Francesca Lim

Cell, tissue and gene therapy (CTGT) involves the introduction of whole genetically- or non-genetically modified cells into a patient to carry out an immunotherapeutic or regenerative function to treat diseases and/or damaged organs. CTGT as witnessed by the regulatory approval of several life-saving products will be a rapidly evolving and developing field in the medical and pharmaceutical ecosystem for the years to come. To better support the growing demand for CTGT in Singapore, a new national-level organization, Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute, Singapore (ACTRIS), was established on the 20th of April 2020. Formally known as National Cell Therapy Centre (working name), ACTRIS is a business unit of Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH). ACTRIS’s vision is to be the national and regional Centre of Excellence for facilitating discovery, process development and manufacturing of cellular-based therapeutics across the broad spectrum of immunotherapy and regenerative medicine encompassing investigational and approved CTGTs. The core capabilities of ACTRIS will include process development and validation; clinical manufacturing; product characterisation along with regulatory and clinical facilitation. ACTRIS will also provide state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, equipment, regulatory-compliant quality management system and skilled manpower to carry out the end-to-end manufacturing services for CTGTs.