NTU's first remotely controlled Solution X-ray Scattering (SAXS) marks another step forward for biomedical research.

On 26 May, researchers at NTU's School of Biological Sciences (SBS) took part in a bold new research initiative: three Solution X-ray Scattering (SAXS) experiments performed halfway around the world in Hamburg, Germany, operated remotely from SBS.

One and a half years in the making, the cutting-edge experiment was managed by SBS' Assoc Prof Gerhard Gruber, who hopes that the pioneering experiment will showcase Singapore's role in leading edge science. Knowledge gained from previous SAXS experiments have been credited for the structure determination of the vacuolar ATPase proton pump, which has been proven to be a contributing factor in diseases and ailments such as osteoporosis, deafness, malaria, encephalitis, yellow fever, HIV infection and cancer.

The technique of SAXS has experienced a renaissance over the last 15 years, establishing itself as major research tool in the fields of structural biology and materials science. According to Assoc Prof Gruber, a growing number of research groups in the region are now using SAXS in collaboration with synchrotrons in Europe, Taiwan and the United States.

Synchrotrons are massive sub-particle accelerators; due to their complexity and cost, there are only a handful of such facilities in the world. SBS' remote SAXS experiment was conducted at the Hamburg EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) outstation of DESY (Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron or "German Electron Synchrotron", Germany's largest research centre for particle physics). The landmark experiment, conducted in real time, has yielded new insights into nano-motor proteins (with potential applications in biomedicine and other fields) and opened the door to even more remotely controlled synchrotron experiments around the world.

Training researchers in SAXS
The experiment was made possible by the world-class research and teaching facilities at SBS, and was the culmination of a two-day training programme on SAXS. At present, most researchers rely on their synchrotron collaborators for SAXS-related data interpretation. The programme covered practical issues related to the science and mathematics of SAXS, giving researchers a better understanding of the technique.

According to Assoc Prof Gruber, the response to the offering was excellent, with over 120 applicants for the 30-plus available slots. Hands-on learning sessions were conducted at SBS' world-class workstation facilities. To further engage the research community in Singapore and the region, many of the individual courses within the programme (comprising demonstrations and seminars) were open to the public.

With an international cast of speakers, practical sessions and a pioneering experiment, the event marked the latest step in NTU's drive to become a centre of research and academic excellence.

© Corporate Communications Office