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New initiative offers potential research opportunities and support for up to 40 submissions focused on Joint Health and Nerve Health.
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| (From L to R) Prof Madya Dato’ Dr Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi, Consultant Neurologist, HUKM, Prof. Dr. Amran Bin Ahmed Shokri, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, HUSM, Dr. Danny Wong, Managing Director, BREGO Life Sciences, Valerie Lu, Medical & Regulatory Affairs Manager, BREGO Life Sciences and Dr. Anna Misya’il Abdul Rashid, Consultant Neurologist, HUPM during the official launching ceremony for BREGO Scientific Program (RISE). |
BREGO Life Sciences has launched the Powering Mobility: RISE Program, an investigator-led research initiative aimed at giving eligible medical officers and healthcare professionals a structured platform to develop and submit clinically relevant research and case studies in Joint and Nerve Health. Selected submissions may also qualify for further research support.
The initiative addresses some of the challenges healthcare professionals can face when moving from an interest in research to active participation. A Malaysian study involving specialists at three government hospitals found that although all respondents believed research benefited patients and society, only 44.9% were currently involved in research. Barriers identified included limited access to research expertise, software and statistical support, as well as challenges in navigating research approvals.
RISE, which stands for Research, Innovation & Scientific Excellence, is designed to provide healthcare professionals with a pathway to develop ideas arising from clinical questions and concepts, before progressing towards presentation and independent scientific evaluation. The programme is intended to help participants navigate the different stages involved in developing their research.
“Clinical research may begin as simply as a question that arises from caring for patients every day. However, turning that observation into a structured research project requires the right knowledge, guidance and resources. Through RISE, we want to provide healthcare professionals with a clear pathway to develop their ideas, put them forward for scientific evaluation and, where selected, access the support to take their research further.
In doing so, we hope to encourage more healthcare professionals to contribute to clinical evidence, while strengthening a culture that cultivates greater research opportunities in Malaysia,” said Dr Danny Wong, Managing Director, BREGO Life Sciences.
Building the Foundations for Clinician-Led Research
The RISE Program made its debut alongside the inaugural BREGO Clinical Research Day, which focused on equipping healthcare professionals with practical knowledge for developing and conducting clinical research.
The event brought together representatives from the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) and Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, alongside experienced clinician-researchers from teaching institutions.
Sessions covered the process of turning clinical questions into research projects, understanding research ethics and navigating research approval requirements. Clinician-led sessions also shared practical insights into progressing research concepts towards publication and developing industry-supported clinical studies, giving participants a clearer picture of how an initial idea can eventually become a completed study.
“In my experience, many healthcare professionals have good research ideas arising from their daily clinical practice. Creating the right environment for these ideas to be developed is an important part of strengthening Malaysia’s clinical research ecosystem. Programmes such as RISE, together with research capacity-building initiatives by the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), can help create greater awareness of the research process and connect clinicians with the knowledge and resources available to them. These include programmes such as the Introduction to Clinical Research, which help support clinicians who are new to research. By strengthening these foundations and encouraging greater collaboration between healthcare professionals and researchers, we can continue to build a stronger and more sustainable research ecosystem in Malaysia” said Dr Tay Ju Fan, Manager, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Hospital Selayang.
Advancing Research in Joint and Nerve Health
Through RISE, BREGO aims to encourage high-quality investigator-led research and case studies that strengthen clinical evidence in Joint and Nerve Health and contribute to improved patient care.
Eligible healthcare professionals can submit research or case study abstracts focused on either Joint or Nerve Health for independent scientific evaluation. Up to 20 selected submissions in each therapeutic area may be considered for research development opportunities.
Selected top-performing studies may receive further support as they progress, based on their scientific merit, clinical relevance and feasibility. This means the programme could support up to 40 selected submissions across the two therapeutic areas.
RISE is planned as an annual platform for healthcare professionals, with the 2026/2027 submission cycle expected to remain open until the end of January 2027.
Through the programme, BREGO Life Sciences aims to encourage continued education, scientific collaboration and evidence generation, contributing to long-term clinical impact and a stronger culture of research in Malaysia.
