This morning, the Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC) at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) hosted the MSD and UMMC Clinical Trial Partnership Meeting, a significant step toward enhancing the partnership between the two organizations. Attendees included Luisiawati Khalil, Evelyn Ho, Winnie Chan, and Yeap Lay Ee from MSD Global Clinical Trial Operations, alongside CIC’s Head, Dr. Yeoh Wei Sien, and Science Officers Zulaikha Syazwani, Ashraf Halim, and Hanis Hafizah.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss UMMC’s robust clinical trial portfolio, where 70% of its MSD studies focus on oncology, with a higher proportion of Phase 2 studies compared to other organizations. MSD also shared their internal innovations and strategies for enhancing site collaborations, emphasizing their commitment to UMMC.
Key topics included recruitment predictability and strategic planning to boost subject enrollment, as well as addressing current challenges through mitigation plans and an upcoming system upgrade. Additionally, both teams discussed major updates in the ICH GCP E6 (R3) guidelines and explored potential future training and education initiatives to strengthen clinical trial conduct.
A special moment in the meeting was the recognition of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Zamaniah, Principal Investigator for the MK4280a-010 study, as a star recruiter and performer. She was presented with a certificate of recognition alongside her dedicated Study Coordinators, Ms. Suganiya Rama Rao and Ms. Ku Sheau Lee, in acknowledgment of their outstanding contributions to the trial.
A Stronger Partnership for the Future
The meeting reaffirmed the shared vision of MSD and UMMC to drive innovation and excellence in clinical trials. Both teams look forward to expanding their collaborative efforts in clinical research and education.
Article by Hanis Hafizah Ismail, Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC), Universiti Malaya Medical Centre