Promoting Community Engagement for Clinical Trials in Asia

Clinical trials are crucial for advancing medical knowledge and improving public health outcomes. However, clinical trials in Asia encounter unique challenges, such as diverse cultural contexts, varying levels of health literacy, and historical controversies in medical research. Community engagement has been suboptimal in Asia, leading to low participation rates. This threatens the scientific validity of clinical trials and increases costs.

Effective community engagement is vital for overcoming challenges and improving recruitment, particularly in areas with health disparities and limited healthcare access. By building trust and collaboration between researchers and communities, trials can achieve their goals and lead to meaningful health improvements. Successful engagement models can inform policy changes and best practices, contributing to global health equity.

Study Design & Objectives

In this project, we aim to develop and evaluate community engagement strategies to enhance public support for clinical trials, establish regional hubs for ongoing engagement, and create scalable frameworks and tools. Implemented in three phases over three years, it will assess success through a concurrent Phase II trial enrolment, retention, and community surveys, with results shared through scientific and regional channels.

Regional Hub Sites

Three regional hubs will be established in Asia. The hubs will potentially be in Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan, with final selections expected by mid-2025. These hubs will align with the Phase II antibiotic drug trial led by ADVANCE-ID. Lead investigators at each hub will be responsible for guiding the implementation of community engagement efforts in their respective countries. ADVANCE-ID will support these regional hubs to ensure the successful implementation of their initiatives.

Team Members

Dr Mo Yin

Deputy Director
ADVANCE-ID, NUS

Dr Shou Yiyun

Assistant Professor
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS | LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, NUS

Professor Pauline Lai Siew Mei

Professor
Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

A/Prof Christina Misa Wong

Associate Professor
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS

Dr Rayner Kay Jin Tan

Assistant Professor
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS

A/Prof Helmi Sulaiman

Associate Professor
Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

Dr Devanthiran A/L Letchumanan

PhD Student
Universiti Malaya, Malaysia

Ms Chee Jia Yi

Research Associate
ADVANCE-ID, NUS

Ms Atharvi Gupta

Research Assistant
ADVANCE-ID, NUS