National Healthy Volunteer Research Register launched

PUTRAJAYA, July 2 – The National Healthy Volunteer Research Register launched today under the Ministry of Health’s Institute Clinical Research (ICR) is expected to play an important role in ensuring a high standard of clinical research in the country with the help of healthy volunteers, especially in the prevailing times.

At the virtual launch of the (NHVRR) EASEL-based platform, Health Director General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham said it was important step for Malaysia to have a platform for clinical trials that is in synch with the growing technology and that will significantly benefit both research organisations and the trial volunteers.

Advancements in technology and the adoption of hand held devices, have changed trial subject behaviour and how they interact and make decisions, he said.

Healthy volunteers will help researchers with crucial data towards the study on the effects of drugs and its development, says Dr, Kalaiarasu M.Peariasamy (ICR).

With advanced platforms, trial subjects are now able to access trial protocols, trial sites and conditions for their recruitment.

In Malaysia, there is also a pressing need to monitor the recruitment of volunteer subjects and with the creation of a registry, the duplication of trial subjects can be preventedm, Dr Noor Hisham said during launch streamed live via the ministry’s Facebook.

This will provide transparency of clinical trials while ensuring the safety of volunteer subjects.

The NHVRR will be accessible only by trained and registered users to ensure the safety, security and confidentiality of data.

Welcoming collaboration efforts from research industries, Dr Noor said the establishment of NHVRR was indicative of the ministry’s commitment to address the safety of clinical trials and Malaysia’s capability to run clinical trials.