SUNWAY CITY – In a significant leap for Malaysia’s healthcare and research landscape, Sunway Medical Centre (SMC), Sunway City, has become the first private healthcare institution in the country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health (MOH) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The milestone agreement is poised to redefine the nation’s capabilities in early-phase clinical trials and medical research.
The partnership formalised between Sunway’s Clinical Research Centre and the Institute for Clinical Research (ICR), NIH, signals a new era in public-private collaboration. Its key ambition: to establish a robust Phase 1 clinical trial ecosystem in Malaysia that aligns with global standards, improves patient access, and accelerates innovation in medical science.
“This marks a bold step forward in our contribution to groundbreaking healthcare solutions, not just for Malaysians, but for the global community,” said Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group, during the signing ceremony.
While SMC has long been involved in Phase 2, 3 and 4 trials across various medical disciplines, from oncology and nephrology to infectious diseases, this MoU unlocks a new frontier: Phase 1 clinical trials, often considered the most critical and complex stage in drug development.
Construction is already underway at SMC to build a dedicated Phase 1 Clinical Trial Unit, slated for accreditation in 2026. The unit’s proximity to hospital facilities will allow seamless integration of research with patient care, making cutting-edge therapies more accessible to the public.
“Locating the unit within the hospital allows our patients easier access to novel therapies and enables our clinicians to carry out research that directly benefits patient outcomes,” said Dr. Seow Vei Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Medical Centre.
Dr. Carren Teh, Director of ICR, emphasised the partnership’s significance in raising clinical trial standards across the country.
“This initiative not only accelerates innovation but also reinforces international ethical and scientific standards in early-phase trials,” she said.
Since its inception in 2009, Sunway Clinical Research Centre has conducted over 65 industry-sponsored projects and initiated more than 100 investigator-led studies across diverse fields such as dermatology, haematology, and rheumatology. This MoU sets the foundation for even deeper collaboration between Sunway and the MOH’s Clinical Research Centres (CRC), enabling training opportunities, joint research, and shared branding to elevate Malaysia’s reputation in global clinical research.
This partnership comes as Sunway Medical Centre was recently named Malaysia’s top hospital in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025 list, placing within the top 250 hospitals worldwide. With 28 Centres of Excellence (COE) and more than 60 medical subspecialties, SMC’s dedication to research and education is further supported by collaborations with the University of Cambridge, Royal Papworth Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and now the National Institutes of Health.
As Malaysia continues to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem, Sunway Medical Centre’s significant partnership with the Ministry of Health stands as a powerful model of how the private and public sectors can come together to create meaningful, long-lasting impact in healthcare. -MalayaDailyToday
