Dementia Research Centre (Singapore)

Name

Dementia Research Centre (Singapore)

Legal name

Dementia Research Centre (Singapore)

Website

https://drcs.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

Real-World Data (RWD) / Real-World Evidence (RWE) & Observational Research Platforms (HLACAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

eCOA/ePRO/eDiary & Patient-Facing Data Collection (HLACAOAB), Site Data Management Support (EDC/Source/SDV Readiness) (HLAGACAL), Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology (Dementia/Memory Disorders) (HLAKAIAH)

Keywords

• Dementia research studies
• Cognitive health research
• Neuroimaging diagnostics
• Clinical biomarker research
• Digital cognitive assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: DRCS operates as an academic research centre funded primarily through competitive national research grants from agencies including the National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Ministry of Education (MOE), A*STAR, and NTU/Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine institutional funding. No commercial revenue model as the centre conducts research studies offered free of charge to participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DRCS is a non-profit academic research centre that conducts longitudinal clinical studies on dementia and cognitive impairment, with the flagship BIOCIS cohort of 1,500 Singapore participants. It develops and applies proprietary cognitive assessment tools (VCAT), digital gamified screening applications (ReCOGnAIze), AI-based brain segmentation software (AQUA), and blood-based biomarker assays, and delivers neurocognitive assessment, neuroimaging, blood-based evaluation, and retinal imaging services to study participants free of charge.

