S$6M Research Collaboration to Advance Cancer Diagnostics Through AI and Patient-Centric Research

See media post on NCCS website

On the 13th March 2026, Precision oncology firm, Lucence, with Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub), hosted by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore and the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), officially launched UNITED 2.0, a S$6 million research collaboration to develop a next-generation, clinical grade cancer profiling test with the goal of advancing the future of precision diagnostics.

The collaboration builds on the original UNITED 1.0 tissue test, also known as UNITED™ 600, which has helped guide therapeutic selection for cancer patients across the region since 2021. The assay analyses tumour and tissue samples for 572 genes and 71 RNA fusions using both DNA and RNA signals. Building on this foundation, UNITED 2.0 will adopt a dual Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing (WTS) approach, moving beyond “gene snapshots” (tests that look only at selected genes) to provide a more complete picture of the cancer. This enables more detailed tumour profiling, including the identification of complex mutations and fusions, helping clinicians identify genetic alterations that can be targeted with precision treatments. The team will also use AI to support more efficient analysis and reporting of the large amount of genomic data generated.

The clinical-grade test will analyse a broad range of cancers, including breast, lung, colon, bladder, CNS tumours, and lymphoma. In addition to the panel’s enhancement, the collaboration’s roadmap includes plans to develop tools to monitor a patient’s status after treatment. This includes "Minimal Residual Disease" (MRD) testing, which aims to detect early signs of cancer recurrence, enabling quicker clinical intervention.

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Cancer Discovery Hub

National Cancer Centre Singapore