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Clinical Research



Research Grants


At KTPH, we embrace the tri-cycle model for excellence in healthcare, which is underpinned by clinical service, teaching and research.

Over the years, we have built up capabilities to enable and promote clinically-focused research aimed at achieving better understanding of diseases of national concern and improving healthcare for the Singapore population. These capabilities cover a comprehensive range of clinical trial coordination, and administrative and laboratory services.

Of note is our research in diabetes and metabolism . Our teams have established a number of large diabetes cohorts, which form a strong foundation for multiple research studies. These cohorts have attracted many local and international collaborations as well as major research grants like the National Medical Research Council Open Fund–Large Collaborative Grant (NMRC OF-LCG).

Under our Health Services and Evaluation initiative, we support management of diseases, organisation and delivery of services, health economic analyses and financing of healthcare and population health analyses.

The Alexandra Health Fund provides at least 20 grants annually to support our research projects. Among them is an anaesthesia study, which has been published in the prestigious JAMA journal and covered by the Singapore media.

External Grants

Pending Content

Message from Director

We embrace the tri-cycle model (clinical service, teaching and research) for excellence in healthcare. Therefore, involvement in research is part of our calling as healthcare providers. Although not all clinicians are expected to assume leadership roles in research, our participation in research is a natural extension of our care for patients.

Actively practising clinicians are in a unique position to contribute to research for the following reasons:

  1. Our daily contact with patients allows us to identify, prioritise and effectively frame clinically-relevant research questions.
  2. Our clinical training allows us to make accurate diagnosis. This is important for the correct classification of patients into diagnostic categories for subsequent studies (i.e. comparing apple to apple).
  3. Our access to patients. In institutional practice, it is not uncommon to encounter individuals with extreme phenotypes which often reveal secrets of disease patho-biology and inform us of novel therapeutic targets.

To be effective in the complex enterprise of research, we need to be sufficiently trained in scientific methodology. Without rigorous methodology, we are unlikely to come close to the truth. Excellence in research is well in-line with our aspiration to be a “T-shape” institution (i.e. balancing both breadth and depth). To achieve this, we must be cognizant of the mathematical truth that by averaging, we can’t create outliers. Therefore, the Clinical Research Unit is committed to “Nurturing Excellence in Clinical Research” for our institution. As an institution, we will continue to strive to provide the environment conducive for clinicians to excel in clinically-relevant research.

May I have the honor of inviting our friends, colleagues and patients to join us in our extended research-family for a healthier future.

A/Prof Lim Su Chi
Clinical Director
Clinical Research Unit

Grants Awardees

Alexandra Health Enabling Grant (AHEG) Awardees for FY19

Department: Acute & Emergency Care

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Dr Huang Po Yu

Study of synovial lactate levels as a marker of septic arthritis

2.

Dr Desmond Mao

National Paramedic Termination of Resuscitation 2 Study

Department: Cardiology

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Dr Justin Tang

Whole exome sequencing in a family with monogenic hypertension

Department: Clinical Research Unit

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Dr Moh Mei Chung

Association between resolution of hepatic steatosis and restoration of glycemic control in patients who underwent metabolic surgery

2.

Dr Resham Gurung

Assessing the correlation of telomere length in leukocytes and adipocytes in Bariatric surgery patients - A pilot study

3.

Dr Sharon Pek

Evaluation of polygenic risk score for clinically-diagnosed Familial Hypercholesterolemia in a Singapore cohort

4.

Dr Zhang Xiao / Dr Keven Ang

Fruit and vegetable intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire and serum carotenoids: A validation study in FAMILY GENES

5.

Mr Chan Zit Liang Eric

Association of Orosomucoid and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

6.

Ms Clara Chan

Association of Mitochondrial Haplogroups N9a and M8a with severity of Type 2 Diabetes complications in a Chinese population

7.

