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The Istana

Professor Tan Chorh Chuan

Last updated 4 September 2026
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Tenure in CPA: -
Tenure as Alternate Member*: Since Sep 2026

Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Chairman, MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT)

Prof Tan Chorh Chuan was appointed the Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) on 1st October 2023. He is concurrently the Chairman of the MOH Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT). He has been appointed Alternate Member of the Council of Presidential Advisers on 1st September 2026.

Prof Tan was the Permanent Secretary (National Research and Development) and Permanent Secretary (Public Sector Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office), Prime Minister’s Office, from 1st October 2023 to 31st August 2026. In these capacities, he led the development of the Research Innovation and Enterprise 2030 plan, and the strengthening of science and engineering capabilities in the public service. He was the inaugural Chief Health Scientist and founding Executive Director of the new Office for Healthcare Transformation in Singapore’s Ministry of Health from 1st January 2018 to 30th September 2023. He was also the Chair of MOH’s Healthier SG Implementation Office till 2024. He served as the President of the National University of Singapore from 2008 to 2017, and held the positions of NUS Provost, then Senior Deputy President from 2004 to 2008. He was previously the Dean of the NUS Faculty of Medicine and served as the Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health from 2000 to 2004, in which capacity he was responsible for leading the public health response to the 2003 SARS epidemic. He was also the Chairman of the Board of the National University Health System from 2011 to 2018.

Prof Tan is a key leader in Singapore's Biomedical Sciences Initiative since its inception in 2000, for which he was awarded the National Science and Technology Medal in 2008. He has also received the Public Service Star in 2003; the Public Administration Gold Medal in 2004; the Meritorious Service Medal in 2015; the Distinguished Service Order in 2022 and Public Service Star (COVID-19) in 2023. Prof Tan is the recipient of several international awards and is the first Singaporean to be elected as an international member of the US National Academy of Medicine. He has also been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences in December 2025.

A renal physician, he obtained his medical training at NUS, and research training at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford.