Two research institutions in Singapore announced on Thursday that they will jointly set up a research center to investigate the connections between nutrition, human development and metabolic diseases, which has much to do with the popular topic of "healthy ageing."

The Singapore Centre for Nutritional Sciences, Metabolic Diseases and Human Development, a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, will have 148 million Singapore dollars ( $118.4 million) in funding over the next three years.

The key research areas of the center will include mother and infant nutrition, and obesity and insulin resistance in Asians which affects diabetes, and how sensory perception affects food choices.

There is growing interest in how the incidence, progression and treatment of diseases may be different in Asia, and how Asian preferences and culture influence human development and the maintenance of health throughout life, especially the topic of " healthy ageing," said the parties involved.