Ms Lai Wanxin / Ms Bhuvaneswari Pandian

Transcriptomic analysis of inflammatory mediators in visceral adipose tissue as predictors of refractory type 2 diabetes following metabolic surgery

8.

Ms Michelle Lin Xueqin

Circulating PCSK9 levels and neutralizing antibody in response to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors therapy: promising tools to explain lipid-reduction variability

9.

Ms Yiamunaa M

Association between global methylation status and telomere length dynamics in Chinese Type 2 diabetes patients - a 3 years prospective study

Department: Orthopaedic Surgery

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Dr Timothy Teo Wei Wen

Is higher insertional torque of interference screw associated with higher pullout strength of reconstructed graft in Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction surgery? - A Biomechanical Study

2.

Dr Toon Dong Hao

Articular contact area and pressure of the humeral head in functional range of motion of the shoulder: A Cadaveric Study

Department: Rehabilitation Services

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Ms Giang Thuy Anh

Pilot Study: The Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Engagement and Mood of Inpatient Older Adults in an Acute Care Hospital

Department: Renal Centre

No. Principal Investigator Project Title

1.

Sister Tan Si Hui

Tegaderm™ chlorhexidine gluconate-gel dressing for the prevention of exit site infection in patient receiving peritoneal dialysis

Department: Acute & Emergency Care

Principal Investigator:
Dr Huang Po Yu

Project Title:
Study of synovial lactate levels as a marker of septic arthritis

Principal Investigator:
Dr Desmond Mao

Project Title:
National Paramedic Termination of Resuscitation 2 Study

Department: Cardiology

Principal Investigator:
Dr Justin Tang

Project Title:
Whole exome sequencing in a family with monogenic hypertension

Department: Clinical Research Unit

Principal Investigator:
Dr Moh Mei Chung

Project Title:
Association between resolution of hepatic steatosis and restoration of glycemic control in patients who underwent metabolic surgery

Principal Investigator:
Dr Resham Gurung

Project Title:
Assessing the correlation of telomere length in leukocytes and adipocytes in Bariatric surgery patients - A pilot study

Principal Investigator:
Dr Sharon Pek

Project Title:
Evaluation of polygenic risk score for clinically-diagnosed Familial Hypercholesterolemia in a Singapore cohort

Principal Investigator:
Dr Zhang Xiao / Dr Keven Ang

Project Title:
Fruit and vegetable intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire and serum carotenoids: A validation study in FAMILY GENES

Principal Investigator:
Mr Chan Zit Liang Eric

Project Title:
Association of Orosomucoid and Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Principal Investigator:
Ms Clara Chan

Project Title:
Association of Mitochondrial Haplogroups N9a and M8a with severity of Type 2 Diabetes complications in a Chinese population

Principal Investigator:
Ms Lai Wanxin / Ms Bhuvaneswari Pandian

Project Title:
Transcriptomic analysis of inflammatory mediators in visceral adipose tissue as predictors of refractory type 2 diabetes following metabolic surgery

Principal Investigator:
Ms Michelle Lin Xueqin

Project Title:
Circulating PCSK9 levels and neutralizing antibody in response to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors therapy: promising tools to explain lipid-reduction variability

Principal Investigator:
Ms Yiamunaa M

Project Title:
Association between global methylation status and telomere length dynamics in Chinese Type 2 diabetes patients - a 3 years prospective study

Department: Orthopaedic Surgery

Principal Investigator:
Dr Timothy Teo Wei Wen

Project Title:
Is higher insertional torque of interference screw associated with higher pullout strength of reconstructed graft in Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction surgery? - A Biomechanical Study

Principal Investigator:
Dr Toon Dong Hao

Project Title:
Articular contact area and pressure of the humeral head in functional range of motion of the shoulder: A Cadaveric Study

Department: Rehabilitation Services

Principal Investigator:
Ms Giang Thuy Anh

Project Title:
TPilot Study: The Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Engagement and Mood of Inpatient Older Adults in an Acute Care Hospital

Department: Renal Centre

Principal Investigator:
Sister Tan Si Hui

Project Title:
Tegaderm™ chlorhexidine gluconate-gel dressing for the prevention of exit site infection in patient receiving peritoneal dialysis

STAR I & II Awardees for FY19

STAR I Awardees

No. Principal Investigator Department Project Title

1.

