Sunway Medical Centre Signs Landmark MoU with National Institutes of Health
- nabalunews
- 20 minutes ago
- 2 min read
20 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) in Sunway City has formalised a groundbreaking partnership with Malaysia’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration marks Malaysia’s first public-private initiative aimed at transforming the nation’s medical and clinical research landscape.
Led by the Sunway Clinical Research Centre and the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR), the partnership seeks to enhance Malaysia’s capabilities in conducting Phase 1 clinical trials and foster a collaborative ecosystem for medical research. By bridging public and private healthcare efforts, the initiative aims to accelerate innovation, improve access to cutting-edge clinical trials, and position Malaysia as a regional leader in early-phase research.
“As a healthcare institution committed to pioneering medical innovation, Sunway Medical Centre is proud to support Malaysia’s efforts to address critical healthcare challenges,” said Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group. “Our team has extensive experience in Phase 2, 3 and 4 trials across pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. This new partnership allows us to venture into Phase 1 trials—bringing us closer to breakthroughs that benefit both Malaysian and global healthcare.”
Renovation works are currently underway to develop a dedicated Phase 1 Clinical Trial Unit within the hospital, which is set to be accredited in 2026. “Having this unit within the hospital enhances proximity to patients, making it easier for them to access innovative therapies and clinical trials,” explained Dr. Seow Vei Ken, CEO of Sunway Medical Centre. “We are committed to creating a research centre that improves patient outcomes and healthcare accessibility.”
Dr. Carren Teh, Director of ICR, emphasised the significance of this milestone: “Strengthening early-phase clinical trials accelerates research that directly impacts patients’ lives whilst upholding international standards and ethical excellence.”
Since its inception in 2009, the Sunway Clinical Research Centre has conducted over 65 industry-sponsored projects and initiated more than 100 investigator-led studies in fields such as Oncology, Haematology, Dermatology, Nephrology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, from 2018 to 2024.
This collaboration with NIH aims to foster closer ties between public hospital-based Clinical Research Centres (CRC) and SMC, creating opportunities for training, knowledge exchange, and joint branding efforts to elevate Malaysia’s presence in the global clinical research arena. Guided by innovation and resilience, Sunway Medical Centre strives to lead the future of healthcare through strategic partnerships and shared commitments.
Recognised as the top-ranked hospital in Malaysia and among the top 250 worldwide by Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025, SMC boasts 28 Centres of Excellence spanning over 60 medical subspecialties. The hospital’s collaborations with esteemed institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Royal Papworth Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and now the NIH’s Institute for Clinical Research exemplify its dedication to advancing medical education, research and patient-centred care.
