Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI)

SCRI Academy is the national learning and development platform for clinical research coordinators (CRCs) in Singapore. The academy runs regular structured training programmes for CRCs from public healthcare institutions. These training programmes are tailored to enhance the skill sets of CRCs and support career growth. Beyond training programmes, SCRI Academy also seeks to provide a network for CRC alumni from these programmes and to stay in touch with them. SCRI Academy recently hosted two workshops for CRC alumni on 1 and 15 November 2024. 42 participants attended and here are the key takeaways from the workshops: ❤️ Emotional Intelligence Workshop: • Self-discovery through the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) assessment. • Insights into how moods and emotions influence interactions. • Interacting with empathy  • Development of self-awareness and self-management. 🧘🏻♂️ Mindfulness Workshop: • Reaping the benefits of mindful leadership to achieve high performance and well-being. • Developing skills to make more informed decisions via the "Pause-Empathise-Discover" framework. • Learning strategies for stress management and maintaining focus under pressure. • Developing stronger, collaborative relationships through empathy and perspective-taking. CRCs ensure clinical trials run smoothly and often have to plan ahead to optimise allocation of resources, think quickly on their feet and build rapport with stakeholders. We hope these workshops will support their professional growth! ✨ Check out highlights from the workshops below. Find out more about other CRC courses here: https://for.sg/crc #SCRIAcademy #ClinicalResearch #EmotionalIntelligence #Mindfulness #clinicalresearchcoordinator #clinicalresearch #training #CRC #clinicaltrials

The SCRI Townhall meeting on 12 November 2024 was a welcome gathering for staff across SCRI’s divisions – Academic Research Organisation (ARO), Science Division (SD) and the National Coordinating Body (NCB). Together, we looked back on key highlights and milestone engagements over the past year. A/Prof Danny Soon, CRIS CEO and Executive Director of SCRI, outlined strategies to steer SCRI towards reaching new heights in clinical research by continuing to engage with our public healthcare cluster partners, trial sponsors, contract research organisations (CROs) and sister programmes. SCRI will also continue to network with the clinical trials industry and public healthcare cluster partners at large to streamline clinical trial processes and boost research capacity by nurturing clinical research talent. We also identified areas of learning and discussed how SCRI can continue to advance the local #clinicaltrials landscape here and beyond through further collaborations, partnerships, and programmes. Our Townhall also celebrated major accomplishments over the past year. Dr Eugene Gan, Senior Director (Operations), SCRI, recapped key milestones such as the annual CRC Workshop and Distinguished Contributor Award for Clinical Research Coordinators, the launch of ClinicalTrials.SG at the SCRI Clinical Trials Symposium, hosting overseas delegates and significant MOU signings with Clinical Research Malaysia and our sister programme, the Cardiovascular Disease National Collaborative Enterprise (CADENCE), as well as the MOU with Siloam Hospitals Group in Indonesia.   Looking ahead, SCRI looks forward to enhancing resource-sharing and to build further synergies to strengthen Singapore’s capabilities as a leading hub for clinical trials, ultimately delivering more impactful outcomes for patients. #clinicalresearch #collaboration

14 November was World Diabetes Day. With increasing prevalence of diabetes in Singapore, digital innovations and ongoing research can help people living with diabetes manage better.  In this commentary piece, A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO, CRIS and Executive Director, Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI), highlights the significant technology advancements and research efforts that have empowered patients and their caregivers. “We can enhance diabetes management with technology to enable more targeted, personalised, and even preventive care, and better empower individuals in their care journey. Research also plays a crucial role in deepening our understanding of the patient journey, including challenges such as medication compliance, care delivery and predictors of health outcomes.” A/Prof Soon further highlights the potential of how collaborative and concerted effort by professionals in healthcare across public and private sectors can bring about innovations that can transform diabetes care and make an impact on the lives of patients and loved ones. Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/gJ6BHdNh       Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC) #WorldDiabetesDay #DiabetesCare #Innovation #HealthcareResearch #HealthTech #AI #DiabetesManagement

