The collaboration between the Duke University medical school and the National University of Singapore (NUS) will prolong for five more years.

It is the second-phase of the combined functioning of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, which has been signed by the United States institution on Tuesday. This specialty school provides training based on clinical practice and research to small group of postgraduate students.

The school's Outram building hosted the signing ceremony, which was witnessed by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Education Minister Ng Eng Hen. There were also present Professor Ranga Krishnan, Dean of the school; Dr. Victor Dzau, Duke's Chancellor for health affairs; and Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President.

"From discoveries, to making a difference in patients, and improving the population's health that is the next phase where we know each entity - SingHealth and Duke-NUS - has its strengths", said Dr. Victor Dzau, President and CEO of Duke University Health System. He added that the Duke-NUS's two strengths are research and SingHealth that ensured provision of excellent care.

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS President expressed that the school had so far surpassed the expectations and its next phase had been set up on the results of the first stage only that excelled in providing high-quality education.