The seeding of new discoveries is an essential component which translates sustainable clinical and translational research.
The Paediatrics ACP aims to be at the forefront of research for children, with the goal of creating a fertile ecosystem to foster and drive clinically relevant research with local and overseas counterparts. We strive to develop a culture that promotes and fosters innovative ideas, and creates and nurtures opportunities to advance research in the Paediatrics ACP. Together, we can achieve the long-term objective of adding value and quality to the health of children and the healthcare system of Singapore.
Within the Paediatrics ACP, we focus on continually building our clinical and research strengths. Our Clinician Scientists work synergistically to positively impact children’s health in partnership with fellow clinician-scientists and clinicians in Singapore and beyond, as well as with our ACP administrators and support staff to provide intrinsic research support to smoothen the research journey and enhance research quality.
Since its establishment in 2011, the Paediatrics ACP has nurtured seven Clinician Scientists. These include four national-level Clinician Scientists: Professor Salvatore Albani, Dr Lek Ngee, Dr Yeo Joo Guan and Dr Teo Wan Yee, and three cluster-level Clinician Scientists: Associate Professor Derrick Chan, Dr Saumya Shekhar Jamuar, and Dr Chong Shu-Ling. The Paediatrics ACP continues to make great strides with the following awards and grants since 2013:
Prof Salvatore Albani
– STaR Award
Dr Biju Thomas
– Clinician Scientist-Individual Research Grant-New Investigator Grant
Dr Lek Ngee
– Transition Award
Dr Teo Wan Yee
– Clinician Scientist Award
Dr Chong Shu-Ling
– Health Research Scholarship (MCI)
– Research Training Fellowship
Dr Yeo Joo Guan
– Translational and Clinical Research Flagship Programme – Theme PI
– Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant – Theme PI
– MOH-Industry Alignment Fund (IAF)
– Health Services Research Grant
– Bioengineering Programme Grant
– BMRC-EDB Industry Alignment Fund (IAF)
• 11 SingHealth Foundation Research Grants
• 4 SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Research Grants
• 1 SingHealth Foundation - NHIC Joint MedTech Grant
• 4 Khoo Pilot Grants
• 22 Paediatrics ACP Young Researcher Pilot Grants
• 18 Tan Cheng Lim Research and Education Fund Grants
Internally, the ACP drives a vibrant ecosystem to train our researchers in research and grant writing skills.
The Tan Cheng Lim Research and Education Fund was established in 2014 in honour of Professor Tan Cheng Lim for his dedication towards advancing paediatric care in Singapore, with the objective of nurturing budding and young researchers and educators. Together with the Young Researcher Pilot Grant, the Fund has catalysed research, education and clinical innovation since its inception.
The Fund has held to the high standards and ethos of the late Professor Tan Cheng Lim, to nurture and support budding talent. We are grateful for his guiding hand and gracious support over the years. Prof Tan is dearly missed and continues to live on in our hearts.
There is a grant call every year and applications are reviewed by a panel of internal and external assessors representing research, education and clinical innovation. The grant call has attracted a total of 79 applications over the past five years, with between 20 to 30 per cent of the projects being funded.
The funds raised have supported cutting edge translational research in rheumatology, cancer, neonatology and genetics and more areas in paediatric medicine. Education and clinical innovation have benefited from this fund, with projects supported including medical specialties and allied health specialties such as occupational therapy and pharmacy. The clinical problems tackled include obesity, epilepsy, jaundice, metabolic diseases and infectious diseases and novel training methods in intensive care using 3D printing.
Collectively, the various funds and pilot grants have supported many researchers in their journey in an increasingly competitive funding environment. These opportunities have resulted in numerous presentations, publications and talent awards at a national level, as well as the introduction of clinical services and educational initiatives.
