Funding for Cancer Research in Singapore

Mr David Ong asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the amount of research funding set aside for cancer research in Singapore; (b) what portion of this is allocated for brain tumour research; and (c) what is the current number of patients suffering from brain tumour in both private and public hospitals.

Research is an important enabler that creates medical discoveries and innovations which can improve the health and well-being of Singaporeans. Over the years, MOH has set up multiple initiatives to build up our translational and clinical research capabilities, develop research talent and fund research programmes and projects that improve medical care and human health in Singapore.

From 2006 to 2012, MOH spent approximately $210 million on cancer research in general. Specifically, $1.1 million went towards brain tumour research. In the same period, there was also funding of more than $50 million for non-site specific cancer research, which included research on tumours that had spread to different parts of the body and did not have a defined primary site.

Other public sector agencies also provide a significant amount of funding to research in scientific areas that contribute to cancer research, such as cell and molecular biology, genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. These agencies include the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

In the last five years (2010 to 2014), based on data from the National Registry of Diseases Office (NRDO), the average number of new brain tumour cases reported per year was approximately 400, or 3.3% of the 12,300 new cancer cases. Most of these cases were reported in public healthcare institutions.