Target Translation Consortium

Our Mission

The Target Translation Consortium (TTC) brings together the resources and expertise of Singapore’s public research entities to facilitate the preclinical validation of putative drug targets arising from publicly-funded research.

The TTC aims to inform investigators earlier and better about the drug development potential of their proposed target, by helping investigators to:

Establish a stronger, causal link between the target and disease pathogenesis
Demonstrate that target modulation can lead to the desired therapeutic effect

This enhances opportunities for future funding or partnership opportunities around these targets and increases the chances for success in drug discovery.

From 2021-2025, the TTC will be integrated with the Singapore Therapeutics Development Review (STDR) to provide streamlined and coordinated support to investigators with promising drug discovery projects.

Informing Early, Informing Better

Target validation provides critical information about whether a putative target is viable for therapeutic development. Watch our video below to understand how preclinical target validation can increase your chances of success in drug discovery.

View our video series here to understand other key considerations in drug discovery, shared by practitioners in the field.

Topics covered included

The importance of target validation in drug discovery
Defining the unmet need
Preclinical target validation: how not to be wrong (William G. Kaelin’s lecture, shared from NIH VideoCast)
In-vitro biochemical and biophysical assays for target validation•
Cell-based reporter assays for target validation
Small molecule drug discovery: a Medicinal Chemist’s perspective
Discovery and development of bio-therapeutics
Considerations in the development of cell therapy
In-vivo models in drug development

The TTC’s annual “Call for Targets” seeks to solicit promising drug targets arising from Singapore’s publicly-funded research.

This Call has been merged with the Singapore Therapeutics Development Review (STDR)’s since 2021.

Refer to the STDR webpage for more info and for application forms.

To Apply

The TTC’s 2025 Call will open in July 2025 as the “Pre-Pilot Stream 1” of the Singapore Therapeutics Development Review (STDR). Please refer to the STDR webpage for more information. The webpage will be updated closer to the opening of the call.

If you have questions about the TTC, please reach out to your institution’s TTC representative, as listed below.

INSTITUTION	CONTACT PERSON
Duke-NUS	Changji Zou, Associate Director, CTeD Sharron Bennett, Director, CTeD
SingHealth	Lye Whye Kei, Director, SingHealth Intellectual Property Jenefer Alam, Assistant Director, SingHealth Intellectual Property
LKC SoM	Yen Choo, Executive Director, Collab Novena Kevin Pethe, Assistant Dean, Research
NHG	Louis Ang, Director, Group Research
NTU	Michelle Zhang, Director, Future Healthcare, NTUitive
NUS	Lim Liting, Technology Commercialization Lead, Technology Transfer & Innovation
NUHS	Anju Raja, Senior Manager, Innovation Transfer Office
A*STAR	Neo Kah Yean, Senior Director, Innovation & Enterprise Kristal Kaan, Deputy Director, Innovation & Enterprise
Other Publicly Funded Institutions	TTC Liaison Team, ttc@eddc.sg

The TTC will provide all proposals received with confidential, constructive reviews from interdisciplinary perspectives. Drug discovery scientists will be designated to work with investigators of shortlisted projects to develop a work plan of validation experiments which are aimed at generating more convincing evidence of whether the target should be considered for a drug discovery campaign. Collaborations will be fostered so that relevant cross-institutional capabilities and expertise can be applied, where relevant.

“The workplan development was a very supportive process that helped to refine the original proposal especially in terms of adjusting to a drug development mind set – very helpful and much appreciated!” – TTC-supported investigator

Upon completion of their STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1*/ TTC projects, investigators should have projects that are better positioned for competitive grants, such as the Singapore Therapeutic Development Review Pilot grant. Awardees of the STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1 grant will be given the opportunity to attend a bootcamp devised to help them develop their applications and prepare their pitch presentations for both the Singapore Therapeutic Development Review Pilot Grant scheme and potential private investors. Investigators are also free to explore partnerships with industry or the Experimental Drug Development Centre and to publish, both during and upon completion of the project.

*The STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1 grant scheme is an initiative managed by the TTC and coordinated by EDDC with funding implemented by the STDR coordinating office.

“My research on Target X antibody has benefited greatly from the Target Translation Consortium (“TTC” or STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1) scheme. The support from EDDC, particularly on the consultation and establishment of connections with domain experts, helped accelerate our project. The TTC is perhaps the best scheme in Singapore for translational research. With its support, we will soon obtain our PCT patent. Now we are moving towards commercialisation.”

A/Prof LIAO Ping, Head & Principal Investigator of the Calcium Signalling Laboratory, National Neuroscience Institute

“The STDR pre-pilot allowed me to critically analyse my targets and assets, and has helped break down my project into logical steps essential for drug development. The EDDC team is friendly, supportive, and patient in addressing all my questions and concerns. The workshops they organised have been invaluable in guiding research-focused scientists like me through the non-scientific aspects of drug development.”

Jing Han HONG, Principal Research Scientist, National Cancer Centre Singapore

“The STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1 (Target Translation Consortium, TTC) was instrumental in supporting my drug discovery efforts. The grant goes beyond funding support, focusing on enabling the PI to prepare for spinning off or licensing the products through a series of workshops run by VCs, patent lawyers, industry experts etc. There are also regular meetings with a Drug Discovery Specialist appointed by EDDC, helping to ensure that the project stays on track and to assist with issues that crop up. In short, the STDR Pre-Pilot Stream 1 is perfect for scientists who have identified novel drug targets and require assistance to help spin off or license the drug targets.”

Kah Suan LIM, Senior Research Fellow, National Cancer Centre Singapore

“Throughout my experience with the TTC from application to project execution and even after the project concluded, I learned a lot through the engagements with EDDC. This included my discussions with my EDDC-appointed Drug Discovery Specialist (Giri Periyasamy and later Chong Teik Tan) as well as a fruitful time of learning from the trainers and our fellow participants at the STDR Single Asset Workshop which EDDC organised. I was able to reframe my TTC project, which I had viewed from a classical academic perspective, to a pitch that would address key aspects of my target relevant to translational development. Such efforts to expose local researchers to the drug discovery process and therapeutics development are extremely helpful for young scientists.”

Rong En TAY, Principal Investigator, A*STAR Singapore Immunology Network (A*STAR SIgN)

Our Mission

Informing Early, Informing Better

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