We were privileged to have President SR Nathan, NUS Chancellor to visit CeLS on Tuesday, 9 September 2008. This was part of his visit to the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSoM). President Nathan is making a series of visits to the faculties and schools in NUS.On arrival at CeLs, he was greeted by NUS Senior Management, Acting President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, Provost Prof Tan Eng Chye and Deputy President (Research & Technology) Prof Barry Halliwell and Dean (YLLSoM) Prof John Wong and members of the Medical Faculty.

During his visit, Prof John Wong, gave an update on the development of the National University Health System. This was followed by a tour of the research facilities in the Neurobiology labs. Assoc Prof Soong Tuck Wah with the Neurobiology Programme gave a brief explanation on the research activities undertaken by the Programme. The theme of the tour was focused on how the brain works, how it learns and memorizes. The visit to CeLS ended with a tour of the research labs and facilities.

Following the visit to CeLS, President Nathan then called at the Clinical Research Center where he toured the YLLSoM Museum led by Prof Lenny Tan. He also observed the simulation training session involving undergraduate students and met staff and students over tea.

LSI, and its neighbouring A*STAR Institute, the Singapore Institute of Clinical Sciences (SICS), jointly organized a Safety Day on September 19th at the CeLS foyer. Over 200 people from NUS and Biopolis participated in this event.

The day started with a vendor exhibition of safety-related products and services, followed by talks by the sponsors and SCDF. There was a bit of action amongst the participants as the SCDF team trained them to put out fires using different kinds of fire extinguishers.

The various talks discussed the use of biosafety cabinets, shipping of biological material and the use of viral vectors in research. The high point of the event was the lucky draw where over 30 prizes were given out.

Ms Tan Gek San from the Department of Biological Sciences, NUS, walked off with the top prize, a mini laptop, and Mr Alan Koh from the Immunology Programme, NUS, won the second prize, a digital camera. LSI and SICS would like to thank all the sponsors, participants and organizers for making this event a success.

On another note, LSI is pleased to announce that Dr Justin Wong as the new deputy Chairman of the CeLS Safety Committee.

Occupants of CeLS can now refer to the safety noticeboards installed next to the lift on each floor for safety news and updates. Also keep a lookout for feedback boxes near the elevators, which will be up in the next few weeks.

On 23 September 2008, the NUS Division of Research Administration and the Defence Science and Technology Agency coordinated a visit to LSI by the MINDEF Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Dr Tan Kim Siew. LSI Deputy Director Assoc Prof Lim Chwee Teck provided a brief overview of the research at LSI.

The delegation was then led through the Neurobiology labs by Assoc Prof Sanjay Khanna and Assoc Prof Ong Wei Yi, who highlighted the research and key achievements of the Neurobiology programme. The objective of the visit was to showcase the research at NUS as part of the annual meeting between the MINDEF Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) and the NUS President.