NParks awards grants to six projects under Biosurveillance Research Programme
- The projects will deepen understanding of zoonotic disease risks within Singapore’s urban context, and build capabilities to support upstream measures to safeguard public health
Singapore, 05 August 2026 – The National Parks Board (NParks) has awarded grants to six projects under the Biosurveillance Research Programme. Led by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), these projects will advance scientific knowledge of zoonotic diseases and strengthen upstream and long-term public health resilience.
Launched in early 2025, the grant call is part of the $15 million Biosurveillance Research Programme under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan1. Developed in partnership with One Health agencies2, the Programme aims to encourage the local research community to form multidisciplinary teams to advance the scientific understanding of zoonotic diseases and their key drivers in Singapore, and to develop evidence-based upstream mitigation strategies. This builds on existing national biosurveillance efforts and interagency collaboration among One Health agencies, and will help Singapore better anticipate public health risks that may arise from climate change and the transboundary movement of people, animals and vectors.
The awarded projects are centred around two key research themes. The first theme, Genomics and Genetics, studies novel molecular approaches to gain insights on zoonotic pathogens and their animal hosts and vectors, and enable high-resolution detection and characterisation of these pathogens. To achieve this, research teams will conduct systematic field sampling of host animals, vectors, and the environment. The second theme, Epidemiological and Ecological Connectivity, seeks to better understand the interactions between zoonotic pathogens, their animal hosts and vectors, people, and the environment by using a range of modelling, observational, and risk analysis approaches. This includes examining the socioeconomic and behavioural drivers of animal movement, the effects of land use and habitat connectivity on animal host and vector distribution. Please refer to the Annex for further details on the projects.
Dr Chua Tze Hoong, Group Director of Veterinary Health, Animal & Veterinary Service, said, “While Singapore has remained vigilant against zoonotic diseases, continued research is important to deepen our understanding of the environmental, ecological, and socio-behavioural factors that influence disease emergence and transmission. By bringing together expertise across public agencies, research institutes, and industry partners, we can strengthen scientific capabilities and evidence-based approaches that contribute to long-term public health resilience.”
1 The Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan is Singapore’s national strategy to harness science and technology to build a more resilient, sustainable, and digital Singapore, and create new opportunities for Singaporeans.
2 The One Health framework comprises five agencies in Singapore – the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency.
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Annex - List of Awarded Projects
| Project Title | Details | Research Team |
| Determining the risks and drivers of zoonotic pathogen spillover from domestic cats and dogs in Singapore | To study the risk of zoonotic disease transmission from domestic dogs and cats to people in various settings such as veterinary clinics and pet establishments, in order to mitigate the risk of such spillover.
Professor Gavin Smith, Director, Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School and principal investor of the study, said, “Diseases that can spread between pets and people are an ongoing area of research. This study will examine how key infections spread among cats and dogs, and whether they can be passed to their owners and caretakers. The findings will support stronger disease monitoring and help guide public health measures to better manage potential zoonoses in pets in urban communities.” | Principal Investigator:
Professor Gavin Smith, Director, Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School
Co-Investigator(s) from Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Canopy Veterinary Centre and VetTrust Singapore. |
| Assessing the risk of zoonotic avian influenza A viruses in domestic and wild birds in Singapore | To study bird flu viruses in Singapore's wild and domestic birds and predict how they may spread using bird ecology and movement data, thereby strengthening responses to emerging zoonotic disease threats.
Associate Professor Yvonne Su, Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, and principal investigator of the study, said, “Avian influenza is a growing global health and biosecurity concern, particularly as H5N1 viruses continue to spread across continents and infect an expanding range of animal species. As a key stopover for migratory birds, Singapore plays an important role in monitoring these evolving risks. This pioneering study in Singapore will utilise advanced phylodynamic and modelling approaches to track virus strains, providing critical insights into how avian influenza viruses may be introduced and circulate within local wild bird populations. The findings will strengthen Singapore’s capacity for early detection, surveillance and rapid response to emerging zoonotic threats.”
| Principal Investigator:
Associate Professor Yvonne Su, Emerging Infectious Diseases Signature Research Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School
Co-Investigator(s) from Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, and Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory. |
| Zoonotic Pathogen Risks from Urban Birds in Singapore | To study and model the risk of potential diseases that could spread from urban birds (e.g., pigeons, crows) to people through environmental sampling and understanding the drivers of disease transmission.
