SINGAPORE – Nanyang Technology University has received a $15 million injection to bolster research into the use of artificial intelligence in medicine, led by the Lee Kong Tian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine).
The donation will also be directed to research using technology to care for patients in hospitals and at home, with the aim of enabling LKCMedicine to provide better healthcare outcomes and develop meaningful medical innovations for patients.
Named after the late businessman and philanthropist Lee Kong Chiang, LKCMedicine was founded in 2010 as Singapore’s third medical school.
The donated gifts were provided by the Sim Foundation, a private family foundation founded in 2018 by Singaporean businessman Sim Hoay Cheok.
A donated gift is a major amount stored and invested in order to earn a return to support the purpose of the donation.
Donated donations begin with the first $5 million in 2025 and continue for the next 10 years.
“Supporting education and healthcare always means a lot to me. I’m pleased that this contribution will help advance medicine and improve the daily lives of others.”
“I was lucky along the way, and now I’m in a position to give back. I hope this encourages others to find their own way to make a difference, big or small,” he said, noting that he had no opportunity to attend university.
In 2013, the SIM family presented a donation fund to NTU to launch the Sim Yung Chong TCM Scholarship.
Named after Sim’s father, the scholarship aims to help promising and financially challenged third-year students pursue dual degree programs in biomedical and Chinese medicine at NTU School of Biological Sciences.
And in 2018, the SIM Foundation established the SIM Yung Chong Medical Scholarship for LKCMedicine’s medical undergraduate students.
To date, more than 30 NTU students have benefited from the Foundation’s scholarships.
The donated gifts are also directed to further integrate LKCMedicine’s intercultural and international elements into medical education, NTU said.
“We will increase the various international opportunities currently available to medical students, including six weeks of overseas electives in the fifth year, academic projects in the fourth year, overseas community engagement projects, or international research conferences,” the university said in a statement.
To recognize the generosity of the Foundation, the medical library on LKCMedicine’s Novena campus was named Sim Hoay Cheok – Sim Foundation Library.
The ceremony was held on May 15th at LKCMedicine Dean Joseph Sung to mark the library’s naming. This was Sim’s 80th birthday, so the date made particular significance.
“Mr. Sim and his family really touched my heart because they did their best to support education, train future doctors and support university research and education,” Professor Sung said.
NTU President Ho Teck Hua said the university is “very grateful for the long-standing support,” and Sim and the SIM Foundation will provide it.
“This gift will undoubtedly help the university prepare for the future and promote healthcare innovations that benefit people in Singapore and around the world,” Professor Ho said.
Zhaki Abdullah is a correspondent from the Straits era. He falls into a health beat, in addition to covering issues with science, environment, technology and Muslim issues from time to time.
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