Product overview

Dementia Research Centre (Singapore) operates as a research center under Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, NTU Singapore, offering a comprehensive portfolio of clinical research studies and diagnostic services focused on dementia detection, prevention, and intervention. The core offering centers on the flagship BIOCIS study, supplemented by intervention studies (SINGER, CHARM, CHOICE, DEMAND, SHINE), digital health products (ReCOGnAIze App), diagnostic tools (VCAT, AQUA brain segmentation), and clinical services (neurocognitive assessment, neuroimaging, blood-based evaluation, retinal imaging). The portfolio integrates traditional clinical assessments with AI-powered digital tools and machine learning analytics to advance early detection and personalized intervention strategies for cognitive impairment in Southeast Asian populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIOCIS (Biomarkers and Cognition Study, Singapore) Flagship prospective cohort study of 1,500 participants from all ethnic groups in Singapore, designed to identify biomarkers contributing to cognitive impairment and detect diseases causing dementia at the earliest possible stage through annual cognitive tests, blood samples, brain imaging, lifestyle profiling, retinal scans, and microbiome analysis. Open to community-dwelling adults aged 30 and above.
• SINGER (SINgapore GERiatric Intervention Study) Geriatric intervention study focusing on lifestyle interventions to reduce cognitive decline and physical frailty, protecting brain health in elderly populations.
• CHARM (Cerebrovascular Health, Adult Learning, Resilience, and Mechanisms Study) Research study exploring how vascular health affects cognitive aging and resilience mechanisms in adults.
• CHOICE (Cerebrovascular Health, Optical Imaging, Cognition, and Evaluation of Lifestyle Intervention Study) Study using advanced retinal imaging to investigate the link between eye, brain, cognitive, and vascular health through lifestyle interventions.
• DEMAND (Digital-based Evaluation and Management in Southeast Asian Patients with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder) Multi-country initiative across six Southeast Asian countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam) involving 1,000 patients over 24 weeks, improving cognitive health through digital multidomain intervention.
• SHINE (Study of Health Intervention in Neurovascular and Cognitive Enhancement) Clinical trials investigating novel pharmacological and digital AI-based approaches to reduce progression of White Matter Disease and cognitive impairment worsening.
• ReCOGnAIze App Digital cognitive screening application with gamified assessments to aid clinicians in the diagnosis and prognostication of Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment (VMCI) and general mild cognitive impairment, using AI/ML for personalized cognitive screening.
• Visual Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT) Language-neutral cognitive screening tool designed for multilingual populations to detect mild cognitive impairment and dementia, validated for use in Southeast Asian populations. Available in short-form (VCAT-S).
• Neurocognitive Assessment Services Comprehensive cognitive assessment evaluating various domains including memory, attention, processing speed, language skills, and executive function, provided to eligible study participants.
• Neuroimaging Services Complete MRI brain scans for eligible participants evaluating brain structure and detecting silent strokes, conducted at Cognitive Neuroimaging Centre (CoNiC) or Centre for Translational MR Research.
• Blood-based Evaluation Services Laboratory analysis including fasting glucose, lipids, Alzheimer's-associated proteins (amyloid and tau), and novel biomarkers for early detection of cognitive disorders.
• Retinal Imaging Services Evaluation of retinal structure and microvascular changes using OCTA technology to explore potential links to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• BIOCIS study aims to identify biomarkers that contribute to cognitive impairment and detect diseases causing dementia at the earliest possible stage
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• National University of SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with National University of Singapore for collaborative dementia research, shared research facilities, and joint publications in cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging.
• National Neuroscience Institute (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Singapore's national neuroscience institute for clinical research, shared patient populations, and joint research initiatives in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Institute of Mental Health (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration on cognitive health, dementia, and mental health interfaces, including co-hosted seminars and shared research resources.
• Khoo Teck Puat HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical collaboration for patient recruitment, neuroimaging studies, and dementia research involving vascular cognitive impairment.
• Tan Tock Seng HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for clinical dementia research, patient access, and collaborative studies on cognitive health.
• National University Hospital (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical centre partnership for dementia research collaboration, shared research infrastructure, and clinical studies.
• Singapore General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical research collaboration with Singapore's largest acute hospital for dementia and cognitive health studies.
• Imperial College London (UK)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic collaboration with Imperial College London for dementia research, shared methodologies, and joint publications in Alzheimer's disease and cognitive neuroscience.
• McGill University (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration with McGill University for dementia and neuroimaging research, including shared protocols and data analysis approaches.
• National Institute on Aging (USA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the U.S. National Institute on Aging for international dementia research, shared research standards, and biomarker validation studies.
• University of Sydney (Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with University of Sydney for dementia research collaboration and knowledge exchange.
• University Medical Centre AmsterdammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with University Medical Centre Amsterdam for dementia research, neuroimaging protocols, and biomarker studies.
• University of British Columbia (Canada)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for cognitive health and dementia studies.
• Sun Yat-Sen University (China)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration with Sun Yat-Sen University for Asian dementia research and biomarker studies.
• Chinese University of Hong KongregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with CUHK on dementia prevention, cerebrovascular disease research, and AI-based Alzheimer's assessment, with Prof. Vincent Mok serving on the DRCS Steering Committee.
• Seoul National University College of Medicine (South Korea)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for dementia research collaboration and shared research initiatives.
• Roche (Switzerland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical partnership with Roche for dementia drug research, biomarker validation, and clinical trial collaborations.
• Novartis (Switzerland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical collaboration with Novartis for dementia research, treatment development, and biomarker studies.
• Eisai Pharmaceuticals (Japan)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Eisai for Alzheimer's disease research, drug development, and clinical studies.
• TauRX Pharmaceuticals (Scotland)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with TauRX on tau-targeting therapies for dementia and shared research on tau pathology in Asian populations.
• Schwabe Pharmaceuticals (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partnership for herbal and botanical research related to cognitive health and dementia prevention.
• Macquarie University (Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Macquarie University's Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer's Research and Care, with Prof. Ralph Martins (Foundation Professor of Ageing & Alzheimer's) serving on DRCS Steering Committee.
• Edith Cowan University (Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership with Edith Cowan University for Alzheimer's disease research and early diagnostics.
• Padjadjaran University (Indonesia)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSoutheast Asian academic partnership with Padjadjaran University for regional dementia research collaboration.
• Siriraj Mahidol University (Thailand)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership with Thailand's leading medical university for Southeast Asian dementia research.
• Buddhi Clinic (India)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional clinical partnership with Buddhi Clinic for dementia research and patient engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health: The Lou Ruvo Center is a clinical research center focused on neurodegenerative disease treatment, prevention, and caregiver support, with active clinical trials and biomarker research. Comparable to DRCS as a translational research center combining clinical service, biomarker research, and clinical trial collaboration with pharma partners.
• UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI): UK DRI is the UK's national dementia research institute, operating across multiple university centres with a focus on biomedical, clinical, and care research. Comparable to DRCS as a multi-site, multidisciplinary dementia research hub with national funding, international collaborations, and a pipeline of translational discoveries.
• Banner Alzheimer's Institute: Banner Alzheimer's Institute is a leading US dementia research center focused on early detection, prevention trials, and biomarker research, with deep pharma partnerships and industry-sponsored clinical trials. Directly comparable to DRCS in its emphasis on biomarker development and early-detection research, particularly for Alzheimer's disease.
• Memory and Aging Center at UCSF: UCSF's Memory and Aging Center is a leading US clinical research center for dementia, with deep expertise in neuroimaging, biomarkers, and clinical trials. Comparable to DRCS in its multimodal research platform combining neuropsychology, neuroimaging, and biomarker discovery for early detection and characterization of dementia.
• Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI): GBHI is a global leader in brain health and dementia prevention research, training, and policy, with a strong focus on equity and underserved populations. Comparable to DRCS in its mission-driven, multi-institutional research model and emphasis on brain health workforce development across regions.
• Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia: UBC's Centre for Brain Health is a Canadian research center focused on dementia, neurodegeneration, and brain health, with active clinical trials and biomarker research. Comparable to DRCS as a multi-modal research center combining clinical research, neuroimaging, and biomarkers, and listed as an academic partner of DRCS.

Regional players

• National Neuroscience Institute (Singapore): Singapore's national neuroscience specialty center with clinical and research focus on dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Comparable to DRCS as a Singapore-based clinical neurosciences research organization; DRCS lists NNI as a clinical research partner, indicating an overlapping but distinct mission (clinical care vs. research-led biomarker discovery).
• NeuRA (Neuroscience Research Australia): NeuRA is a leading Australian neuroscience research institute with internationally recognized dementia and neurodegeneration programs. Comparable to DRCS as a regional academic research center studying dementia, with shared international collaborators (e.g., Ralph Martins at Macquarie/Edith Cowan, Prof. Arthur at UNSW).
• Karolinska Institutet - Department of Neurobiology: Karolinska Institutet runs major European dementia research programs with strong biomarker and translational research. Comparable to DRCS as a globally recognized neuroscience research institution, though focused on European populations rather than Asian cohorts.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute on Aging (NIA) / ADRCs: The NIH's National Institute on Aging funds the Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) network across the US, providing large-scale longitudinal cohorts, biomarker research, and clinical trial infrastructure. Represents the dominant global incumbent in publicly funded dementia research against which DRCS competes for talent, grants, and industry partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Dementia-Research-Centre-Singapore-110806631598732
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lkcntu-dementia-research-centre-singapore
• Instagraminstagram.com/lkcdrcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dementia Research Centre (Singapore)