Clinical Research Centre
Hospital Umum Sarawak
Sarawak
Established in 2003, the Clinical Research Centre Sarawak General Hospital (CRC SGH) was the third CRC under the Ministry of Health's network, now known as the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR). Initially focused on administrative support, CRC SGH has since taken on most technical aspects of clinical research. On March 2, 2013, CRC SGH conducted its first bioequivalence study which paved the way for staff to conduct complex early phase clinical trials.
In November 2016, CRCSGH became operational in its new building at Sarawak General Hospital, featuring an early phase clinical research ward, research laboratory, and physiology laboratory. The early phase research ward achieved NPRA Phase 1 Accreditation in November 2019, becoming the first site in Malaysia authorized for First in Human (FiH) trials. The facility also includes a dedicated investigational product storage and handling area.
The research laboratory at CRCSGH includes standard, bioanalytical, and molecular biology labs which have all received MS ISO accreditation. The physiology laboratory is equipped with monitoring devices for heart (HOLTER, ECHO, ambulatory BP monitoring), lungs (CPET), and brain (EEG). This setup allows for streamlined clinical trials without the need for patient traveling between departments. CRCSGH drives clinical trials by providing research training, consultation services, archiving, and monitoring facilities, thereby enabling complex and impactful early-phase drug development studies.
InvestigatorsHighlight
Head of CRC, Consultant Cardiologist Hospital Umum Sarawak
Email: alanfong@crc.gov.my
MBChB (Bristol), MRCP (UK), FRCP (Edin), FACC, FESC, FAPSIC, FNHAM, FAsCC, FSCAI, FJCS, FAPSC
Areas of interest: Acute coronary syndrome, Diagnostic tools in interventional cardiology, Personalised pharmacotherapeutics
Awards and achievements:
- National Lead in 4 Phase III Cardiovascular Clinical Trials (anticoagulation, anti-inflammation, lipidology)
- >50 peer reviewed publications
- Responsible for setting up the first First-In-Human Clinical Trials Centre in Malaysia
Dr. Alan Fong is the Head of Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital since year 2011. He is also a Consultant Cardiologist at the Sarawak Heart Centre, Kota Samarahan. His areas of research interests include Cardiovascular Imaging and Biomarker Research, particularly in acute coronary syndrome (ACS); and in cardiovascular pharmacology. He advocates individualized therapies and precision medicine initiatives in contemporary clinical practice. He is a member of the Sarawak Research and Development Council. His other appointments are Adjunct Professor, Swinburne University of Technology and at University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). He is currently participating in over 20 Phase I to IV Clinical Trials. He is the National Coordinator for two international multicentre studies. He is actively conducting investigator-initiated research and published over 40 articles in international peer-reviewed journals.
Research Highlights
- Developing clinical data on new therapeutic strategies for treatment of de novo coronary artery lesions with drug coated balloons in the interventional cardiology space
- Developing clinical data on new diagnostic strategies to assess the physiological significance of coronary artery lesions in the interventional cardiology space
