Tadataka Yamada Made Honorary Citizen Of Singapore

Dr. Tadataka Yamada was recognized for his contributions to Singapore’s biomedical sciences sector and for catalyzing scientific innovations in drug discovery.

AsianScientist (Nov. 15, 2016) – Dr. Tadataka Yamada, venture partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners, has been awarded Singapore’s 2016 Honorary Citizen Award.

The award is the highest form of recognition bestowed by the Singapore Government for outstanding contributions by individuals to the country’s growth and development. It is conferred to those who have made a significant impact in the areas of business, science and technology, information communications, education, health, arts and culture, sports, tourism, community services or security.

For more than a decade, Yamada played a critical role in advancing Singapore’s biomedical sciences sector and catalysing scientific innovations in drug discovery and therapeutic advances. In his various roles under Singapore’s Biomedical Sciences Initiative, which included being a member of the Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council and a member of the A*STAR Board, he contributed significantly to shaping Singapore’s R&D strategies to help keep us at the forefront of innovation and remain globally competitive.

As the Chairman of the Project Review Committee of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre under A*STAR, Yamada lent his experience in both academia and industry to guide the translational and clinical research efforts from early stage drug discovery to commercialisation. A notable outcome was the development of ETC-159, a novel small molecule drug candidate that targets a range of cancers, and the first publicly funded drug candidate discovered and developed in Singapore to reach first-in-man trials.

On being named Honorary Citizen, Yamada said, “I am very honoured to receive this prestigious national award. Singapore has achieved significant success over the years to become a world-class R&D hub. I am pleased to have played a part in this journey and contributed to Singapore’s vibrant biomedical sciences research and enterprise ecosystem.”

This is the eleventh year the Honorary Citizen Award is being conferred. Yamada received the award from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Honorary Citizen Award Investiture held on November 11, 2016.

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Source: A*STAR; Photo: Tachi Yamada.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

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