A new research centre will be set up in Singapore to investigate the connections between nutrition, human development and metabolic diseases.

The Singapore Centre for Nutritional Sciences, Metabolic Diseases and Human Development (Sinmed) is a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

The centre will have $148 million in funding over the next three years and its facilities will be spread out mainly in the Kent Ridge area.

The centre's key research areas will include mother and infant nutrition; obesity and insulin resistance in Asians which affects diabetes; and how sensory perception affects food choices.