North London Collegiate School (Singapore) Student Achieves Academic Milestone with Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication

Saket Subramaniam of North London Collegiate School (Singapore) publishes peer-reviewed medical research on colorectal cancer liver metastasis in the American Journal of Student Research.

SINGAPORE, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- North London Collegiate School (Singapore) celebrates the remarkable academic achievement of Grade 11 student Saket Subramaniam, whose research has been published in the peer-reviewed American Journal of Student Research.

Currently serving as Academic Ambassador for the 2025–2026 academic year, Saket is deeply engaged in the intellectual life of the school. His paper, "The Correlation Between the Surgical Margin and Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," was published in the American Journal of Student Research, an international academic journal that publishes student-led research across disciplines including medicine and the life sciences, on 9 February 2026, marking a significant milestone for a student researcher. The paper is available through the American Journal of Student Research website and via its DOI: 10.70251/HYJR2348.41601614.

From Curiosity to Independent Medical Research

His interest in the field began during Grade 10, when he explored an online course, "So You Want to Be a Surgeon?" offered by the University of Hong Kong. The programme introduced him to surgical subspecialties, and he became particularly fascinated by surgical oncology. While many researchers focus on organs such as the brain or heart, Saket chose to study the liver, drawn by its regenerative properties and by the complex challenges faced by patients with liver cancer, which has a five-year survival rate of approximately 20%.

Saket's work explores a critical question in surgical oncology: how much healthy tissue should be removed around a tumour in liver cancer surgery to maximise patient survival while preserving the liver's extraordinary ability to regenerate. The research investigates whether an "optimal" surgical margin exists, examining existing studies to better understand how surgical decisions can influence patient outcomes.

Methodology and Research Approach

The paper was developed as an independent research project under the guidance of Lumiere Education. Saket worked closely with his mentor, Huairen Zhang, a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, who supported him throughout the research process. Determined to challenge himself, Saket chose to conduct a meta-analysis, a statistically rigorous method rarely attempted by students in the programme, requiring him to independently learn advanced statistical methodologies.

Reflecting on the publication process, Saket noted that the experience of revising and refining his work in response to peer review was both demanding and rewarding. Receiving detailed feedback from the journal editors reinforced his confidence and strengthened his belief in the value of his research.

Academic Enrichment and Student Scholarship at NLCS (Singapore)

At North London Collegiate School (Singapore), Saket credits the school's academic culture, and especially Ms Holden, the Assistant Principal (Academic), for fostering his intellectual curiosity. One particularly formative experience was delivering a seminar titled "Cancer – what is it and why is it so deadly?" as part of the school's Seminar Programme. Preparing and presenting the session deepened his understanding of cellular biology while building his confidence in public speaking and teaching.

Inspired by the opportunities he had experienced at NLCS (Singapore), Saket has sought to expand academic engagement within the school community. In his role as Academic Ambassador, he launched the Bryant Lectures, a new student-led lecture series named after pioneering scientist and former NLCS (UK) headmistress Sophie Bryant. The initiative gives students the opportunity to deliver formal academic lectures, complementing the school's established McCabe Lectures delivered by staff, parents and visiting academics. The inaugural Bryant Lecture will take place on 18 March.

Saket's parents shared their pride in his achievement:

"We were absolutely thrilled to learn that his research has been published in the peer-reviewed American journal of Student Research. We have seen Saket grow in confidence, discipline and self-belief thanks to the dedicated efforts, guidance, and encouragement of his teachers at North London Collegiate School (Singapore) and his academic mentor. Their unwavering support has played a significant role in shaping the person he is becoming, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment."

Encouraging other students to pursue their interests, Saket emphasises the importance of embracing opportunity:

"Whether it is to publish your work or to pursue your passion, my single best piece of advice is to take the opportunities presented to you. Be a risk-taker; approach uncertainty with foresight, innovation, and resilience. Deliver your first seminar, create your own society, publish your own research, as you never know which small step might become the defining moment of your journey."

Saket's accomplishment reflects the spirit of intellectual ambition and academic curiosity that lies at the heart of North London Collegiate School (Singapore), an international school offering the IB curriculum, where students are encouraged to pursue academic enrichment, independent research, and scholarly inquiry beyond the classroom.