📔 What strategies can be used for successful subject recruitment and retention? 📔 Do you know when an impartial witness is required during the informed consent process? 📔 How can you best prepare your site for a monitoring visit? In September this year, we welcomed the 13th Cohort of the Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) Level 1 Programme, equipping new clinical research professionals with the essential knowledge to confidently navigate key concepts such as supporting the informed consent process during clinical trials. During the programme, participants were guided through a series of requirements and procedures, with hands-on learning through engaging role plays and insightful case studies that gave them a deeper understanding into the informed consent process as well as managing investigational products at the site. Designed for CRCs with at least one year of experience, the CRC Level 1 Programme provides a solid foundation of skills and knowledge, empowering participants to perform their roles effectively in the ever-evolving field of clinical research. Know someone from public healthcare embarking on their journey in clinical research? This course could be their stepping stone! Let's empower the next generation of clinical research professionals together. 🗓️ The next run of CRC Level 1 Programme is in March 2025. 🔗 Click here to find out more: https://lnkd.in/gHSScpNP   #SCRIAcademy #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearchcoordinators

Together with members of the International Clinical Trial Center Network - ICN, SCRI had the opportunity to visit the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University. The visit highlighted CiRA’s advancements in Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell research to realise applications of iPS cell technology in drug discovery and regenerative medicine for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease as well as advancing therapies for heart failure. During the lab tour, ICN members gained insights into CiRA’s decade-long commitment to establishing basic iPS cell technologies, building an iPS cell bank and developing drugs for hard to treat diseases and personalised medicines and how iPS technology could reshape healthcare. SCRI also had the privilege to meet with the team from Osaka University Hospital (OUH). In his presentation, A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO of CRIS and Executive Director of SCRI, outlined the crucial roles of CRIS' six national R&D, clinical translation and service initiatives in advancing clinical research and innovation in areas such as cell and gene therapy development, precision medicine and translational research programmes for oncology and cardiovascular disease. He also highlighted how SCRI’s development of clinical research networks in the Asia-Pacific region provides engagement opportunities in critically important and relevant research for diseases of Asian significance. The meeting also included presentations by representatives from the Center for Global Health, Academic Clinical Research Center and Student Life Cycle Support Center at OUH. They provided an overview of Japan's robust clinical research ecosystem which included initiatives such as the Osaka University Databank Project as well as Osaka Clinical Research Network (OCR-net) which aims to strengthen the clinical research ecosystem by providing training and manpower development to facilitate collaborative research. The OUH team also shared ongoing efforts to support international clinical trials, to provide patients in Japan with early access to innovative treatments. We are heartened by the open dialogue and knowledge exchange in drawing from one another’s strengths to advance collaborative clinical research initiatives and unleash the untapped potential for more clinical trials to take place in Asia to increase patient access to novel therapies for overall improved outcomes. Check out highlights of the visits below! ✨ Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS) Yi Ling Teo Uma Sockalingam

SCRI is glad to be at the International Clinical Trial Center Network - ICN’s 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM), which gathered leading experts and professionals from global institutions such as Technical University of Munich, Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Hong Kong and Clinical Research Malaysia. The AGM kicked off with discussions focused on key advancements in clinical trials – enhancing clinical trial standards, devising best practices to improve patient-public involvement, having patient-focused training for research coordinators – attendees also emphasised the need for diverse representation in #clinicaltrials across Asia, Europe, and beyond. In his presentation, A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO of CRIS and Executive Director of SCRI, introduced ClinicalTrials.SG (CTSG), a centralised clinical trials portal that is not only a resource that lists clinical trials that are recruiting, but also serves as a hub for collaboration, linking researchers with academic and industry partners to foster innovation and advance clinical research. CTSG also provides a Biorepositories Catalogue featuring local and overseas specimens and imaging data specifically tailored for cardiovascular, oncology research, and other scientific studies. Presentations by other representatives also spotlighted key aspects of clinical trial coordination such as: 💡 Creating dedicated roles such as volunteers who build rapport to ensure consistent updates between trial participants and research investigators to improve participant engagement. 💡 Tailoring clinical trial agreements according to regulatory guidelines and project timelines to drive more efficient trial outcomes. 💡 Leveraging technology to develop digital platforms for the management of trial budgets, vendor contracts, and comprehensive financial book-keeping. 💡 Broadening networks to collaborate on capacity building programmes to nurture talent for regulatory professionals and clinical research coordinators. 💡Harmonising regulatory processes and ethics committees to facilitate smooth progress for clinical trials across regions to begin sooner. Young researchers also took the spotlight, with discussions exploring ways to bolster ICN’s visibility among early-career scientists and university students, to inspire the next generation of clinical research professionals. Through the discussions, ICN members agreed that every agency within the clinical research ecosystem  – healthcare, academic and clinical research organisations, has an important role in the ongoing work to develop the clinical trial landscape. “By building a forum where we can learn from each other, we can grow as individual sites, and as a group,” said Dr Christiane Blankenstein, outgoing ICN Chairperson. 🎉 It was a fruitful time of knowledge exchange at the ICN AGM which reaffirmed the essential role of developing talent and fostering global cooperation in pushing clinical research forward. Yi Ling Teo Uma Sockalingam

