EYE specialist Donald Tan (right) has helped put Singapore on the map when it comes to medical research.

A prolific writer and award-winning researcher, his work in perfecting corneal transplants has helped thousands of people with little or no vision.

For those contributions - along with his pioneering work on a host of non-surgical procedures - he was handed the National Outstanding Clinician Scientist Award yesterday.

His innovations are credited with vaulting Singapore into the upper echelons of medical research.

It is an achievement that Professor Tan, who runs the Singapore Eye Research Institute, called his most important.

"We are compared to the very best in the world: Johns Hopkins in the US, Moorfields in the UK," he said, referring to his research centre. "We have US$4 million (S$5.5 million) in funding compared to Johns Hopkins' US$50 million."

Prof Tan has written over 180 scientific articles, contributed to 16 books and has won 16 local, regional and international awards.

He is credited with being instrumental in developing one of the most successful eye banks in Asia, located in Singapore.

Prof Tan was asked what he will do with the $10,000 prize that comes with his latest award. He said it is a toss-up between using the money for more research and throwing a party to celebrate the win with the 30 or so researchers in his field.

Medical Pioneers:  “These doctors were engaged in research for years before the biomedical sector became a focus, often with very little money. This award recognizes their work and will hopefully be an incentive for others to be inspired to be great clinician-scientists.” – PROF K. SATKU, the Health Ministry’s medical services director