As we embark on a new year, the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) continues its relentless pursuit of innovation to address critical global societal challenges. Building on a strong foundation over the years, SMART aims to elevate its research endeavours further, developing cutting-edge technologies and solutions that have the potential to impact society.
SMART's researchers are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of research in their respective fields and translating research into real-world applications. Join us as we delve into the researchers’ collective aspirations and vision for the year ahead.
“AMR is a pressing global challenge, and rapid diagnostics are key to combating it. Diagnostics help identify pathogens, detect antibiotic resistance, and prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. However, most current tests require centralised laboratories, causing delays in critical decision-making. This often leads to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics, further driving resistance.
In 2025, we aim to make strides in revolutionising diagnostics by developing low-cost, reliable tests that can be performed at the point of need. These assays will deliver faster results, enabling immediate clinical decisions to optimise treatment, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, and improve patient care. Designed with affordability in mind, these tools will help lower healthcare costs while providing accessible solutions to tackle AMR worldwide.” - Dr Lee Wei Lin, Principal Research Scientist at SMART Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
"In 2025, our team is dedicated to addressing the growing threat of AMR through the development of the Rapid UTI Beta-Lactamase Identification (RUBI) test. This diagnostic tool is designed to detect beta-lactamase enzymes in urine samples from patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). By providing rapid and accurate identification of beta-lactamase-mediated resistance, RUBI empowers clinicians to prescribe the most effective antibiotics, reducing unnecessary use of broad-spectrum treatments and combating the spread of AMR. With UTIs being one of the most common bacterial infections globally, this test has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes, optimise antibiotic stewardship, and help preserve the efficacy of existing antibiotics. We aim to make this accessible in both clinical and resource-limited settings, contributing to a more sustainable healthcare future." - Say Yong Ng, Senior Lab Technologist at SMART AMR
“My research focuses on developing a quantitative method that can map over 100 Ribonucleic acid (RNA) modifications across various samples. These RNA modifications, along with four canonical bases, constitute the 'true' informational content of RNA, referred to as the 'RNome'. The RNome is essential for understanding over 100 human diseases and foundational for developing RNA-based therapeutics.
In 2024, we have achieved significant progress by developing novel RNA endonucleases and isobaric tandem mass tags, which allow for the quantitative and comprehensive mapping of RNA modifications. Moving forward, we are excited to leverage our platform to decode the human RNome, which will enhance our understanding of RNA biology and open new frontiers in health and medicine.”- Dr Wu Junzhou, Research Scientist at SMART AMR
“The outlook of cell therapies becoming more mainstream is promising. Specifically, CAR-T cells have progressed immensely and transformed cancer care for certain blood cancers, and several stem cells therapies undergoing clinical trials. However, complex manufacturing, high cost, and variable potency hinder broader impact.
In 2024, we’ve made breakthroughs in identifying efficacy attributes related to the use of mesenchymal stromal cells for cartilage repair, and demonstrate the feasibility of decentralised manufacturing of CAR T-cells. In 2025 and the coming years, SMART CAMP will aim to address some of the most pressing challenges in extending CAR-T therapies across more cancers and non-malignant diseases with the goal of integrating them earlier in the treatment journey. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration with local institutions, such as the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) and National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), we seek to advance abbreviated CAR-T manufacturing, which would simultaneously improve product efficacy and affordability, and potentially increase patient accessibility.” - Dr Lee Yie Hou, Scientific Director at SMART Critical Analytics in Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP)
“In the upcoming year, our research will focus on advancing high-throughput phenotyping methods, with an emphasis on remote sensing Raman spectroscopy for the early detection of plant stress. Plant phenotyping plays a critical role in improving crop productivity and ensuring environmental sustainability. The integration of Raman spectroscopy offers detailed vibrational insights into plant biochemical constituents, including cell wall structures and stress biomarkers. High-throughput Raman-based phenotyping addresses key agricultural challenges by enabling the early detection of plant stress factors, optimising resource utilisation, and enhancing sustainability. This approach facilitates the precise identification of nutrient deficiencies, water stress, and pest infestations prior to visible symptoms, allowing for timely and targeted interventions. By providing robust biochemical data, it promotes the efficient use of fertilisers and water, minimises environmental impact, and contributes to enhanced crop yields and quality.” - Dr Ekta Jain, Postdoctoral Associate at SMART Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP)
“In the next five years, I envision plant nanobionic sensors transforming how we monitor crop health, nutrient dynamics, and agricultural sustainability. Nanosensor technology will advance from research prototypes to scalable, field-deployable systems capable of real-time monitoring of key plant hormones and essential micronutrients. These innovations will provide deeper insights into plant physiology and nutrient management. Expanding the species-agnostic capabilities of these sensors will enable personalised monitoring for various crops, optimising resource use while reducing environmental impact. Collaborations among academia, industry, and policy-makers will accelerate technology transfer and ensure global accessibility. As climate change intensifies and food demand rises, nanotechnology-enabled agricultural systems will be essential for developing resilient crops, improving yields, and ensuring global food security.” - Dr Duc Thinh Khong, Research Scientist at SMART Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP)
“I hope to see significant advancements in nanosensor technology, with the integration of multiplexing sensors, for simultaneous monitoring of micronutrients and stress markers in a cost-effective, portable setup system. This ground-breaking technology when integrated with IoT (Internet of things) could enable seamless wireless remote control and real-time monitoring of diverse species of plants in large-scale farming operations. Another key innovation would be in the rapid advancement in machine learning, which can be leveraged with the extensive data collected to predict early stress, provide farmers the optimum nutrients dosing, and intercropping for improved crop yield. Ultimately, these advancements can help to deliver and innovate sustainable solutions to address real challenges such as climate change and crop loss in agriculture.” - Muhammad Sayyid Aly Bin Hadja Mohaideen, Senior Research Engineer at SMART DiSTAP
“In 2025, our research will focus on developing AI-driven solutions for plant health monitoring to address crop yield optimisation, early stress detection, and resource efficiency. These innovations aim to foster sustainable agriculture and tackle global food security challenges. By integrating AI and sensor technologies, we aim to model crop lifecycles and predict plant stresses with greater accuracy, enabling smarter, data-driven decision-making.
