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Objective

The Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG) was established by MOH to encourage local collaborative research in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It seeks to harness TCM principles and scientific research methodologies and expertise to promote the translation of TCM knowledge into better care and improved health outcomes on a sustainable basis, and to enhance the role of TCM in policy and practice in Singapore.

The TCMRG serves the following objectives:

• To help public and healthcare professionals understand which TCM therapies have been proven to be safe and effective, empowering public to make informed decisions about TCM treatments;

• To assist policy makers by providing clinically proven treatments to serve the healthcare needs of the public;

• To improve healthcare services through a more holistic approach, increasing accessibility to more evidence based treatment options.

Priority would be given to research projects which address the strategic areas and priority themes (listed below in no order of importance). While priority is given to research projects which address the strategic areas and priority themes, proposals whose topics do not fall within these areas and themes may still be submitted for consideration. Proposals with collaboration between clinicians/researchers in public healthcare institutions and TCM Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs)*, and/or private TCM schools or companies, participating as collaborators will be accorded with higher priority.

1. Asthma control

2. Cost effectiveness studies, health-related quality of life studies, health promotion

3. Diabetes control

4. Health benefits for the elderly through traditional Chinese exercise (e.g.太极 taiji and 八段锦 baduanjin)

5. Health benefits for the elderly through traditional Chinese manipulative therapies (e.g. 推拿tuina)

6. Hypertension prevention/control

7. Obesity

8. Pain management, focusing on joint pain

9. Post stroke rehabilitation

10. Skin conditions: e.g. atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis

11. Substance abuse (alcohol/smoking cessation)

12. Women's Health: e.g. menopause, infertility and menstrual problems

Funding Details

Funding per project is capped at S$750,000 (inclusive of indirect costs, capped at 10% of eligible funding amount) over a period of 3 years.

Eligibility Criteria

Project Teams applying for the TCMRG should fulfil the following criteria:

1. Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application. PIs for TCMRG must be from local public healthcare or academic institutions (i.e. Clusters/ RH&Is, Universities, HPB, or HSA). Applicants with multiple appointments at different institutions are to select only one Host Institution for the application.

2. The PI shall be the point of contact for MOH, with the stated Department and Institution as the Host Institution (for administrative and finance matters). Applicants with multiple appointments at different institutions are to select only one Host Institution for the application.

3. PIs for TCMRG should possess a minimum academic qualification of PhD and/or MBBS/BDS/PharmD/MD and/or other appropriate Postgraduate Qualification. In particular,

• PIs should have at least one first-author publication;

• for clinicians, applicants should be at least an Associate Consultant (or equivalent); or

• hold at least an adjunct position in a local public institution and salaried by the institution;

• have access to laboratory services (biochemical/radiological) to conduct research in Singapore (if applicable, depending on the types of research) and

• reside in Singapore.

4. TCM practitioners (TCMPs) fully registered with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board, with more than 10 years of clinical experience, may lead in project teams as PIs for studies that do not involve clinical trials and/or laboratory services e.g. observational or case description type studies (refer to Tier 2 proposals from the table above).

5. TCMPs from TCM Voluntary Welfare Organizations (VWOs), private TCM schools or companies can only participate as collaborators but not as PIs/Co-Is under Tier 1 proposals.

6. The PIs, together with their Project Teams, are responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of their proposed projects.

7. Co-investigators need to hold at least an adjunct position in a local public institution.

8. Projects which are currently already receiving support from other sources of funding will not be eligible for TCMRG funding, so that there is no double funding.

9. Any exceptions will be evaluated by the TCM Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) on a case-by-case basis.

For more details on the eiligibility criteria, please visit MOH's website here (internet accessible link).

Submission:

• 2 softcopies of the application [1 PDF (with all signatories) and 1 WORD document] must be submitted to MOH_TRAC_Secretariat@moh.gov.sg, cc ng_jin_ju@moh.gov.sg and tan_kok_hsien@moh.gov.sg through your Host Institution's Research offices latest by 31 July 2021, 5pm.

• 1 endorsed hardcopy (with original signatures) must be submitted through your Host Institution's Research offices by 6 August 2021, 5pm to the following address:
  
  TRAC Secretariat
  Manager (PCC Div / TCM Branch)
  Ministry of Health
  College of Medicine Building
  16 College Road
  Singapore 169854

Note: SingHealth PIs are to please refer to your respective Institutional Research Administrators for guidance on internal deadlines and submission procedures set by your institutions.

Contact Person

1. Ms Ng Jin Ju

Email: Ng_jin_ju@moh.gov.sg

2. Mr Tan Kok Hsien

Email: Tan_kok_hsien@moh.gov.sg  

OR

Email: MOH_TRAC_Secretariat@moh.gov.sg

Additional Information

TCMRG Application Form_5th GC.docx

TCMRG Application Guide_TCMRG 5th GC.pdf

TCMRG Guidelines_5th GC.pdf

TCMRG Terms and Conditions_5th GC.pdf

For more information on TCMRG, please visit MOH's website here (internet accessible link).