Singapore Eye Research Institute

What Singapore Eye Research Institute does

Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) is a non-profit translational research institute established in 1997 as the official research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre, operating within the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre ecosystem. Its stated mission is to prevent blindness, low vision, and major eye diseases prevalent in Singaporeans and Asian populations. The institute employs 251-500 staff across multidisciplinary programs covering AI and digital health, clinical trials, myopia, glaucoma, corneal disease, age-related macular degeneration, and regenerative medicine, structured around flagship longitudinal programs such as SEED (Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases), TAAP (Translational Asian AMD Programme), and TARGET (Tackling Reducing Glaucoma Blindness with Emerging Technologies).

SERI's technology portfolio includes the SELENA+ AI-powered computer vision screening tool for diabetic eye disease detection, contributions to the development of Vabysmo (an anti-VEGF therapy for diabetic eye diseases), Myopine (low-dose atropine eye drops for childhood myopia), and emerging biofabrication capabilities spanning 3D bioprinting, microneedles, bioelectronics, and waste-derived biomaterials developed in collaboration with NTU, NUS, A*STAR, and Duke-NUS. The institute operates a dedicated research clinic for clinical trials and runs a formal technology licensing program offering mature discoveries for commercialization or spin-off creation.

SERI's revenue model combines government and competitive research grants (as the national research institute for ophthalmology), industry-sponsored research agreements (notably the $21 million SONIC 2.0 three-year collaboration with Santen Pharmaceutical launched December 2025 and the Formosa Pharmaceuticals APNT nanoparticle collaboration announced April 2026), and technology licensing royalties. Pricing is not applicable in a traditional sense; all research and licensing arrangements are bespoke. Industry partners are concentrated in pharmaceutical and medical device firms seeking access to expert clinical investigators, Asian patient cohorts, and Singapore's regulatory and translational research infrastructure, with the Singapore National Eye Centre functioning as both parent institution and primary clinical pipeline.

Name

Singapore Eye Research Institute

Legal name

Singapore Eye Research Institute

Website

https://seri.com.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) is the translational research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre, conducting ophthalmic clinical research, developing treatments like Vabysmo and Myopine, and licensing technologies such as the SELENA+ AI screening tool to pharmaceutical and medical device partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmic Research Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Contact Lens Specialty & Myopia Control (HLAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Ophthalmic research
• Clinical trials
• Eye disease treatments
• AI eye screening
• Vision research

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government and Research Grants: SERI receives institutional funding as the research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre and SingHealth system, along with competitive national research grants for ophthalmic research programs.
2. Industry Sponsored Research: Collaborative research agreements with pharmaceutical companies such as Formosa Pharmaceuticals and Santen, including the SONIC 2.0 $21 million initiative and other strategic research partnerships.
3. Technology Licensing: SERI licenses technologies and intellectual property to industrial partners for commercialization, seeking partners to license and commercialize mature technologies ready for advanced testing, development and deployment.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SERI is a translational ophthalmic research institute that conducts clinical trials, develops treatments for eye diseases (including Vabysmo for diabetic eye diseases and Myopine for childhood myopia), and builds AI-powered diagnostic tools (SELENA+). The institute licenses its mature technologies to industrial partners and operates as the research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre within the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre ecosystem.

Product overview

Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) serves as the research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre, functioning as a translational research institute focused on preventing blindness and treating eye diseases. The institute operates as a multi-faceted research organization combining core research capabilities with commercializable technologies. Its portfolio includes therapeutic treatments (Vabysmo for diabetic eye diseases, Myopine for childhood myopia), AI-powered diagnostic tools (SELENA+ for automated eye screening), technology licensing opportunities, and clinical trial services. Research programs span key areas including SEED (Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases), TAAP (Translational Asian Age-related Macular Degeneration Programme), and TARGET (Tackling Reducing Glaucoma Blindness with Emerging Technologies). The institute also collaborates with pharmaceutical partners using proprietary drug delivery platforms like APNT® nanoparticle technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SELENA+: AI screening tool developed by SERI for eye disease detection
• Myopine
• Vabysmo

