Negeri Sembilan, 4 February 2026 — IMU University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, marks a significant milestone in advancing public–private collaboration in clinical research within Malaysia’s public healthcare system.

The launch comes at a pivotal time as Malaysia intensifies its focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), real-world evidence generation, and equitable access to research opportunities within primary care settings. By embedding a dedicated clinical trial unit within a government clinic, the initiative aims to bring research closer to patients while ensuring studies are aligned with national healthcare priorities.

The IMU–MOH Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) was jointly launched by YBhg Academician Professor Emerita Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of IMU University, and Dr Zuraida binti Mohamed, Director of the Negeri Sembilan State Health Department.

The establishment of the IMU–MOH CTU reflects a strategic partnership between academia and the public healthcare system, designed to expand access to real-world patient populations, strengthen research governance, and support both industry-sponsored trials and investigator-initiated trials (IITs). Housed within a government primary care clinic, the CTU is uniquely positioned to support pragmatic, patient-centred research that reflects everyday clinical practice.

The CTU is equipped with dedicated trial facilities, trained research personnel, and standard operating procedures aligned with International Council for Harmonisation – Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) principles, ensuring compliance with international standards for clinical research conduct. It also provides a structured and efficient platform for sponsors, contract research organisations (CROs), and investigators to conduct high-quality clinical studies within the public healthcare setting.

“By embedding a clinical trial unit within a government primary care clinic, we are bringing research closer to patients and ensuring studies reflect real-world healthcare needs. This initiative enables the public to benefit directly from ethically conducted research while strengthening Malaysia’s overall clinical research ecosystem,” said Professor Dr Winnie Chee Siew Swee, Director of the Institute of Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), IMU University.

The launch also marks an early milestone for the CTU with the initiation of its first diabetes clinical study, demonstrating the unit’s readiness to support research in areas of high public health importance.

In its initial phase, the IMU–MOH CTU will focus on clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies related to non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and preventive health. Over the next three to five years, the IMU–MOH CTU aims to facilitate approximately five to ten industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated studies within primary care clinics, contributing to the generation of high-quality real-world evidence relevant to Malaysia’s public healthcare system.

The IMU–MOH Clinical Trial Unit underscores the shared commitment of IMU University and the Ministry of Health to advance clinical research excellence, enhance patient access to innovative therapies, and support evidence-based healthcare delivery in Malaysia.