SMART 2025 Highlights: Research Breakthroughs and New Research Frontiers

In 2025, the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) has reinforced its position at the forefront of scientific innovation. Our interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) have continued to focus on tackling critical challenges in antimicrobial resistance, disease management, cell therapy development, global food security, and the proliferation of AI and emerging technologies.

With the launch of two new IRGs, Wafer-scale Integrated Sensing Devices based on Optoelectronic Metasurfaces (WISDOM) and Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC), SMART is expanding its mission to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges.

As we wrap up the year, let us take a closer look at some of the notable breakthroughs and developments from SMART in 2025.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Discovering novel phage DNA modifications, pioneering an RNA profiling tool, and developing antimicrobial compounds to tackle bacterial infection in cows

Researchers at AMR have discovered a novel type of phage DNA modification that could transform approaches to tackling antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The team found that bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target harmful bacteria without affecting human cells or beneficial microbes, can add up to three arabinose sugars to their DNA. These modifications help protect phage DNA from damage and enable it to survive bacterial attacks. 

The discovery of this mechanism could pave the way for new, targeted phage treatments for critical antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii – a superbug that causes life-threatening infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis, and urinary tract, blood and wound infections.

In September, the team developed the first automated, scalable system to profile transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) modifications — chemical changes that regulate cell growth, stress response and disease mechanisms. Current methods are slow, costly and hazardous. This new tool uses robotics and LC-MS/MS to analyse thousands of samples rapidly and accurately. SMART plans to extend the platform to human cells, advancing research into cancer, infectious diseases and personalised treatments, with the goal of integrating next-generation diagnostics into healthcare systems.

In collaboration with Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), the team has also developed novel antimicrobial compounds to prevent bacterial infection of cow udders, a condition known as bovine mastitis. This infection, which significantly reduces milk yield and quality, is estimated to cause global losses of US$22 billion annually. The new compounds, called oligoimidazolium carbon acids (OIMs), provide an alternative to traditional antibiotics and antiseptics, addressing concerns over antibiotic resistance, milk contamination and environmental impact.

OIMs prevent udder infections without irritation or affecting milk quality and are biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Following a preliminary trial of the compounds conducted at a farm in China, a longer-term trial monitoring their safety and efficacy is ongoing at a farm in Malacca, Malaysia.

Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP): Tackling microbial contamination with ultraviolet (UV) and machine learning technologies

CAMP researchers have developed a novel method that can quickly and automatically detect and monitor microbial contamination in cell therapy products (CTPs). By measuring UV light absorbance of cell culture fluids and utilising machine learning to recognise light absorption patterns associated with microbial contamination in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), this method can identify contamination during the early stages of the manufacturing process, significantly reducing sterility testing time. 

The new method presents a better alternative compared to existing sterility testing methods that require more time, resources and skilled personnel for complex processes. This is a crucial advancement that is especially beneficial to critically ill patients who cannot afford to wait for life-saving treatments.

Moving forward, CAMP is focusing on broadening the application of the method for a wider range of microbial contaminants and testing the model's robustness across more cell types.

AMR and CAMP: Developing the world’s first device to detect infections in newborns using a drop of blood

Researchers from SMART AMR and CAMP IRGs, in collaboration with KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), developed a first-of-its-kind device — the BiophysicaL Immune Profiling for Infants (BLIPI) system — to profile the immune function of newborns in under 15 minutes with just 0.05 ml of blood. This device addresses a critical unmet need in newborn care by providing a rapid, minimally invasive way to detect severe inflammatory conditions like sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), which are major threats to infants – especially those born prematurely.

The challenge with current diagnostic methods is that they require a significant amount of blood — up to 1 ml, a significant quantity of blood for a newborn — and the process is often lengthy, with results taking hours or even days. This delay can be fatal, as timely medical intervention is crucial for these vulnerable patients. BLIPI requires only a single drop of blood, making it far less invasive and safer for newborns, and providing real-time insights into newborns’ immune responses. 

Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP): Advancing nanosensors  for auxin and iron detection in plants

The team at DiSTAP has developed the world’s first near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensor for real-time, non-destructive detection of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) – the primary auxin hormone that is central to plant growth and stress response. The nanosensor enables the monitoring of plant growth and stress responses and ultimately the development of stress-tolerant crops. This innovative technology doesn't require genetic modification and can be integrated into existing agricultural systems, making it a scalable precision solution for both farmers and researchers. 

By providing real-time, precise measurements of auxin, the sensor offers farmers earlier and more accurate insights into plant health. This empowers them to make smarter, data-driven decisions on processes such as irrigation and nutrient delivery, which ultimately improve crop growth, boost stress resilience and increase yields. DiSTAP is collaborating with industrial urban farming partners to translate the technology into practical, field-ready solutions.

DiSTAP researchers have also developed a NIR fluorescent nanosensor capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating between iron forms – Fe(II) and Fe(III) – in living plants, for optimising plant nutrient management and improving crop health. Iron is essential for plant health, supporting vital functions like photosynthesis. However, plants can only readily use one form, Fe(II). The other form, Fe(III), must be converted before it can be utilised. 

Traditional methods only measure total iron, missing the ability to distinguish between these forms – a key factor in plant nutrition. This new technology offers precise insights into a plant's iron uptake efficiency, helps diagnose deficiencies or toxicities and enables farmers to implement more accurate fertilisation strategies – which not only improve crop productivity but also reduce waste and minimise environmental impact.

Mens, Manus and Machina (M3S): Advancing the future of AI with research and collaboration

Through initiatives such as symposiums and collaborative projects, SMART M3S harnesses expertise and partnerships to further their research on how AI, automation and robotics can shape the future of tech and deliver positive societal impact.

They successfully hosted two symposiums in partnership with Singapore Management University (SMU) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), bringing together over 500 speakers and attendees, including government representatives, industry leaders and academics.

Together with SMU, M3S organised a two-day event – Resilient Workforce Symposium: Shaping the Future of Learning and Work in the Age of AI – that explored how AI is transforming education, skills development and organisational culture. Organised by M3S in partnership with IMDA, the MIT-Singapore Symposium on Embodied and Scalable AI explored Embodied and Scalable AI– two critical frontiers in AI research.

SMART launches two IRGs: Wafer-scale Integrated Sensing Devices based on Optoelectronic Metasurfaces (WISDOM) and Wearable Imaging for Transforming Elderly Care (WITEC) 

SMART has launched two new IRGs, WISDOM and WITEC, aimed at developing next-generation 3D-sensing technologies and wearable ultrasound imaging technologies, respectively.

Jointly led by faculty from MIT and NTU Singapore, WISDOM aims to pioneer technologies that will help machines “see” like humans. The IRG will focus on developing ultra-thin, scalable sensing devices that allow machines – such as autonomous vehicles and robots – to perceive depth, shape and spatial detail with greater versatility and safety, much like human vision. These technologies are poised to have a significant impact across diverse industries, from consumer electronics and healthcare to aerospace and automotives.

WITEC is Singapore’s first dedicated research centre dedicated to developing a next-generation wearable ultrasound imaging platform, bringing together researchers from MIT, NTU Singapore and NUS, alongside clinical collaborator Tan Tock Seng Hospital. By integrating breakthroughs in soft materials, metamaterials, low-power electronics and intelligent algorithms, WITEC aims to develop a next-generation wearable ultrasound imaging platform that enables continuous, real-time monitoring and personalised diagnosis of chronic conditions.

WITEC’s work has the potential to transform chronic disease management by introducing continuous, personalised and non-invasive healthcare – shifting care from the hospitals to the home and community.