On 14 November 2011, Vela Diagnostics, a private start-up engaged in molecular diagnostic tests and automated instruments, officially opened its global headquarters and R&D centre in Singapore.  Vela's R&D centre will design and develop novel molecular diagnostic tests for global markets. This is a first for Singapore and will strengthen our position as a leading biomedical sciences research hub in Asia, where drugs and diagnostics can be developed hand-in-hand to advance personalized healthcare. The establishment of Vela's R&D centre underscores Singapore’s repute as an attractive location for innovation in Asia for Asia.

Beyond establishing its headquarter and R&D operations here, Vela's complete value chain of activities comprising manufacturing and service operations will also be driven from Singapore. Vela currently employs about 30 R&D staff and is seeking to ramp up its R&D, manufacturing, sales and support functions.

A team of former senior Roche Diagnostics executives incorporated Vela Diagnostics in early 2011 with the purpose of developing In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) PCR based molecular tests in the field of Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Oncology. The company has an additional R&D site is located in New Jersey, USA and the European commercial headquarters is based In Hamburg, Germany.