New centre at NUS to strengthen Singapore’s pandemic, infectious diseases preparedness

SINGAPORE – A new centre has been launched to ensure Singapore is better prepared for and able to detect and respond to pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks.

The Centre for Infectious Disease Emergency Response (Cider) also serves as an education and operational hub for public health professionals, researchers, and policymakers across Singapore and internationally.

The centre, led by infectious diseases and global health expert Dale Fisher, is part of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at NUS, and represents the university’s ongoing commitment to building a robust global health infrastructure.

It was launched by Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on Feb 10.

Mr Ong told the audience in the auditorium at the NUHS Tower Block that a future pandemic crisis is a reality that the world and Singapore cannot ignore.

He said Singapore has taken many steps to strengthen its preparedness in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They included participating in the global surveillance system for potential infectious disease threats, amending the Infectious Diseases Act, and setting up the Communicable Diseases Agency and the Healthcare Reserve Force, manned by about 1,000 volunteers, to support non-clinical, operational roles such as testing and case management operations.

Through a wide range of training, teaching and operational initiatives, Cider will play a crucial role in enabling healthcare professionals to tackle infectious disease outbreaks with improved resilience and response capabilities.

As part of its mission, the centre focuses on expanding regional capacity to better prepare for the next crisis, and future waves of the Covid-19 infection, with a long-term vision to foster global health equity.

“Through establishing the centre, we aim to empower the next generation of public health leaders to effectively respond to infectious disease emergencies and, ultimately, contribute to a healthier, more resilient world,” said Professor Fisher, who is the group chief of medicine at the National University Health System (NUHS).

Among Cider’s offerings is a Master of Science in Infectious Disease Emergencies programme for professionals in the field of public health and outbreak response.

The first-of-its-kind programme provides the professionals with the critical knowledge and practical skills needed to lead during infectious disease crises.

Developed by Cider in collaboration with leading local and international health experts, the programme targets early to mid-career professionals with work experience in public health, health promotion, health administration, occupational and environmental health, clinical research, or other related fields.

Speaking to the media before the launch, Prof Fisher, who is also a senior consultant in the division of infectious diseases at the National University Hospital, said Cider and its master’s programme are not just for healthcare personnel.

“A lot of people do not realise that, when it comes to a pandemic, others outside of healthcare also play important roles – those in surveillance, logistics, community engagement and even communication. We would like them from both Singapore and elsewhere to join us,” he said.

He added: “Through establishing Cider, we aim to empower the next generation of public health leaders to effectively respond to infectious disease emergencies and, ultimately, contribute to a healthier, more resilient world.”

Graduates of the master’s programme will be equipped to shape health policies, lead emergency responses and contribute to the development of global health systems.

Dr Louisa Sun, Cider deputy director, said the programme “reflects our commitment to building a resilient workforce capable of responding to global health threats”.

“By combining academic rigour with real-world application, we will be equipping professionals with the tools they need to make a real difference in global health crises – comprehensive training in areas such as outbreak dynamics, prevention strategies and emergency response management,” she added.

In line with its educational efforts, Cider has published Infectious Disease Emergencies: Preparedness and Responses, the textbook for the master’s programme, with its content grounded in real-world applications.

Written by experts in the field from all over the world, the book has actionable insights and solutions based on the latest research and field experiences.

Registration for the master’s programme at Cider opened on Nov 1, 2024, and closes on April 30, with the first cohort beginning classes in July.