Young Investigator to Watch: Dr. Chooi Kheng Chiew
Dr. Chooi Kheng Chiew is a Physician at Seri Manjung Hospital, Perak. He graduated in 2008 from the University of Glasgow, UK with a MBChB before going on to obtain an MRCP (UK) in 2011. Dr. Chooi was instrumental in the setting up of the Clinical Research Centre at Seri Manjung Hospital and has initiated industry sponsored trials at this facility. With just three years in the clinical research field, he has been an investigator and sub-investigator in more than 10 multicenter prospective clinical trials. Dr. Chooi is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Quest International University Perak and has won numerous awards including the Trades House Medical Prize, Top 10 placing in the Duke Elder Undergraduate Prize in Ophthalmology, Medical Council on Alcohol Prize and the Dr. Saidi Hashim Memorial Gold Medal.
Dr. Chooi is the next generation of Principal Investigator that has his sights set on the clinical research field. Passionate and steadfastly committed to both his clinical practice as well as industry-sponsored trials, Dr. Chooi divides his time between seeing patients and actively conducting clinical trials. Clinical Research Malaysia was fortunate to be able to interview this promising Clinical Investigator who is currently based at Seri Manjung Hospital.
Being one of the few young Principal Investigators in Malaysia who had an early start in the clinical research field, can you briefly tell us when and how did you get involved in clinical trials?
The journey began when I was still a medical student at the University of Glasgow. At that time, the Clinical Trials Unit was looking for healthy volunteers for a drug delivery study, and I decided to participate as a patient volunteer. It was from this initial exposure that I became interested in clinical trials.
Being a district hospital in the state of Perak, how did Seri Manjung Hospital build its reputation among the sponsors and contract research organizations (CROs) as one of the potential sites in conducting clinical trials?
We were earmarked to start a Clinical Research Centre (CRC) at Seri Manjung Hospital back then and being one of the first few clinicians who was involved in the CRC, I had the opportunity to be certified in Good Clinical Practice. We worked towards developing and establishing the necessary infrastructure needed to carry out clinical trials and eventually got the first trial in. Our research team comprising of principal investigators and study coordinators worked very hard in recruiting patients and ensuring that the protocols are strictly followed. We managed to set a good track record in patient recruitment and since then we have been receiving many new trials from sponsors and CROs alike.
Can you briefly describe your experience conducting your first trial? Is there anyone who inspired you or that you look up to?
It was in 2013 that I first got involved as a Sub-Investigator for a phase III trial. It is with every new trial that I undertake that I learn how to conduct them according to the required protocol and to manage adverse events appropriately.
I am grateful to Dr. Lee Li Yuan, whom I respect as my mentor. He has always encouraged and supported me in my clinical research journey. Dr. Lee has also given me the opportunity to be Principal Investigator in various clinical trials, for without which, I would not have gained the experience I have today.
Being in a district hospital setting, do you think that it limits the type and number of trials that you are able to take up?
The unavailability of certain therapeutic area specialists necessary for certain type of studies will definitely limit the type of trials that we can conduct. However, we try to capitalize on our strength by tapping into the patient population in Seri Manjung and the surrounding areas. In fact, there are many trials that match our capability and our population demographics.
How has clinical trials changed your perspective of being a doctor?
By conducting clinical trials, I had the opportunity to do more than to treat my patients based on the current standard of care and treatments available. It opens a whole new world to clinicians and gives patients hope that an investigational product may translate the promise of a more effective medication into reality. Conducting clinical trials certainly makes my job more exciting and makes one believe in the extraordinary possibilities of modern medicine.
Can you tell us how your patients have benefited from a trial?
In one of our diabetes trials, the patients recorded very good improvement in blood sugar control while some have become more compliant to their medications and improved their lifestyle as a result of intensive monitoring. Thus, while the investigational product may not produce the expected therapeutic effect, the patients can still indirectly benefit from a clinical trial by being a participant in it.
What are usually your patients’ concern when you approach them to participate in a clinical trial?
Most patients have the perception that we are treating them as guinea pigs and thus are reluctant to join. With proper explanation, some will then be open up to the idea and eventually these patients will be thankful for the opportunity to participate in a trial after experiencing the benefits derived from it, whether directly or indirectly.
What have you learnt from conducting trials?
Clinical trials require good time management skills and being very meticulous. It has also exposed me to many other areas above and beyond my normal clinical practice. What kind of assistance do you feel would be helpful for budding investigators? Sufficient trained Study Coordinators, assistance with budget negotiation, trainings for clinical investigators as well as sharing of experience from experienced investigators may be helpful for those of us who have just started out in clinical trials.
Do you have any words of encouragement for those keen in taking up clinical trials?
I would say just go for it. One definitely has to learn by doing it. If you ever have the opportunity to be involved in a clinical trial with an experienced investigator, by all means don’t give up that opportunity.
Featured in CRM Bulletin Issue 6
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