About STCC
Explore STCC’s journey and strategic phases, and discover how it fosters national collaboration to advance translational cancer research through its vision and mission.
The Singapore Translational Cancer Consortium (STCC) is Singapore's nationally coordinated cancer research and translation platform, established in 2020 under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2020 Plan. Registered as a business unit under the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation Singapore (CRIS), STCC was founded to unite the nation's cancer research community under a single, cohesive framework, synergising capabilities and raising Singapore's prominence and impact in cancer research, regionally and globally.
Our Commitment
To advance Singapore as a global leader in translational cancer research by bringing together the cancer research community to accelerate innovation, improve patient outcomes, and create meaningful health and economic impact.
Phase 1
In its first phase, STCC laid the groundwork for a national cancer research and translation programme by establishing four integrated platforms: Cancer Cancer Clinical Trials & Investigational Medicine Units; Cancer Databases & Tissue Banks; Translational Research Integration & Support; and Business Intelligence & Development, to bring together leading basic, clinical and translational talent and expertise across the cancer research ecosystem.
A central coordinating office, the Strategic Planning and Development Office, was also established to oversee daily operations, manage resources, track deliverables, and support the consortium’s leadership.
Phase 2
Building on the foundations of Phase 1, STCC's second phase focuses on deepening the cancer research and translation infrastructure and fostering greater cohesion across the research community. STCC aims to accelerate and scale up strategic research by promoting integration and developing national-level capabilities, while growing peaks of translational excellence that are globally competitive and capable of transforming cancer healthcare and creating economic value.
In Phase 2, STCC serves as a single front door for researchers, government and industry, simplifying collaboration and enhancing research outcomes. It plays a dual role of building national cancer resources and driving cooperative multi-centre research initiatives. To further strengthen its capabilities, a fifth platform, the Impact & Population Health, was introduced.
STCC's strategies and focus are aligned with Singapore's RIE2025 Human Health and Potential (HHP) priorities in the areas of precision medicine, early detection, value-based healthcare, therapeutics and diagnostics, talent development, data, research excellence, Innovation & Enterprise ecosystem, and healthcare translation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I conduct a multi-centre cancer research study in Singapore?
Researchers conducting a multi-centre cancer study in Singapore typically require ethics approval, institutional collaboration agreements, access to patient cohorts, clinical data, biospecimens, and coordinated study management across participating sites. STCC provides a single point of access to Singapore's cancer research ecosystem by connecting researchers with cancer centres, clinical trial networks, translational research capabilities, data resources, and national research infrastructure to support study initiation and execution.
2. Where can researchers access cancer biospecimens and clinical data in Singapore?
Researchers can access cancer biospecimens and clinical data through national and institutional research resources, including cancer databases, biorepositories, clinical registries, and translational research platforms. STCC facilitates access to these resources through its Cancer Data Commons, centralised specimen catalogues, and harmonised research infrastructure, enabling efficient cohort identification, data exploration, and multi-institutional research collaboration.
3. How can pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies partner with cancer researchers in Singapore?
Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies can collaborate with cancer researchers in Singapore through clinical trials, translational research projects, biomarker discovery programmes, companion diagnostic development, and real-world evidence studies. STCC serves as a gateway to Singapore's cancer research ecosystem, connecting industry partners with leading clinicians, researchers, research institutions, and national platforms through a coordinated partnership model.
4. What resources are available for precision oncology research in Singapore?
Precision oncology research in Singapore is supported by clinical trial networks, molecular profiling capabilities, biobanks, translational research platforms, tumour models, real-world data resources, and biomarker development programmes. STCC brings together these capabilities across multiple institutions, enabling researchers and industry partners to develop, validate, and implement precision medicine approaches, diagnostics, and personalised treatment strategies.
5. How is Singapore advancing translational cancer research and clinical innovation?
Singapore advances translational cancer research by integrating clinical expertise, research infrastructure, patient data, biospecimens, and industry partnerships to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical applications. STCC supports this effort by bringing together healthcare institutions, researchers, industry collaborators, and national research resources to facilitate multi-centre research, innovation, and the development of solutions that improve patient outcomes.