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SUCCESS CASE
How a Biotechnology Company Secured S$120K+ for Antidiabetic Translational Research
RIC helped a Singapore biotechnology company secure A*STAR T-Up support for translational validation of a proprietary antidiabetic bioactive formulation.
CATEGORY
R&D and Innovation
CLIENT TYPE
Biotechnology / metabolic health
GRANT TYPE
A*STAR T-Up / CDS(TI)-Experts support
FUNDING SECURED
Above S$120,000
About the Client and Project
Client Profile
The client is a Singapore biotechnology company developing bioactive formulations for diabetes, liver disease, kidney health, and metabolic health applications. It draws on more than 18 years of scientific expertise in cellular nutrition and synthetic biotechnology. Its core technology is based on a patented medicinal mushroom-derived strain, with an IP portfolio covering South Korea, China, and PCT filings. The company also has regulatory credibility through KFDA approval and HSA certification for EFILA-based products.
Project Nature
The project involves investigating the antidiabetic effects of Ceriporia lacerata K1, a fungal strain positioned for functional food, dietary supplement, or complementary medicine applications. The technical work covers CLK1 cultivation, crude broth preparation, cytotoxicity testing, in vitro antidiabetic assays using pancreatic beta-cell models, gene expression analysis, oxidative stress marker analysis, signalling pathway studies, extraction, fractionation, and formulation optimisation. The project aims to generate stronger scientific evidence for safety, efficacy, mechanism of action, and future product formulation, helping the client move from Korea-originated strain development toward Singapore-supported translational validation.
Funding Objective and Challenge
Funding Objective
The funding objective was to support a 12-month ASTAR T-Up project under the Capability Development Scheme (Technology Innovation) Experts framework. The support was for the secondment of ASTAR research expertise to help the client validate CLK1’s antidiabetic potential, uncover molecular mechanisms, isolate active compounds, optimise formulations, and transfer advanced R&D capabilities to the company. The grant supported qualifying manpower-related secondment costs, helping the client access specialised molecular biology, assay development, and translational research expertise without having to build the full capability independently from day one.
The Challenge
The client had Korea-originated biotechnology, patented strain development, prior clinical and regulatory credibility, and a clear commercial ambition in diabetes and metabolic health. The challenge was converting that cross-border scientific foundation into a Singapore-supported translational research project with a properly matched ASTAR researcher, clear lab validation milestones, and a credible execution pathway. The project also required technical framing around CLK1 cultivation, cytotoxicity, in vitro antidiabetic assays, gene expression, oxidative stress markers, signalling pathways, and formulation optimisation. This was not a simple grant application. It needed to show why ASTAR’s capabilities were necessary, how the company would absorb the technical know-how, and how the project could support future product commercialisation.
How RIC Supported the Client
RIC supported the client across the full grant lifecycle, from pre-application positioning to approval.
RIC’s support included:
• Coordinating pre-application engagement between the client and A*STAR.
• Arranging researcher interviews so the client could assess technical and commercial fit.
• Helping navigate A*STAR’s resourcing process, including researcher availability, potential project conflicts, technical fit, and scope relevance.
• Translating the client’s Singapore-Korea R&D narrative into an A*STAR-supported translational validation project.
• Structuring the project around defined technical milestones, including CLK1 cultivation, cytotoxicity testing, in vitro antidiabetic assays, mechanistic studies, and formulation optimisation.
• Helping frame why the T-Up programme was needed instead of ordinary hiring.
• Supporting grant submission logic around capability transfer, commercialisation readiness, and Singapore-based R&D capability building.
RIC’s role was especially important before submission, where proper researcher matching and scope alignment were critical to making the T-Up application viable.
Outcome
FUNDING SECURED
Above S$120,000
The client secured above S$120,000 in A*STAR-administered CDS(TI)-Experts support, on behalf of Enterprise Singapore, for the secondment of research scientist and engineering expertise. The supported project runs from October 2025 to September 2026 and focuses on investigating the antidiabetic effects of Ceriporia lacerata K1. The project is designed to build technical know-how in molecular biology, bioactivity-guided formulation, and translational validation, while supporting the client’s pathway toward functional food, nutraceutical, or complementary medicine commercialisation.
What This Means for Similar Companies
For biotech and life sciences companies, this case shows that strong overseas-originated science still needs a Singapore-ready translation strategy. A project becomes more fundable when the company can show technical gaps, why a research institute is needed, what capabilities will be transferred, and how the work will support future commercialisation. T-Up is not just a subsidy for research manpower. Used properly, it can help a company bridge capability gaps, validate proprietary technology, build internal R&D foundations, and create a clearer path from lab evidence to market-ready health products.