A key goal for 2025 is advancing multimodal machine learning frameworks that combine deep learning and advanced sensing technologies to provide early, real-time insights into plant stresses. Collaborations with institutions like Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (Singapore), the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) will be critical to this progress.
Building on our 2024 breakthrough—an automated framework for Raman spectroscopy analysis—we aim to scale these tools and validate their application across diverse datasets and farming systems. Our vision is to create an integrated ecosystem of AI and biosensors to drive sustainable, resilient agriculture.” - Dr Anoop Patil, Senior Fellow at SMART DiSTAP
“In 2025, my goal is to contribute to the advancement of GaN-CMOS technology by focusing on robust testing protocols and predictive reliability models. These efforts will address critical challenges across the product lifecycle, from design to deployment, ensuring GaN-CMOS integrated circuits are capable of meeting the rigorous demands of high-frequency and high-power applications.
Our research at SMART Low Energy Electronics System (LEES) Plus plays a vital role in this goal by providing deep insights into the failure mechanisms of GaN and Si devices, particularly in CMOS integration. In collaboration with a leading manufacturing partner, we will refine and validate innovative designs and processes that uphold both performance and durability. This work will enable industries to harness GaN-CMOS technologies for transformative energy efficient solutions, contributing to a more sustainable and connected future while addressing global challenges.”- Dr Tan Hui Teng, Senior Postdoctoral Associate at SMART LEES Plus
“One of the main challenges our society faces today is addressing the question: “How can humans co-live with AI?” This question drives our team’s research at M3S and will be the focus of many 2025 projects.
My team will investigate how AI can be leveraged to enhance education quality and promote equitable learning opportunities. Other research areas include developing AI models based on high-resolution data to predict mobility flows in cities for improved urban planning and carbon footprint reduction, as well as monitoring disease spread and devising mitigation strategies.
Finally, using large-scale data on career trajectories worldwide, we will focus on understanding career decision-making and supporting the workforce’s transition to a job market shaped by AI advancements.” - Dr Ambra Amico, Postdoctoral Associate at SMART Mens, Manus, and Machina (M3S)
“In 2024, M3S achieved significant milestones, from publishing groundbreaking research in prestigious venues such as Nature, CHI, and NeurIPS, to fostering collaborations with industry leaders across diverse sectors, reflecting the breadth of our interdisciplinary research focus. In 2025, our aim is to advance fundamental research in AI and Robotics while addressing critical societal challenges, such as leveraging AI to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged communities. Additionally, M3S will spearhead research into human-AI team dynamics, laying the groundwork for a future where AI and Robotics are seamlessly integrated into mainstream society. By pushing the boundaries of innovation and prioritising societal impact, we strive to shape a smarter, more equitable future.” - Dr Alok Prakash, CTO and Scientific Director at SMART M3S
“The field of large language models (LLMs) has advanced at an unprecedented pace over the last five years. Heavy focuses were put on achieving higher performance and building "generalist" models capable of broad applications. In the next five years, I envision a shift in focus towards developing "specialist" models designed for specific domains or tasks, emphasising improved resource efficiency and accessibility. Significant innovations can be made to reduce computational requirements, costs, and energy consumption for training and deploying LLMs, without sacrificing performance on specialised areas of interest. Such progress is crucial to democratising the technology, making it more accessible to organisations and individuals.”- Dr Zhaoxuan Wu, Postdoctoral Associate at SMART M3S
"In the field of transport, I envision significant advancements in the progress of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). For AVs, I hope to see significant improvements in the collaboration between AVs and human drivers or pedestrians. While much of the focus has been on advancing AV autonomy, the critical interaction between AVs and humans is sometimes overlooked. Innovations and new technologies in this area could greatly enhance the safety and usability of autonomous vehicles.
For EVs, I am particularly interested in their potential to drive sustainability and decarbonisation, especially in the logistics sector. AI-powered innovations could improve the efficiency of EV charging infrastructure, enable dynamic routing for energy savings, and help reduce the carbon footprint of urban logistics. These advancements hold the promise of transforming transportation into a safer, more sustainable, and efficient system." - Dr Dingtong Yang, Postdoctoral Associate at SMART M3S
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