We wish all our Hindu friends a joyous Deepavali filled with light, love, and happiness!   #HappyDeepavali #FestivalOfLights 

Clinical research networks (CRN) have become a critical platform to gather clinical evidence that has not been possible in the past with single sites. SCRI’s development of networks in the Asia-Pacific region provides engagement opportunities in critically important and relevant research for diseases of Asian significance. One of the 11 Networks is the Asian Myeloma Network (AMN) studies, which are a series of clinical trials on Asian patients with myeloma, plasma cell cancer. AMN seeks to carry out clinical trials to bring promising new treatment to patients. 🌏🌐 Glad for this meeting! Xinhua Li Wee Joo Chng

🤝 SCRI is glad to have hosted this year’s roundtable which gathered 150 professionals from the clinical research community to discuss the progress and future of clinical trials in Singapore. Dr Eugene Gan, Senior Director of Operations, SCRI, shared updates on SCRI’s efforts to enhance industry-sponsored trials in Singapore and key learnings from the SCRI clinical trials symposium held in July. He highlighted findings from a recent survey conducted by SCRI, which revealed increasing public awareness of clinical trials and a growing willingness to participate. These survey findings are helpful for clinical research professionals to understand the factors that impact trial participation and align strategies to improve engagement. He emphasised the importance of collaboration to advance clinical trial research in Singapore that is relevant to the needs of patients for improved outcomes. 💬 Key topics and strategies that were discussed: 🚀 Driving innovation in clinical trials • Recognising the value of decentralised clinical trials to enhance patient experience and recruitment  • Collaborating to create centralised platforms to connect clinical researchers with one another • Utilising AI and digital capabilities to improve processes 💗 Increasing patient involvement in clinical trials • Creating more patient engagement groups to represent patients’ needs and views • Embedding patient engagement as part of developing research protocol to facilitate early involvement of patients 📔 Improving recruitment in clinical trials • Via digital tools to increase accessibility of clinical trial participation from patients and healthy volunteers • By changing public perception of clinical trials through patient education    A/Prof Danny Soon, CEO, CRIS and Executive Director, SCRI, reaffirmed SCRI’s commitment to advancing clinical trials. He highlighted recent initiatives such as the launch of ClinicalTrials.SG as a centralised portal for patients / caregivers, clinical investigators and trial sponsors. He thanked everyone for their in-depth discussions and insights, as well as their commitment to address common challenges together so as to take clinical trials in Singapore forward. Thank you everyone for your presence at this event! We look forward to future collaborations with everyone! #ClinicalResearchProfessionals #clinicalresearch #clinicaltrials Edwin Chan Hwee Tee Poh Yeoh Ying Ying Jing Ping Yeo Cher Heng Tan Patricia Tay Serena Chan Shirley Y. Yi Ling Teo Chloe Wong

🤝 Singapore Clinical Research Institute (SCRI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siloam Hospitals Group through Clinical Research Siloam (CRS). This partnership aims to develop clinical research capabilities through training, joint research and future collaborative opportunities. A/Prof Danny Soon, Chief Executive Officer of the Consortium for Clinical Research and Innovation, Singapore (CRIS) and Executive Director of SCRI, shared: "This partnership marks a significant step in fostering stronger healthcare collaboration between Siloam Hospitals and SCRI. By focusing on enhancing training capacity for clinical research professionals, we aim to work towards building up a robust talent pool proficient in clinical trial coordination, reinforcing our shared commitment to elevate the quality of research. This aligns with SCRI’s mission to advance clinical research capabilities, and we look forward to advancing research standards and improving patient outcomes." 🌟 We look forward to a fruitful partnership to nurture clinical research talent together! To learn more about SCRI, visit https://www.scri.edu.sg/ #clinicaltrials #clinicalresearch