Dr Goh Pik Pin

Director of NIH cum Director of National CRC

Dr. Goh Pik Pin is the director of Clinical Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 1988, she obtained M. Med (NUS) in 1994, MS (Ophthalmology), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1995, Master in Public Health /Public Health Ophthalmology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University in 2001. She contributed to the launch of Entry Point Project on Clinical Research Malaysia, part of the National Key Economic Areas under the Economic Transformation Program and is one of the directors of Clinical Research Malaysia, a government-owned corporatisation established to promote industry sponsored research in Malaysia. As director, she directs the functions and monitor output of research units and the network of 34 Hospital CRC in the Ministry of Health. She is also a member of MOH Medical Research Ethics Committee. Dr. Goh was involved in various international and national research projects and played an important role in a few population-based study such as National Eye Survey, Refractive Error Study in Children, National Health and Morbidity Survey and World Health Survey. She is one of the working team members for setting up the standard set for cataract surgery. She has published 60 peer reviewed articles in local and international journals and has been awarded Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Award and the Prime Minister Award, Malaysia in 2000 and outstanding service award in Prevention of Blindness by Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in 2011. Dr. Goh joined the SEACO Scientific Advisory Group in 2016. and recently was appointed as Interim Director of the National Institute of Health (NIH). 

UClinical Research- Opportunities and Challenges for Dental Professionals

Clinical research is a systematic investigation to test hypotheses and to generate generalizable knowledge.  The aim of clinical research is to find better ways to prevent, screen and diagnose illness and to treat patients. Hence, clinical research is the essence of medical progress. Healthcare professionals in MOH, including dental specialists have been conducting investigator initiated research and publish their findings in peer review journals. The regular population based oral surveys have provided essential information for the dental practice and policy in dental services. Clinical research is one of the Entry Point Projects in the National Key Economic Areas. The setting up of Clinical Research Malaysia, a not– or – profit organisation that provides support and resources to clinical investigators and acts as an one-stop centre to multi-national pharmaceutical and medical device companies seeking healthcare professionals to conduct clinical trials. There are many opportunities for dental specialist to conduct industry sponsored research. The challenges faced by researchers in the MOH include research governance especially when it involves collaborative research, avoiding duplication in research areas and conducting research which can be translated into practice and policy. The establishment of the network of Clinical Research Centres with 33 Hospital CRC will provide assistance to staff at MOH, to increase the number and more so, to improve the quality of clinical research, so that the research findings can bring impact to the standard of healthcare.