A CLINICAL scientist here used to feel like an aspiring concert violinist who works towards his goal "by practicing at the bus stop while waiting for buses", said endocrinologist Dr Tai E Shyong.
The only difference was that these doctors were struggling to do their research.
But while they could only spend after-clinic hours on research in the past, eight doctors would no longer have to juggle clinical work with research after being awarded the inaugural Clinician-Scientist Investigator (CSI) Award yesterday.
Jointly awarded by the Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and National Medical Research Council (NMRC), the new scheme sets out to recognise and support the work of clinical-scientists in Singapore.
Dr Tai was among the eight doctors — three are active researchers and five in the Junior Clinician-Scientist category — who won the award.
Under the scheme, the doctors have to commit 60 per cent of their time to research, while the five junior clinician-scientists are given an extra $200,000 in grant money.
About $5 million has been set aside for the award, which buys "protected time" through funding a portion of the recipient's salary proportionate to the time they spend on research.
Pointing out that the increased interest in life sciences has increased the "depth and breadth" of research in Singapore, Deputy Chairman BMRC Prof Tan Chorh Chuan said these works must be brought into practical application and testing, which calls for greater clinical research.
The awards scheme, which pools the resources of the Ministry of Health, NMRC and BMRC, "expresses our determination to help develop the area of medical research", he said.
The recipients also saw the awards as a means to create attractive opportunities in the public sector.
Dr Tai said many doctors in the public sector who wish to pursue teaching and research often become burnt out due to both patient and research commitment.
This scheme offers doctors an incentive to remain in the public sector, he said.
"You've got to give people opportunities to explore," said Dr Tai, who is studying genetic and lifestyle factors that contribute to diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.
Winners of the CSI Award
• Neurologist Assoc Prof Michael Chee Wei Liang, SingHealth
• Oncologist Dr Goh Boon Cher, NUH
• Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Prof Yong Eu Leong, NUS
• Ophthalmologist Dr Aung Tin, Singapore National Eye Centre
• Paediatrician Dr Lynette Shek, NUS
• Endocrinologist Dr Tai E Shyong, SingHealth
• Neurologist Dr Tan Eng King, SingHealth
• Paediatrician Dr Allen Yeoh, NUS