Meet the new Director of NUHCS' Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)
PULSE Issue 44 | January 2025
At the heart of every healthcare breakthrough is a team driven by curiousity, collaboration, and a commitment to improving patient care.
At the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS), the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) plays a key role in steering the advancements of cardiovascular research, and ensuring that clinical trials1 are conducted with the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and ethical compliance.
The unit does this by:
Ms Wong Cher Yi, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC), and now Director of the CTU, NUHCS, shares more on how the engine of collaborative research plays a critical role in driving healthcare innovation and medical advancements, for the betterment of patient care.
PULSE: What is the role of NUHCS CTU?
Cher Yi: The NUHCS Clinical Trials Unit (NUHCS CTU) is a highly specialised team dedicated to the smooth and meticulous conduct of clinical research studies. Composed of 14 clinical research coordinators, we work with a diverse, multidisciplinary team to support and drive quality cardiovascular research activities at NUHCS, towards the aim of ensuring our patients receive the best possible care.
PULSE: Any recent updates or interesting projects to share with our readers on how CTU's research translates into better patient care?
Cher Yi: We enable better outcomes for patients by supporting every phase of clinical research, from study design and participant recruitment to data collection and closeout. At CTU, our infrastructure and expertise allow us to manage the development of research workflows with precision, keeping studies on track using a strategic and hands-on approach. When we manage a research study efficiently, we not only streamline processes for our clinical researchers, but also speed up the delivery of new treatments, giving our patients access to potentially lifechanging therapies more quickly.
One of our most exciting recent projects involves a novel clinical trial that utilises Gene Therapy3, a cutting-edge approach that holds tremendous promise for treating genetic and rare diseases. This trial focuses on patients with Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy4, a debilitating condition with limited treatment options. What makes this trial so significant is that the treatment only requires one dose to be delivered intravenously, and it has the potential to have lifelong effectiveness.
By exploring gene therapy and other advanced treatments, we are not only addressing the urgent medical needs of today’s patients but also paving the way for future medical innovations. Our work in this area exemplifies how clinical research, when conducted with dedication and precision, can lead to life-changing medical advancements.
PULSE: What is your vision as the new CTU director?
Cher Yi: Beyond answering important clinical questions through research studies, I am dedicated to nurturing the skills and professional development of clinical research coordinators. I believe in equipping my team members with the resources they need to excel through investing in professional development, and enabling access to cutting-edge tools and technology, so every team member feels empowered to innovate, contribute, and make a difference.
Only by fostering a culture of teamwork with mutual support and respect, can we truly empower our team members to put their best foot forward every step of the way!
"These research efforts demonstrate our commitment in pushing the envelope and ensuring that our patients have access to the most advanced and promising therapies available." - Wong Cher Yi, Director, Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), NUHCS
By pushing the boundaries of what's possible, the NUHCS CTU is making strides in research that could transform the lives of cardiovascular patients across Singapore and beyond. Their work is a testament to the power of dedication, teamwork, and a shared vision for a healthier future.
1. Clinical trials - Research studies that explore the safety and efficacy of novel treatments, drugs or medical devices.
2. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) - An international ethical and scientific quality standard for the design, conduct, performance, monitoring and reporting of clinical trials, which serves to protect the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial subjects.
3. Gene Therapy - A key subset of precision medicine which involves modifying cells, or DNA or RNA materials, so that they can be used as targeted therapeutic agents.
4. Amyloidosis Cardiomyopathy - A serious heart dysfunction caused by abnormal proteins deposits in the heart muscle, leading to heart failure.