About North London Collegiate School (Singapore)

Founded in August 2020, North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is a British International School offering the academically ambitious NLCS curriculum, followed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and culminating in the IB Diploma Programme.

Drawing on 175 years of educational heritage from its founding school in the UK, NLCS (Singapore) nurtures individuals to be intellectually curious, socially confident, and grounded in compassion through a rigorous academic framework, rich co-curricular opportunities, and exceptional pastoral care.

Situated on Depot Road, the School is part of a global family of schools committed to educational excellence and developing global citizens.

To learn more about NLCS (Singapore), please visit our website (https://nlcssingapore.sg/) and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

For media enquiries, please contact the NLCS (Singapore) Marketing Team
Email: marketing@nlcssingapore.sg 

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

North London Collegiate School (Singapore) Student Achieves Academic Milestone with Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication

AUSTIN, Texas, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saronic today announced it has selected Brownsville, Texas as the future home of Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to help restore American maritime strength and significantly expand the nation's shipbuilding capacity.

The announcement marks a major milestone in Saronic's mission to restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale. First introduced as a vision for the future of maritime manufacturing, Port Alpha now moves from concept to reality through a planned investment of more than $3 billion that aims to establish one of the most advanced shipyards in the world, built for software-defined shipbuilding and autonomous maritime systems.

The project is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for the State of Texas, while creating up to 10,000 direct jobs. This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.

The timing is pivotal. In one of his first actions in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance, followed by federal initiatives such as the SHIPS for America Act and the Maritime Action Plan that call for a generational rebuild of the American shipbuilding industry. These efforts recognize that economic security and national security are inseparable, and that restoring U.S. shipbuilding capacity is essential to both. Port Alpha will expand domestic production capacity and strengthen the nation's ability to meet commercial and defense requirements while closing the widening shipbuilding gap with foreign adversaries.

"America's maritime future depends on our ability to build again," said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic. "Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission. Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality."

Following a year-long nationwide search evaluating sites across the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, Brownsville was selected after a rigorous review of workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, land scale, logistics, and expansion potential. Initially situated on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with the opportunity to expand to nearly 4,400 acres, Port Alpha will encompass a shipyard and manufacturing facility capable of producing vessels up to 850-ft. Future site expansion could support the production of vessels over 1,200 ft. The site provides hundreds of acres of waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity, multimodal logistics infrastructure, and room for long-term expansion—everything required to anchor a next-generation shipbuilding hub.

"Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world," said Governor Abbott. "When this shipyard gets fully built out, there will be about 10,000 employees. Saronic is going to be providing about $750 million in annual paychecks to Texans. That's game-changing for the population of Texas. As Governor, I'm proud that Saronic calls Texas home."

Over the next decade, Port Alpha is expected to create up to 10,000 high-quality direct jobs spanning skilled trades such as welding and machining to advanced roles in robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. The project aligns with national calls to rebuild the maritime workforce pipeline, creating new opportunities for skilled workers at the intersection of shipbuilding and advanced technology. Saronic will collaborate with the State of Texas, Cameron County, and local educational institutions – from regional technical colleges to leading State universities and institutions – to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs designed to sustain long-term industrial growth and position South Texas as a center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.

Port Alpha builds on Saronic's expanding shipbuilding footprint. In early 2025, the company acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing $300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity. That facility will continue producing Saronic's 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, which was designed and launched in less than one year. Together, these facilities represent a multi-billion-dollar private capital commitment to restoring American shipbuilding capacity, advancing autonomous maritime systems, and strengthening the nation's industrial resilience.

More than a shipyard, Port Alpha represents a new model for American shipbuilding—combining advanced manufacturing, software-defined production, and autonomy at unprecedented scale. To sustain that edge, Saronic is forging strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, emerging shipbuilding technology providers, and premier suppliers, ensuring that the latest capabilities continuously strengthen and inform Port Alpha's production architecture alongside Saronics' in-house expertise. In doing so, Port Alpha embodies the transformation envisioned in national maritime strategy, one that leverages technology to strengthen deterrence, resilience, and operational flexibility. As construction advances, Saronic will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to establish the industrial foundation required for the next generation of maritime power in America.

Contact: press@saronic.com

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Saronic to Build Port Alpha, America's Next Generation Shipyard, in Brownsville, Texas