Professor Karina Yew Hoong Gin, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, said, "In densely populated environments like Singapore, we share our space with a surprising amount of wildlife. While this can be a positive aspect of urban living, it also public health considerations worth examining. This study is vital because it moves beyond simply acknowledging the presence of urban birds to actively identifying the specific pathogens they carry and how those pathogens might reach the human population. Our work supports the 'One Health' approach, which is relevant to understand the public health dynamics of a dense urban environment." | Principal Investigator:
Professor Karina Yew Hoong Gin, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore
Co-Investigator(s) from National University of Singapore. |
| Singapore Integrated Network for Genomic and Epidemiological Tick-borne Pathogen Investigation and Connectivity (SINGETIC) | To study ticks found across Singapore and the diseases they can spread from animals to people (zoonoses), using modern lab tests, and to create mapping and forecasting tools that show where people may be at risk, highlight spillover hotspots, and help explain how infections spread. Assistant Professor Benoit Malleret, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, said, “Ticks are part of Singapore’s natural environment, and understanding what they carry is essential for protecting both people and animals. As a ‘One Health’ effort, we are combining field sampling with advanced lab testing to strengthen early detection of tick-borne pathogens.” | Associate Professor Benoit Malleret, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore Co-Investigator(s) from National University of Singapore. |
| Integrating spatial, ecological and biological data to optimise surveillance for zoonotic pathogens in mammalian wildlife | To study zoonotic diseases in local wildlife mammals such as macaques and bats and understand and predict potential disease transmission to people. Associate Professor Kimberly Fornace, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, said, “Understanding diseases in wildlife is essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems and safeguarding human and animal populations. By monitoring wildlife health, we can better understand and respond to infectious diseases and protect biodiversity in our shared environments.” | Associate Professor Kimberly Fornace, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore Co-Investigator(s) from Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Mandai Nature, Mandai Wildlife Group, and A*STAR Infectious Diseases Labs. |
| Pathogen-Agnostic Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to Characterise the Risk of Zoonotic Disease Transmission Between Synanthropic Mammals and Humans in Singapore | To assess the risk of diseases spreading from local wild mammals to people through the environment using a quantitative microbial risk assessment framework. Associate Professor Janelle Thompson, Principal Investigator, SCELSE and faculty member at NTU’s Asian School of the Environment, said, “Recent overseas incidents such as those involving hantavirus are a reminder that human health is closely tied to people, their travel and potential origins in animals and the environment. In a dense city like Singapore, where people and wildlife often coexist in the same spaces, it is important to understand how diseases may spread through the environment and understand how risks can be better managed. Our project aims to give Singapore an earlier picture of potential disease risks in the environment. By developing a framework that can assess different pathogens, alongside capabilities to analyse genetic material left behind by microbes and viruses in environmental samples and model how likely people are to be exposed, the team hopes to help better support public health planning and strengthen Singapore’s preparedness for future outbreaks.” | Associate Professor Janelle Thompson, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Co-Investigator(s) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Singapore University of Technology and Design. |
For more information, please contact:
Ashley Tan (Ms)
Communications Manager
National Parks Board
Mobile: 8381 9963
Email: Ashley_TAN@nparks.gov.sg
About National Parks Board (NParks)
The National Parks Board (NParks) is Singapore’s lead agency for greenery, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife and animal health, welfare, and management.
NParks manages parks, nature reserves, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Pulau Ubin and Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, as well as the island-wide network of Nature Ways and Park Connectors. We also manage millions of trees across roads, parks and state land.
Our urban biodiversity conservation model guides efforts to protect key ecosystems and strengthen biodiversity in our land-scarce city. The Animal & Veterinary Service, a cluster within NParks, is the main touchpoint for animal-related issues and works to uphold high standards of animal health and welfare in Singapore.
We work closely with the community and partners across the landscape, horticulture, veterinary and animal sectors to enhance our living environment, build industry capabilities, and achieve Singapore’s City in Nature vision.
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