A/Prof Tavintharan Subramaniam

Clinical Research Unit

Prospective observational evaluation of glycaemic variability, risk factors and co-morbidities in patients with treatment-induced neuropathy of diabetes

2.

Dr Angela Moh

Clinical Research Unit

Prospective evaluation of the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with progression of diabetic kidney disease - a substudy of 2017/0056

3.

Ms Clara Tan

Clinical Research Unit

Beyond diabetes and back: understanding the clinical and molecular spectrum of HNFβ (MODY5) associated disease among people with structural renal anomalies

4.

Dr Serena Low

Clinical Research Unit

Navigating the paradigm of diabetes mellitus in the elderly – unravelling the interplay between hyperglycaemia, body composition and frailty

5.

Dr Grace Tan

General Medicine

Automated Lung Ultrasound (LUS) Image Assessment Using Artificial Intelligence To Identify Fluid Overload In Dialysis Patients

6.

Dr Neelam Kumari

Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Nutrigenomics in pathological myopia with and without myopic Macular Degeneration

STAR II Awardees

No. Principal Investigator Department Project Title

1.

A/Prof Edwin Seet Chuen Ping

Anaesthesia

Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial for the Prevention of Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Surgical Patients with Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA-II Trial)

2.

Dr Ang Su Fen

Clinical Research Unit

Precision medicine for early-onset diabetes: developing a risk prediction and stratification model

3.

Dr Serena Low

Clinical Research Unit

Economic burden of progressive Type 2 Diabetes and its complications in Singapore – direct, indirect and intangible costs

4.

Dr Doreen Tan

Pharmacy

iRight4Me Acute Coronary Syndrome

Grant Type: STAR I Awardees

Principal Investigator:
Dr Sharon Pek

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Prospective observational evaluation of glycaemic variability, risk factors and co-morbidities in patients with treatment-induced neuropathy of diabetes

Principal Investigator:
Dr Angela Moh

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Prospective evaluation of the association of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with progression of diabetic kidney disease - a substudy of 2017/0056

Principal Investigator:
Dr Serena Low

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Navigating the paradigm of diabetes mellitus in the elderly – unravelling the interplay between hyperglycaemia, body composition and frailty

Principal Investigator:
Dr Grace Tan

Department:
General Medicine

Project Title:
Automated Lung Ultrasound (LUS) Image Assessment Using Artificial Intelligence To Identify Fluid Overload In Dialysis Patients

Principal Investigator:
Ms Clara Tan

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Beyond diabetes and back: understanding the clinical and molecular spectrum of HNFβ (MODY5) associated disease among people with structural renal anomalies

Principal Investigator:
Dr Neelam Kumari

Department:
Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Project Title:
Nutrigenomics in pathological myopia with and without myopic Macular Degeneration

Grant Type: STAR II Awardees

Principal Investigator:
A/Prof Edwin Seet Chuen Ping

Department:
Anaesthesia

Project Title:
Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial for the Prevention of Postoperative Adverse Outcomes in Surgical Patients with Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (POSA-II Trial)

Principal Investigator:
Dr Ang Su Fen

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Precision medicine for early-onset diabetes: developing a risk prediction and stratification model

Principal Investigator:
Dr Serena Low

Department:
Clinical Research Unit

Project Title:
Economic burden of progressive Type 2 Diabetes and its complications in Singapore – direct, indirect and intangible costs

Principal Investigator:
Dr Doreen Tan

Department:
Pharmacy

Project Title:
iRight4Me Acute Coronary Syndrome

AHS Research Commemorative Book

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