NCCS orchid

Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore, a specially cultivated hybrid orchid, was unveiled by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore, at the National Cancer Centre Singapore’s (NCCS) 25th Anniversary Charity Dinner on 28 September 2025. The event celebrated NCCS journey of advancing cancer care and research to improve healthcare outcomes over the last 25 years.

Caption: At the NCCS 25th Anniversary Charity Dinner 2025, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam witnessed the unveiling of the hybrid orchid, Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore. (From L to R: Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Chairperson of the NCCS Cancer Fund, part of SingHealth Fund, and NCC Research Fund; Mr Cheng Wai Keung, Chairman, SingHealth; President Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Professor Lim Soon Thye, CEO, National Cancer Centre Singapore; Professor Ng Wai Hoe, Group Chief Executive Officer, SingHealth)

Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore is a hybrid orchid that exhibits vivid orange-yellow petals marked with net-like tessellations, a dark lip and mild, sweet fragrance. The orchid is a cross between the Vanda and Papilionanthe genera of orchids, belonging to the Vandeae subgroup that has a lineage comprising more than 70 species found in the Indochina region, Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia. Among its most iconic members is Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim ‘Agnes’, the national flower of Singapore, known for its vibrant colour, resilience, and year-round bloom.

The NCCS Orchid serves as a living symbol of the Centre’s commitment to advance cancer care, research, and education. Developed as part of a broader initiative to integrate nature and science, this orchid embodies the resilience, complexity, and beauty that is part of the human experience. The special hybrid’s vibrant bloom and enduring form serve as a metaphor for hope, strength and healing for the cancer community.

Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore’s genome

The genome of the NCCS Orchid provides a foundation for exploring traits relevant to horticultural breeding, stress resilience, and the discovery of bioactive compounds that can improve future therapeutic innovations for health and wellbeing. By bridging genomics with biodiversity, this work contributes to NCCS’ ongoing efforts to integrate nature-based knowledge to drive scientific innovation and holistic approaches in cancer care.

The genome assembly from Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore (Plantae; Angiosperms; Orchidaceae; Vandeae; Aeridinae; Vanda) reveals important genetic information. This genome sequence spans 1.34 GB, with the majority organised into 19 chromosomal pseudo-scaffolds with 23,542 coding genes. It provides understanding into the molecular basis of the orchid’s colour and fragrance through a combination of genomic and transcriptomic analyses of petal tissues. These findings offer critical insights into the genetic architecture underlying the reproductive and evolutionary strategies of orchids.

The genomic artwork above showcases the flower and genome of the NCCS Orchid. The outer ring highlights repeated DNA sequences that shape the genome’s structure. The middle ring marks the distribution of the 23,000 genes that influence traits such as flower colour, form, and growth. The inner ring represents the balance of different DNA bases and highlights the genome’s composition. Lines within the circle connect similar or related regions, offering a glimpse into how the orchid’s genome is organised.

Papilionanda National Cancer Centre Singapore was sequenced and studied by the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine (BD-MED).

Version: 17 July 2025

Species taxonomy Viridiplantae; Streptophyta; Streptophytina; Embryophyta; Tracheophyta; Euphyllophyta; Spermatophyta; Magnoliopsida; Mesangiospermae; Liliopsida; Petrosaviidae; Asparagales; Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae; Vandeae; Aeridinae (NCBI:txid 38198).