RADSC ACP research aims to develop our investigators and nurture potential individuals, through an array of incubatory and signature programmes that will support them in driving their research in radiology to ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Incubatory programmes:
Nurturing Clinician Researcher Scheme (NCRS)
NCRS aims to nurture young clinicians to become successful clinician-researchers, by supporting them with resources (including funding and protected time) to optimise their research competencies & experience, and thus their competitiveness for external research grants & readiness to embark on a sustainable research career [i.e. either as a Clinician Scientist (CS) or a Clinician-Innovator (CI) or a Clinician-Investigator (CIV]. The ACP has 3 awardees thus far.
Pitch for Funds (PFF) Programme
RADSC ACP PFF aims to promote radiological sciences research within the ACP, especially for junior researchers in the RADSC community. It provides starter incubation funds for junior researchers to perform radiological sciences research that may lead to data and ideas for subsequent competitive grant application at higher levels (e.g., hospital, cluster and national levels). The PFF programme started in 2014, and a total of 11 PFF grants have since been awarded.
Signature programmes:
Translational Imaging Programme (TIP)
TIP was set up in 2015 to act as an interface between imaging techniques and researchers from RADSC ACP and other ACPs. Imaging provides a non-destructive method to scan humans and animals for presence of abnormal biological biomarkers and micro-environmental changes.
The programme helped to develop imaging techniques, which evaluate new scientific discoveries for translation to medical therapies. It also aimed to study the effectiveness of new treatments through imaging. Since its inception, TIP received numerous imaging enquiries from other ACPs and external parties, of which our imaging clinicians, scientists and allied health professionals have lent their scientific expertise to.
Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were identified as the two important imaging techniques. PET research gave rise to industry funded projects and capabilities to image for abnormalities with PET. With support from collaborators, TIP also successfully implemented 7 new MRI techniques and synthesised 2 therapeutic radioisotopes for targeted cancer treatment. These techniques allow for better imaging and application to more types of diseases.
(L-R): Whole brain tractography with diffusion spectrum imaging
Prof Chan Ling Ling (right) studying MRI images with Dr Septian Hartono, Medical Physicist, NNI (left) and Ms Lee Weiling, Senior Radiographer, SGH.
Interventional Radiology Clinical Trials Programme (IRCTP)
In 2015, IRCTP was started to coordinate and facilitate interventional radiology clinical research. Clinical research in interventional radiology is vital to develop innovative and cost-effective treatments and devices. Interventional Radiologists perform image-guided minimally invasive procedures to diagnose or treat diseases. These include providing dialysis access and treating vascular and oncological-related diseases.
This programme secured 9 grants, and supported over 25 new prospective and retrospective trials and studies. It has involved 50 collaborations with industry partners and other ACPs, to provide expertise to assess new minimally invasive-image guided treatment techniques and devices.
Treatment performed by an interventional radiologist assisted by his team, using microspheres containing radioactive Y90 element injected into the liver to kill tumour cells
Clinician Scientist:
Senior Consultant, SGH Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Awarded the National Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Award (NMRC CSA) for her project on "Case Control Nigrosome-1 and Connectivity MRI Study in Parkinson's-Linked Asian LRRK2 Gene Carriers".
The CSA is awarded to selected outstanding clinician scientists, who possess a consistent record of excellence in research, to enable them to carry out internationally competitive and influential translational and clinical research.
Project
Classical motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD) are due to profound neuronal loss in the midbrain substantia nigra, and worst in nigrosome-1. Nigrosome-1 imaging has revealed excellent diagnostic accuracy in differentiating PD from healthy controls (HC). The project will study nigrosome-1 on brain MRI in a case control cohort of PD patients and determine the clinical usefulness of nigrosome-1 imaging in differentiating PD from HC based on visual inspection.
Asian gene carriers are also known to be associated with more rapid motor progression compared to non-carriers in PD patients. The project will evaluate for quantitative differences in nigrosome-1 hyperintensity between carriers and non-carriers within PD and HC groups.
Prof Chan has also achieved the SingHealth GCEO Excellence Award 2019 for the Outstanding Clinician Researcher Award category.
Prof Chan Ling Ling (right) presented with her award by Prof Ivy Ng, Group CEO, SingHealth