Products and services

• SELENA+

Quantifiable outcome

• SONIC 1.0 resulted in 13 research projects and development of low-dose atropine drops for myopia treatment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Formosa PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Strategic research collaboration announced April 30, 2026 to develop next-generation ophthalmic formulations for corneal and ocular surface diseases. The partnership combines SERI's clinical research expertise led by Associate Professor Yu-Chi Liu with Formosa's proprietary APNT (Active Pharmaceutical Nanoparticle Technology) drug delivery platform. Initial research confirmed compatibility between technologies, prompting extension from initial testing to broader collaboration.
• Santen PharmaceuticalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025SONIC 2.0 is a $21 million three-year collaboration launched December 2025 to develop treatments for eye diseases like glaucoma and myopia. Builds on SONIC 1.0 which resulted in 13 research projects and development of low-dose atropine drops for myopia. SONIC 2.0 aims to develop two treatments to clinical stage, expand use of ophthalmic drugs, and contribute to Singapore's biomedical innovation.
• EyexoracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Eyexora established co-headquarters in Singapore as part of Asia-Pacific expansion to support clinical development, research, and regional partnerships. The new headquarters strengthens collaboration with SERI to advance ophthalmic therapies and innovations. Eyexora also launched its second spoke company Y.ora Vision, Inc. focusing on ophthalmic medical devices for glaucoma.
• Nanyang Technological University (NTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in the comprehensive review paper on Singapore's contributions to biofabrication and biomanufacturing published in Bio-Design and Manufacturing journal. Part of multi-institutional research effort covering waste-derived biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, cultivated food, regenerative medicine, microneedles, and bioelectronics.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in biofabrication and biomanufacturing research review published in Bio-Design and Manufacturing journal alongside other Singapore institutions.
• A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in biofabrication and biomanufacturing research review. Part of Singapore's national research ecosystem contributing to integrated production platforms combining biological systems, advanced materials, digital tools, and automated fabrication.
• Duke-NUS Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating institution in biofabrication and biomanufacturing research efforts, operating within the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre ecosystem alongside SERI.
• Singapore National Eye CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERI serves as the official research arm of the Singapore National Eye Centre. This primary institutional relationship provides the clinical research infrastructure, patient access, and translational research pathway for SERI's ophthalmic research programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Eye Institute (NEI): U.S. federal government's primary agency for vision research, funding and conducting ophthalmic research. Comparable to SERI as a government-affiliated, grant-funded ophthalmic research body that supports clinical trials and translational science.
• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute: U.S. News top-ranked ophthalmology center in the U.S., combining clinical care with translational ophthalmic research. Comparable to SERI as a globally-leading ophthalmic research-clinical hybrid affiliated with a major academic medical center.
• Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins): Large academic ophthalmic research institute within a U.S. academic medical center, focused on translational ophthalmology, clinical trials, and industry-sponsored research. Comparable as a top-tier ophthalmic research institute with diversified pharma and device partnerships.
• Moorfields Eye Hospital / UCL Institute of Ophthalmology: One of the world's oldest and largest ophthalmic research-clinical centers, combining hospital care with translational research. Directly comparable to SERI as a globally-recognized eye research institute with strong pharma partnerships and licensing output.

Others

• Santen Pharmaceutical: Japan-based global ophthalmology specialty pharmaceutical company and SERI's core industry partner under SONIC 2.0. Relevant as the lead industry counterparty funding SERI's translational ophthalmic drug pipeline and a major future commercialization partner.

Direct peers

• LV Prasad Eye Institute: Major Indian non-profit ophthalmic research and clinical care organization with translational research programs. Comparable to SERI as a non-profit eye research institute focused on preventing blindness across Asian populations and partnering with industry on translational projects.
• Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center (Sun Yat-sen University): China's leading national ophthalmic research-clinical center and major Asian competitor to SERI. Directly comparable as a large ophthalmic research institute with similar translational mission, strong clinical trial volume, and growing industry partnerships in Asia-Pacific.

Emerging players

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Developer of Eylea (aflibercept), a leading anti-VEGF therapy for retinal diseases including those SERI researches (Vabysmo area). Relevant as a peer-class ophthalmic developer whose products and clinical pathways directly relate to SERI's translational research focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/SNECEvents
• Facebookfacebook.com/SNEC.SERI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/singapore-eye-research-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/snec_seri
• TikToktiktok.com/@SNEC_SERI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Singapore Eye Research Institute