The IMU School of Medicine (SOM), in collaboration with the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), organised a research workshop titled “Why Clinicians Need to Do Research” to encourage greater clinician involvement in research and evidence-based healthcare. The workshop reinforced the vital role of clinician researchers in advancing patient care, driving healthcare innovation, and strengthening a sustainable research culture within the medical profession.

Event:

“Why Clinicians Need to Do Research” Workshop

Date:

20 May 2026

Organisers:

• IMU School of Medicine (SOM)
• Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI)

Location:

IMU Clinical Campus Seremban

Participants:

• Clinician-academics
• Researchers
• Healthcare professionals

The IMU School of Medicine (SOM), in collaboration with the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), recently organised a research workshop entitled “Why Clinicians Need to Do Research” at the IMU Clinical Campus Seremban on 20 May 2026. The workshop brought together clinician-academics, researchers, and healthcare professionals to:

• Explore the importance of integrating research into clinical practice
• Inspire more healthcare professionals to embark on research activities

The workshop featured a distinguished line-up of speakers who shared their experiences, insights, and practical strategies for clinicians to actively engage in research while balancing their clinical responsibilities.

The workshop opened with a keynote from A/Prof Dato’ Dr Lily Mushabar,

• Consultant Nephrologist
• Clinical Research Lead at IMU University
• Former Head of the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) Negeri Sembilan

She delivered a session entitled “Being A Clinician Researcher – Can We Do It?” and highlighted the many benefits of being a clinician researcher, including

• Continuous professional growth
• Collaboration opportunities
• Career fulfilment
• The ability to leave a lasting impact on healthcare

She encouraged participants to start small by:

• Identifying clinical problems
• Asking relevant research questions
• Collecting data systematically
• Seeking mentorship and collaborations

Dr Lily also emphasised the importance of consistency, teamwork, passion, and curiosity as key success factors in research.

Prof Chandramani Thuraisingham, Professor from the Department of Family Medicine at IMU University, presented on “Benefits of Research for Clinicians.”

She explained how research underpins:

• Clinical guidelines,
• Evidence-based medicine, and
• Modern therapeutic approaches.

She noted that research is already a daily part of practice through the use of clinical guidelines and drug prescriptions. She stressed that engaging in research allows clinicians to continuously:

• Update their knowledge
• Improve patient outcomes
• Contribute to future healthcare advancements

Prof Chandramani also discussed how patients often place greater confidence in research-active doctors due to their access to

• Innovations
• Specialised expertise
• Analytical approach to problem-solving

During her session, she quoted Prof Russell Gruen, who described clinician researchers as:

“Clinician researchers bring both science and service to healthcare. They instil relevance in new discoveries, and translate the findings to benefit patients. Their curiosity spawns innovation, and their critical thinking drives evidence-based practice.

They are motivated by truth, and inspire the same in others. Because they know what works, safety and quality depend on them. Their impact is local and it is global – they make healthcare excellent today and ensure it will be better tomorrow.”

The workshop also highlighted the institutional support to facilitate clinician-led research at IMU University. Prof Winnie Chee Siew Swee, Director of IRDI, shared IRDI’s initiatives and future plans to strengthen research capacity among clinicians and faculty members from 2026 onwards.

In addition, participants were introduced to the roles of the Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) and the workflows involved in industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated research projects by Dr Gurinder Kaur A/P Gurcharan Singh.

Prof Teng Cheong Lieng from the Department of Family Medicine delivered an engaging session entitled “Clinical Research Publications in Malaysia: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.” He highlighted the ethical and unethical practices in research and publication, while also discussing common forms of research misconduct and the importance of maintaining research integrity.

Dr Caroline Eng, Deputy Head of the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) at Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Malaysia, presented on “Overcoming Barriers to Clinical Research.” Her session addressed common challenges faced by clinicians, including

• Time constraints,
• Limited research training, and
• Perceptions that research is overly complex.

She shared practical approaches to overcoming these barriers and encouraged participants to cultivate a positive research mindset.

The workshop concluded with Prof Karuthan A/L Chinna, a newly appointed biostatistician by IRDI, who walked the participants through the fundamentals of research methodology design and the basic statistical principles relevant to clinical research.

Overall, the workshop served as an important platform to cultivate a stronger research culture among clinicians and healthcare professionals.

By bridging clinical practice with research, the workshop reinforced IMU’s commitment to advancing evidence-based healthcare, innovation, and academic excellence.

This workshop underscores IMU University’s commitment to fostering a vibrant research culture where clinical expertise meets scientific inquiry to solve the major health challenges of today.