- Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in adults over the age of 60 years in Singapore and Asia-Pacific.
- Research findings from the Translational Asian Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Programme (TAAP), led by researchers from Singapore have led to improved management strategies and outcomes for patients with AMD.
- The National Medical Research Council will support a second phase of the TAAP to further address unmet clinical needs and scientific gaps in this area.
Singapore, 2 September 2024 – The Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) today announced that it has secured a second $25 million research grant from the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) that will support the Translational Asian Age-related Macular Degeneration Programme Phase 2 (TAAP-2), which aims to address the major unmet clinical needs and scientific gaps in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Asians. This research is supported by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) under the NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (MOH-001574) and administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health through the NMRC Office, MOH Holdings Pte Ltd.
AMD affects the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision needed for activities like reading and driving. It is a chronic and multifactorial disease which is expected to affect an increasing number of individuals in ageing populations. AMD is a major cause of vision loss in individuals above 60 years old. Globally, the number of cases of any form of AMD was 196 million in 2020 and is projected to rise to 288 million in 2040, with the largest number of cases (113 million in 2040) in Asia[1]. In Singapore, it is estimated that five to seven per cent of the adult population suffer from AMD in varying degrees of severity[2]. In those aged 70 years and above, AMD can affect up to one in every 10 individuals.
"We are excited at the opportunity to expand our ongoing research work to produce even more impactful outcomes that will transform the outlook of patients afflicted by this condition. To be selected by the NMRC for the large collaborative grant (LCG) funding for the second time is also a testament to the high quality of the team's output during our first phase between 2018 to 2024." said Professor Gemmy Cheung, Lead Principal Investigator for TAAP, Director for Clinical Translational Research at SERI and Head of the Medical Retina Department at Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC). "TAAP-2 will further cement Singapore's role as a global leader in the field of Asian AMD research. We have set specific targets at bringing about more effective therapies, innovative and cost-effective models of care as well as diagnostic tools with improved sensitivity, all of which will lead to better outcomes for our patients."
TAAP-1 vs TAAP-2
TAAP-1, the first phase of the programme, commenced in 2018 with an NMRC funding of similar value and concluded in 2024. The programme focused on strategies to improve treatment outcome in neovascular AMD (nAMD). Notable achievements included published international clinical guidelines, leadership in international consortia and major clinical trials, and development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Our scientific outcomes led to the discovery of six novel gene targets and over 150 peer-reviewed publications, while economic outcomes include invention disclosures, patents, and co-funding from numerous industry partners.
TAAP-2 will span another five years and build upon the success and research outcomes of the first phase. The research work is organised under four themes, each aiming to address a key aspect of unmet need.
Theme 1: Re-invent eyecare models will target transformation of eye care from current hospital-based model focusing on advanced disease to community-based model focusing on early detection and preventive intervention in high-risk individuals.
Theme 2: Restore sight aims to develop personalised treatment strategies through understanding the heterogeneity in disease features and treatment outcome, and developing novel therapies that target these differences.
Theme 3: Reveal pathology will optimise current diagnostic tools to allow doctors to evaluate treatment response more effectively.
Theme 4: Redefine therapy will elucidate novel molecular mechanisms and develop new generation ocular therapies.
Emphasis on precision medicine, new therapies, prevention and early detection and risk factor management of AMD in Asian populations
AMD is a disease that requires a highly tailored treatment approach in each individual. While current treatment and outcomes of AMD have helped many patients improve their vision on the whole, there are patients who also do not respond as favourably. The TAAP-2 researchers are therefore interested to study the reasons for differing treatment responses in patients, and thereby, identifying new ways to deliver effective personalised treatment. Researchers will evaluate how the environment, lifestyles, genetics and eye anatomy predispose individuals to advanced stage AMD.
Beyond its impact on healthcare outcomes, the TAAP-2 will also create valuable opportunities to develop talent, increase expertise pool and expand existing research infrastructure that will benefit Singapore. Working together with SERI and SNEC, local collaborators include A*STAR, National Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine), Duke-NUS, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH). It is also anticipated that the research outcomes will generate significant economic returns through commercialisation and industry engagement.
[1] Wong, Wan Ling et al. "Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis." The Lancet. Global health vol. 2,2 (2014)
[2] Cheung, Chui Ming Gemmy et al. "Prevalence, racial variations, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Singaporean Chinese, Indians, and Malays." Ophthalmology vol. 121,8 (2014): 1598-603.
