Agilent and NHCS Collaborate to Transform Heart Failure Research

Agilent Technologies Inc. has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) to advance research in metabolic heart failure, a complex and underexplored area in cardiovascular medicine. This collaboration aims to leverage innovative technologies and human cardiac organoids to uncover the metabolic drivers of heart failure, thereby accelerating the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Heart failure is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with forms such as diabetic heart failure and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) posing significant challenges due to limited treatment options. The partnership will utilize human-derived heart tissues and Agilent’s advanced Seahorse XF Flex Analyzer, which allows for real-time metabolic analysis in three-dimensional tissues and organoid workflows.

Prof Derek Hausenloy, director of the National Heart Research Institute Singapore (NHRIS) at NHCS, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Our collaboration with Agilent allows us to advance the study of heart disease using patient-specific beating heart cells. By combining NHCS’s expertise with Agilent’s advanced technology, we can detect the earliest changes in how heart cells use energy before visible damage occurs.” This approach promises to facilitate the discovery and safe testing of new therapies for patients facing limited treatment options.

Leveraging Advanced Technologies for Clinical Insights

NHCS has established itself as a leading institution in modeling monogenic cardiac diseases using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This foundation has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets currently undergoing clinical evaluation. The integration of Agilent’s next-generation technology with NHCS’s Preclinical Platform for Development of Therapeutics for Heart Failure (PREVENT-HF) is expected to generate hypotheses for clinical validation, providing new insights into disease progression and enhancing the assessment of treatment safety and efficacy in clinically relevant models.

Bharat Bhardwaj, vice president of APAC sales at Agilent, noted, “Together with NHCS, we are bridging science and technology to reimagine how metabolic heart failure is understood and treated through translational research.” He highlighted the shared commitment to addressing unmet needs in cardiovascular care, underscoring the collaboration’s potential to strengthen leadership in the biomedical ecosystem and position both organizations at the forefront of cardiovascular research.

Over the years, Agilent has made substantial contributions to health research in Singapore. In 2019, the company partnered with the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Hospital (NUH) to launch a $38 million research hub aimed at enhancing clinical diagnostics and biochemistry testing. In 2024, Agilent collaborated with NUS to establish the NUS-Agilent Center of Excellence in Cell Metabolism. This initiative supports the Singapore Ministry of Health’s Project RESET and the Cardiovascular Metabolic Disease Translational Research Programme (CVMD-TRP), further accelerating the discovery of insights into the complex mechanisms of heart disease.

About the Partners

Agilent Technologies Inc. is a global leader in analytical and clinical laboratory technologies, delivering innovative solutions that help customers address their most challenging questions. For the fiscal year 2024, the company reported a revenue of $6.51 billion and employs approximately 18,000 people worldwide.

The National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) serves as a premier national and regional referral center for cardiovascular diseases. It offers a comprehensive range of cardiac care services and is recognized as the 12th best cardiology hospital in the world according to Newsweek’s 2025 rankings. NHCS is dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health through translational research and training healthcare professionals.

For further information about Agilent Technologies, visit their website at www.agilent.com. Details about the National Heart Centre Singapore can be found at www.nhcs.com.sg.