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Asia’s leading agribusiness group Wilmar International Limited (Wilmar) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have established a new joint research laboratory to conduct cutting-edge clinical nutrition and synthetic biology research to create healthier food products as well as to devise green production technologies for industrial enzymes and biochemicals.
The new WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory was recently launched by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Finance and Chairman of the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF). Based at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the S$110 million research facility is jointly set up by Wilmar, NUS and NRF. This laboratory seeks to strengthen Singapore’s innovation system by conducting industry-relevant research and development.
Researchers at the WIL@NUS Corporate Laboratory will study how different combinations of food can alter absorption and metabolism in Asians, and ultimately prevent diseases or promote health and well-being. Researchers will formulate healthier cooking oils that could reduce cholesterol levels in the elderly, and in turn lower the risk of chronic diseases, increase muscle mass and improve taste perception. In addition, they will develop food products (such as ready-to-eat meals and beverages) that could control weight gain, blood glucose and lipids to help individuals manage diabetes and obesity.