About Us
- To attract and nurture research and innovation talents within the National Healthcare Group and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine;
- To provide an integrated platform to enable training and advancement of careers, as well as to support the growing pool of Clinician Scientists and Clinician Innovators.
Professor Joseph Sung
Dean, LKCMedicine
Distinguished University Professor
Senior Vice-President (Health & Life Sciences), NTU Singapore
Being a clinician scientist is a demanding but rewarding journey. It requires not only a passion for excellence in patient care, but also a commitment to innovative research. As a clinician scientist, you will have the opportunity to improve the lives of patients through your clinical work, and also to advance medical knowledge through your research. You will be part of a community of like-minded clinicians and researchers who are all working towards the common goal of improving human health.
With this passion in our heart, the National Healthcare Group (NHG) and the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine) have decided to put together an Academy of Clinician Scientists and Innovators to provide a home for bright minds to come together and push the boundaries of knowledge. Clinician scientists and innovators are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical practice. They are trained in both fields, giving them a deep understanding of both the laboratory and the clinic. This unique perspective allows them to identify new problems and develop innovative solutions. With the excellent clinical resources, world-class facilities and career support at NHG and LKCMedicine, the Academy is committed to supporting clinician scientists and innovators in their quest for research excellence and better patient care.
If you are up for the challenge, then a career as a clinician scientist or innovator could be the perfect journey for you. We look forward to welcoming like-minded clinicians to join our Academy!
Professor Leo Yee Sin
Executive Director of the National Centre of Infectious Diseases (NCID)
While human immunodeficiency virus intrigued me with its impact on the host immune system, the disease that led me to embark on research was dengue. The 2004-2005 large epidemic wave involving mainly young adults saw close to 90% of dengue cases admitted to the hospital. On my mind was one simple question central to the management of these patients then – when to safely discharge them? Amazingly, the only publication I could find was a local paper by Dr Desmond Tai based on an earlier outbreak in 1997 which suggested at a level of platelets above 70 thousand. With dengue being a childhood illness, there was absolute paucity in evidence-based management of adult dengue. The $25 million grant awarded for the flagship STOP-Dengue research programme in 2008 provided opportunities for Singapore to lead in this sphere. It is rewarding to see the application of knowledge generated through research, which in some instances became a game changer in disease management. Research to generate evidence alone is not enough, knowledge needs to be shared. Today, family physicians are competent in caring for dengue cases in the community and the hospitalisation rate has dropped to less than 20% yet not compromising case fatality.
I did not start out my career with research in mind, but it is one that I have grown into over the years. Being a clinician scientist takes time and dedication, it is not something that can be learned overnight, but rather must be developed over time with a passion and desire to improve individual health and the broader scope of care delivery. The Academy of Clinician Scientists and Innovators serves exactly this purpose. We provide a collective identity for clinician scientists and innovators, who will bridge bench research to bedside practice. The Academy is a collaboration between NHG and LKCMedicine to offer a platform with clinical resources, infrastructure and research facilities to support career development of clinician scientists and innovators. It also provides a platform for like-minded researchers to meet and exchange ideas on how to achieve better research outcomes, encourage innovation, and improve patient care. These people will become leaders in the medical field, who will pioneer research, advise authorities on scientific matters, and be a key academic voice in medicine.
I am proud to be a part of this Academy and to serve in grooming fellow clinician scientists and innovators.
Strategic Domains
LKCMedicine and NHG to jointly establish CS Academy with the mission to attract and nurture CS talents towards advancing their career in academic medicine, and to contribute to growing our pool of national CS, with the goal to provide better care for our patients.
The Recruitment and Development Domain aims to identify and engage clinical scientists and innovators to meet the future needs of the academic medicine. ACSI offers a range of training courses and talent development programmes to support the professional development of our clinical scientists and innovators. We aim to attract the best and brightest talent to the field and to support their professional development.
The Networking and Support Domain provides a platform that connects clinician scientists and innovators across NHG and LKCMedicine. It provides a forum for researchers to share ideas and best practices, and offers opportunities for exchange through regular grand rounds and thematic networking sessions. The ACSI also provides research supports and enablers, including access to research infrastructure and opportunities.
The Enhancement Domain is dedicated to enhancing visibility and recognition of clinical science and innovation. Through its website and social media networks, we provide a platform for sharing research ideas and connecting with like-minded individuals. Our goal is to create a conducive environment for clinicians and scientists to thrive in by providing visibility and recognition for their work.