Years |
Event |
1992 |
The Singapore Government reviewed National Health Policies and recommended the establishment of a national cancer centre in Singapore. |
|
1993 |
NCCS commenced as a specialised Strategic Business Unit within the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). |
1996 |
New premises for NCCS was launched by Minister for Health, BG (NS) George Yeo at a groundbreaking ceremony. |
1997 |
NCCS obtained its status of National Specialist Centre with its own Board of Management. |
1999 |
NCCS officially opened and commenced operations with two clinical divisions - Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology, and three research divisions - Division of Cellular and Molecular, Division of Medical Sciences, and Division of Clinical Trials & Epidemiological Sciences. Divisions of Surgical Oncology, Palliative Medicine and Oncologic Imaging were also established within the year. |
2000 |
NCCS became part of Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), one of two Singapore public Academic Medical Centres. NCCS’ Mammography Suite was established within the year.
|
2001 |
Department of Psychosocial Oncology was established. |
2002 |
NCCS established the Cryopreservation Laboratory. NCCS Division of Radiation Oncology introduced Singapore’s first Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment to improve tumour coverage and decrease side effects of treatment.
|
2004 |
NCCS pioneered a new technique, Photodynamic Diagnosis and Treatment (PDT) that uses fluorescence diagnosis and drug-induced light therapy to diagnose and treat cancer. |
2005 |
NCCS signed a landmark agreement with eight Asian National Cancer Centres to collectively embark on cancer prevention advocacy, cancer research, training, as well as collaboration, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). NCCS became the secretariat for the Asian National Cancer Centres Syndicate.
NCCS partnered the Children Cancer Foundation and KKH Women and Children’s Hospital for research on rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast growing malignant tumour that affects children.
|
2006 |
NCCS acquired a 64-slice Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) to enable early detection and treatment of cancer.
Signed an MOU with Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram (India) to conduct biomedical research and to study head and neck cancers.
NCCS led Singapore’s first bench-to-bedside Dendritic Cell Vaccine trial that produces encouraging results for advanced colon cancer patients.
NCCS established the Health Professionals and Undergraduates (HPU) Education Unit to provide training opportunities for medical students to learn from veteran medical staff and clinicians.
|
2007 |
NCCS established Geriatric Oncology Programme.
Signed an international collaboration agreement formalising an alliance to customise Asian patients’ cancer drug response, with the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) based in Michigan, USA.
NCCS established the Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research (HOICR). This institute comprises the three founding research divisions: Cellular and Molecular Research, Medical Sciences and Clinical Trials and Epidemiological Sciences, which were set up in 1999.
|
2008 |
NCCS introduced Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), a new technique that enhances cancer control with lesser side effects.
NCCS partnered Four Seasons Hotel Singapore and The Regent Singapore for the inaugural launch of the annual Run For Hope to raise funds for cancer research.
Minister for Health Mr Khaw Boon Wan opened the Lien Centre for Palliative Care.
|
2009 |
NCCS initiated the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation process in January.
NCCS launched the BNP Paribas-NCCS Regional Fellowship Programme. The first programme was conferred to a physician from Vietnam.
NCCS Department of Radiation Oncology introduced Tomotherapy, a type of radiation therapy that delivers more precise radiation treatment to cancerous sites.
|
2010 |
NCCS embarked on its Service Quality Excellence Programme.
NCCS Division of Medical Oncology introduced a phase 3 Clinical Trial on colorectal cancer that will involve 2,660 subjects to evaluate the efficacy of aspirin in reducing the risk of recurrence of colorectal cancer post-surgery and chemotherapy.
NCCS received accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI). It is the only national cancer centre in the region to be accorded the highest accolades for healthcare standards on patient safety and clinical governance.
NCCS supported the proposal to deny the purchase of tobacco products for citizens born in or after the year 2000. The proposal was presented at the SingHealth-Duke-NUS Scientific Congress to various stakeholders.
|
2011 |
NCCS opened Centre for Peritoneal and Pelvic Cancers.
NCCS partnered Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (UK) and Van Andel Research Institute (USA) leading to the discovery of a new gene that is mutated in one out of three cancer patients with renal cancers.
NCCS embarked on genome sequencing project to study possible disease pathways.
NCCS Division of Medical Oncology introduced a comprehensive geriatric assessment to elderly patients with colorectal, lung and genitourinary cancers to assess their suitability for treatment.
NCCS Division of Surgical Oncology introduces the Breast Cancer Survivorship Programme, which enables survivors to receive comprehensive disease surveillance assistance from Advanced Practitioner Nurses.
|
2012 |
NCCS partnered BNP Paribas to launch the first NCCS Surgical Oncology Conference.
NCCS announced its plans to offer Proton Therapy to patients in 2020/2021.
NCCS introduced Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT) for breast cancer patients.
|
2013 |
NCCS signed Master Research Collaboration Agreement with Singapore General Hospital and Australia’s Sirtex Medical Pte Ltd to explore the potential of a new technology called Carbon Cage Nanoparticles.
NCCS launched NCCS Oncology Clinic @ CGH (Changi General Hospital).
NCCS set up the Integrated Translational Oncology Network together with Bayer Heathcare, Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore General Hospital, A*STAR's Singapore Bioimaging Consortium.
JCI granted NCCS re-accreditation.
|
2014 |
NCCS collaborated with Clearbridge BioMedics, together with the Pathology Department of the Singapore General Hospital, to set up region’s first Circulating Tumour Cell Centre of Research Excellence (CTC CoRE).
NCCS signed the Goyang Declaration in Seoul to push for a Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) in Asia.
NCCS received $50 million donation from the Goh Foundation for setting up of new Proton Beam Treatment Centre and for proton related cancer treatment research.
|
2015 |
NCCS collaborated with ASLAN Pharmaceuticals to research and develop therapies for Asia-Prevalent Tumour Types.
NCCS won Service Excellence Medallion Award, making it the first healthcare institution in Singapore to receive this award.
|
2016 |
NCCS awarded contract for Proton Beam Therapy System to Hitachi Asia Ltd. |
2017 |
NCCS groundbreaking ceremony for the New NCCS Building. The new comprehensive proton therapy facility located within the new building is named the Goh Cheng Liang Proton Therapy Centre.
Founding Director, Prof Soo Khee Chee retires and relinquished the appointment as Director of NCCS on 26 November 2017 and Prof William Hwang was appointed as Medical Director of NCCS on the same date. Prof Hwang has a strong track record of multiple leadership portfolios having previously served as Director, SingHealth Transplant; Head, SingHealth Duke-NUS Blood Cancer Centre; Head, Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital; Medical Director, Singapore Cord Blood Bank and President of the World Marrow Donor Association.
|
2018 |
Launched Fundraising Capital Campaign to raise $150m for Patient Care, Education and Research.
|