carriers can alter risk patterns.

One Duke-NUS study will examine transmission routes in places such as dog runs, clinics and shelters, while another NTU project will assess spillover risks from wildlife including otters, civets, squirrels and fruit bats in urban settings. Researchers say the aim is not to focus on a single pathogen, but to build methods that can detect a broad range of threats.

NParks said the initiative complements Singapore’s existing One Health framework, which brings together agencies including the Communicable Diseases Agency, NEA, SFA and PUB. The projects are due to run for three years.