SERI was established in 1997 as the national research institute for ophthalmic and vision research.
SERI was established in 1997 as the national research institute for ophthalmic and vision research. Their faculty, numbered at 200, were in disparate groups over six different sites. Now they have consolidated in their new home in Academia, officially opened today.
The consolidation has led to the convergence of SERI’s basic, experimental and pre-clinical sites together at a single hub, while maintaining its translational/clinical sites at SNEC.
At the official opening, SERI, together with various Ophthalmology Departments in the public sector announced their intent to launch the Singapore Ophthalmology Research Collaborative Network (SOpRaNo). The network aims to serve as a platform to explore areas of synergies, and opportunities for collaborative research partnerships, with special emphasis on clinical research.
Professor Tin Aung, Executive Director, SERI and Deputy Medical Director (Research), Singapore National Eye Centre, said, "This is a significant landmark- SOpRaNo brings together fellow colleagues from ALL public sector eye departments together, towards a shared mission to ensure that the Singapore ophthalmology clinical research enterprise is vibrant, robust and collaborative. This will ultimately help our patients.”
SOpRaNo will facilitate the sharing of support infrastructure and other resources, as well as increase efficiency and quantum of research participant recruitment.
Dr Wong Hon Tym, Director, NHG Eye Institute and Head, Dept of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said, “By pooling talent, information and focus via SOpRaNo, ophthalmic research in Singapore will reach even greater heights. SOpPRaANoO will allow our professional fraternity to be far more competitive in grant acquisition and also more impactful in our efforts, as we continue to undertake research that improves the ophthalmic health of all Singaporeans.”
SOpRaNo Participating Institutions:
• Singapore Eye Research Institute
• Singapore National Eye Centre
• Ophthalmology Department, Changi General Hospital
• Ophthalmology Department, Jurong Health
• Ophthalmology Department, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
• Ophthalmology Department, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
• Ophthalmology Department, National University Hospital System
• Ophthalmology Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital
