Agilent and National Heart Centre Singapore Forge Partnership for Heart Research

Agilent Technologies Inc. has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) to enhance research in metabolic heart failure, a critical and often neglected area of cardiovascular medicine. The collaboration aims to utilize human cardiac organoids to better understand the metabolic drivers of heart failure, which remains one of the leading causes of global morbidity and mortality.

Heart failure manifests in various forms, including diabetic heart failure and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), both of which present unique challenges due to limited treatment options. The partnership between Agilent and NHCS seeks to address these challenges by combining Agilent’s advanced analytical technologies, such as the Seahorse XF Flex Analyzer, with NHCS’s expertise in human-derived heart tissues.

Collaboration Aims to Revolutionize Heart Failure Research

According to Prof. Derek Hausenloy, director of the National Heart Research Institute Singapore (NHRIS) at NHCS, this collaboration represents a significant advancement in the study of heart disease. “Our collaboration with Agilent allows us to advance the study of heart disease using patient-specific beating heart cells,” he stated. This innovative approach is expected to detect early changes in energy utilization by heart cells, potentially before visible damage occurs.

The integration of NHCS’s Preclinical Platform for Development of Therapeutics for Heart Failure (PREVENT-HF) with Agilent’s cutting-edge technology positions this partnership to generate hypotheses for clinical validation. This could lead to new insights into disease progression, the development of novel therapies, and the assessment of treatment safety and efficacy in relevant clinical models.

Bharat Bhardwaj, vice president of APAC sales at Agilent, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “Together with NHCS, we are bridging science and technology to reimagine how metabolic heart failure is understood and treated through translational research.” He noted that this collaboration reflects their shared commitment to addressing unmet needs in cardiovascular care while reinforcing Agilent’s leadership in the biomedical ecosystem.

Building on a Strong Foundation of Research

Agilent has a history of contributing to advancements in public health research in Singapore. In 2019, it partnered with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Hospital (NUH) to establish a research hub with an investment of approximately $38 million. This initiative aimed to enhance clinical diagnostics and biochemistry testing.

Last year, Agilent collaborated with NUS to create the NUS-Agilent Center of Excellence in Cell Metabolism, supporting the Singapore Ministry of Health’s Project RESET and the Cardiovascular Metabolic Disease Translational Research Programme (CVMD-TRP). This partnership is designed to expedite the discovery of novel insights into the complex mechanisms of heart disease.

Agilent Technologies, a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, generated revenues of $6.51 billion in the fiscal year 2024. The company employs around 18,000 people worldwide and is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that assist customers in addressing their most challenging scientific inquiries. For more information about Agilent’s contributions and initiatives, visit their website at www.agilent.com.

The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) is recognized as a leading referral center for cardiovascular diseases, providing a comprehensive range of cardiac care services. It has been ranked #12 in the World’s Best Cardiology Hospital by Newsweek in 2025 and is the only facility in Singapore offering heart and lung transplantation programs. As an academic medical center, NHCS is committed to advancing cardiovascular health through pioneering translational research in collaboration with both local and international partners. For further details, visit www.nhcs.com.sg.