In a landmark development for Singapore's healthcare and higher education sectors, the SingHealth Duke-NUS Allergic Diseases Centre (SDADC) was officially launched on April 17, 2026, at the 26th Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Annual Scientific Meeting. This new initiative, led by Duke-NUS Medical School in partnership with SingHealth, aims to revolutionize the management of allergic diseases through integrated multidisciplinary care, cutting-edge research, and advanced education programs. With allergic conditions affecting one in four Singaporeans, the centre addresses a growing public health challenge by streamlining patient journeys, reducing costs, and fostering innovation at the intersection of clinical practice and academic research.

The Escalating Burden of Allergic Diseases in Singapore

Allergic diseases represent a significant health burden in Singapore, where approximately 25% of the population suffers from conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), eczema (atopic dermatitis), food allergies, and drug allergies. Allergic rhinitis alone has a current prevalence of 48.9%, while lifetime asthma prevalence is 19.1% and current asthma 6.3%. Childhood anaphylaxis emergency visits have doubled from 18.9 to 38.8 per 100,000 person-years between 2015 and 2022, with 75% triggered by food. Atopic dermatitis affects 13.5-20.8% of children, and food allergies are rising, as highlighted by the ongoing Singapore Food Allergy Story study, the largest of its kind, which notes increased cases of egg, milk, peanut, and shellfish allergies. These trends are compounded by adults developing new-onset allergies, though data remains limited, underscoring the need for better surveillance and research led by institutions like Duke-NUS.

Understanding the SingHealth Duke-NUS Allergic Diseases Centre

The SDADC is part of the SingHealth Duke-NUS Disease Centres (SDDCs) model, which emphasizes disease-based outcomes through multi-disciplinary coordination in clinical care, research, and education. Hosted primarily at SGH, it integrates services across SingHealth institutions including KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), National University Hospital (NUH), and others. The centre's motto, 'Smart Data, Shared Purpose, Seamless Care,' reflects its focus on leveraging data analytics for personalized medicine. It serves as a one-stop platform for patients with complex allergies, avoiding fragmented care where individuals consult multiple specialists across hospitals, often duplicating tests and incurring higher costs.

Leadership and Multidisciplinary Team at the Helm

Assoc Prof Lee Haur Yueh, Senior Consultant in Dermatology at SGH and Clinical Associate Professor at Duke-NUS, leads the SDADC. His expertise in allergies, immune-mediated skin conditions, and drug hypersensitivity positions him ideally to drive the centre's mission. The team comprises specialists from dermatology, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, immunology, paediatrics, and more, supported by Duke-NUS researchers. This collaboration exemplifies how Singapore's higher education institutions like Duke-NUS contribute to clinical innovation, training the next generation of allergists through postgraduate programs and research fellowships.

Transforming Patient Care: From Fragmented to Seamless

Traditionally, patients with multiple allergies navigate various departments, leading to delays and inefficiencies. SDADC introduces a coordinated pathway: a child with severe eczema at KKH transitions seamlessly to adult care at SGH, while adults with asthma, rhinitis, and drug reactions receive holistic management. A key feature is the proactive de-labelling program; only 10% of reported antibiotic allergies are true, with many mislabelled adverse reactions like diarrhoea. Using skin-prick and blood tests, the centre aims to delabel patients, expanding treatment options and reducing resistance risks. Early pilots show promising results in improving antibiotic stewardship. For more on de-labelling, see this study on β-Lactam allergy testing in Singapore.

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Building an Allergy Database: Data-Driven Insights

Central to SDADC is the development of a SingHealth-wide allergy database powered by AI and analytics. This repository will track high-risk patients, outgrowing allergies, treatment responses, and new-onset trends in adults. By integrating electronic health records, it enables predictive modelling for personalized care and public health strategies. This initiative aligns with Duke-NUS's strengths in big data and epidemiology, positioning Singapore as a leader in allergy informatics within higher education-driven health research.

Research Innovations from Duke-NUS and Partners

Duke-NUS has a strong track record in allergy research. In 2024, researchers identified basophil activation as the first step in allergic reactions, opening avenues for preventive therapies beyond mast cells. Assoc Prof Ashley St John's team received S$1 million for early childhood allergies study, exploring sensitization trajectories. SDADC builds on this, translating lab discoveries into clinical tools like novel diagnostics and biologics. Ongoing projects include the Singapore Food Allergy Story, assessing prevalence and impact, and studies on anaphylaxis trends. These efforts highlight Duke-NUS's role in bridging academia and healthcare. Details on the breakthrough are available here.

Education and Training: Nurturing Allergy Specialists

As a Duke-NUS centre, SDADC emphasizes education, offering fellowship programs, workshops, and CME for clinicians. It builds competency in allergy management, from de-labelling to advanced immunotherapy like sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Duke-NUS students and residents participate in research, gaining hands-on experience in multidisciplinary teams. This aligns with Singapore's higher education push for specialized graduate training, producing experts for the rising allergy burden.

Case Studies: Real-World Impact

Consider a typical patient: a 35-year-old with new-onset rhinitis, eczema, and penicillin 'allergy'. Under SDADC, they undergo delabelling, receive integrated respiratory-dermatology care, and join the database for monitoring. Children with food allergies benefit from paediatric-adult transitions, reducing anxiety. Hypothetical timelines show 30-50% cost savings and faster diagnosis, based on similar SDDC models.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Challenges include data privacy, adult-onset trends, and climate impacts on allergens. Future plans: expand biologics trials, AI prediction models, and regional collaborations. With government support, SDADC positions Duke-NUS as a global allergy research hub, enhancing Singapore's higher education profile.

For careers in allergy research, explore research jobs.

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Implications for Singapore's Higher Education and Healthcare

The SDADC exemplifies academic medicine, where Duke-NUS drives translational research and training. It boosts Singapore's reputation in biomedical sciences, attracting talent and funding. For more on higher ed opportunities, visit higher ed jobs.