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Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG)
The Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG) seeks to promote collaborative TCM research between local public healthcare or academic institutions and TCM organisations/institutions. It provides funding of up to 3 years to eligible Principal Investigators (PIs) from collaborating entities.
Last updated 14 January 2025
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What is the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG)?
The Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Grant (TCMRG) encourages local collaborative research in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It seeks to harness TCM principles and scientific research methodologies and expertise to promote the translation of TCM knowledge into better care and improved health outcomes on a sustainable basis, and to enhance the role of TCM in policy and practice in Singapore.
Its objectives are to:
Help public and healthcare professionals understand which TCM therapies have been proven to be safe and effective, empowering the public to make informed decisions about TCM treatments;
Assist policy makers by providing clinically proven treatments to serve the healthcare needs of the public;
Improve healthcare services through a more holistic approach, increasing accessibility to more evidence-based treatment options.
Grant information
Projects may be awarded for a period of up to 3 years, capped at $750,000 (inclusive of indirect costs capped at 10% of eligible funding amount).
Any requests for an extension of the project deadlines or grant variation will follow the TCMRG Guidelines and TCMRG Terms and Conditions (T&Cs).
Priority will be given to research projects that address the strategic areas and priority themes as well as projects involving collaborations with TCM organisations. Grants are awarded based on relevance, scientific merit, implementability and national significance.
Overseeing committee
The TCM Research Advisory Committee (TRAC) will oversee the TCMRG and make the final decision for grant award. TRAC members include doctors, TCM practitioners, western medicine researchers and pharmacists.
Eligibility criteria
Principal Investigators (PIs) must be from local public healthcare or academic institutions (i.e. Clusters/Restructured Hospitals & Institutions, Universities, HPB, or HSA).
TCM practitioners, fully registered with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board, preferably with more than 10 years of clinical experience, may lead in project teams as PIs for studies that do not involve clinical trials and/or laboratory services e.g. observational or case description type studies.
Applications must be endorsed by the institutional heads (CEO or equivalent), to ensure institutional support, ownership, and oversight for the projects. The PIs, together with their Project Teams, are responsible for the planning, direction, and execution of their proposed projects.
Projects which are currently already receiving support from other sources of funding will not be eligible for TCMRG funding.
6th TCMRG Grant Call
The 6th TCMRG Grant Call is open from 8 Jan 2025 to 31 Mar 2025.
Kindly email MOH_TRAC_secretariat@moh.gov.sg if you require a word document of the TCMRG application form.
Please submit 1 soft copy of your application to MOH_TRAC_secretariat@moh.gov.sg and 1 hard copy to:
TRAC secretariat
TCM branch / Director-General of Health Office
College of Medicine Building
16 College Road
Singapore 169854
Please also refer to the following documents for the terms and conditions, as well as policies, governing the TCMRG:
Forms for Awarded Projects
Awarded Projects from Past Grant Calls
1st Grant Call (2 January 2014 to 31 March 2014)
List of awarded projects from the 1st Grant Call
S/N | Research proposal | Instituition | PI | TCM Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ethnic differences in TCM syndrome classification of diabetic nephropathy in Singapore | SGH | Dr Tan Hong Chang | Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution |
2 | A pilot study investigating the effects of acupuncture on pain relieve in oocyte retrieval in IVF compared to standard conscious sedation in Singapore General Hospital | SGH | Dr Yu Su Ling | SGH Pain Management Centre |
3 | Acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease: (Parkinson related fatigue) a pilot randomized controlled study | TTSH | Dr Kong Keng He | TTSH Centre for Integrative Medicine Clinic |
4 | Randomised clinical trial of acupuncture and herbal treatment in dry eye: cutting edge technologies meet traditional Chinese medicine | SERI | A/Prof Louis Tong | Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution |
5 | Randomized placebo controlled trial of traditional chinese medicine for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome | SGH | Dr Wang Yu Tien | Singapore College of TCM |
2nd Grant Call (2 January 2017 to 31 March 2017)
List of awarded projects from the 2nd Grant Call
S/N | Research proposal | Instituition | PI | TCM Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Efficacy of Acupuncture as a treatment for faecal incontinence | SGH | Dr Emile Tan | Singapore College of TCM |
2 | Clinical Trial to investigate the effects of acupuncture on brain networks in patients with Parkinson’s disease | NNI | A/Prof Nicolas Kon | TTSH Complementary and Integrative Medicine |
3 | A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a novel TCM physician-involved collaborative care model in the management of patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis (AxSpA)in Singapore | SGH | Dr Warren Fong | Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution |
4 | Adjuvant role of TCM in management of mild to moderate childhood asthma | KKH | Dr Cheong Han Hui | Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution |
3rd Grant Call (2 April 2018 to 30 June 2018)
List of awarded projects from the 3rd Grant Call
3rd Grant Call (2 April 2018 to 30 June 2018) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
S/N | Research proposal | Instituition | PI | TCM Collaborator |
1 | HEalth-Related quality of life-intervention in Breast Cancer Survivors experiencing cancer-related fatigue using TraditionAL Chinese Medicine: The HERBALTrial | NUS | A/Prof Alexandre Chan | Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution |
2 | Acupuncture for bowel dysfunction in patients after colorectal cancer surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial | SGH | Dr Eugene Yeo Shen Ann | NTU Chinese Medicine Clinic |
4th Grant Call (1 March 2019 to 31 May 2019)
List of awarded projects from the 4th Grant Call
S/N | Research proposal | Instituition | PI | TCM Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Effect of Community-based Baduanjin (八段锦) on Functional Performance in Pre-Frail/Frail Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled and Implementation Research Study | Geriatric Education and Research Institute (GERI) | A/Prof Wee Shiou Liang | Tsao Foundation |
2 | The Therapeutic Effects of Bu Shen Yi Jing Pill on Semen Quality in Sub Fertile Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial | KKH | Dr Ee Tat Xin | Singapore Thong Chai Medical Institution |
3 | Acupuncture for the Postoperative Recovery of Hip Fracture Patients: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial | KTPH | Dr James Tan Chung Hui | Sports Medicine Clinic KTPH |
4 | Community Tai Chi programme as a complementary modality to mitigate age-associated decline in metabolic and musculoskeletal health in older adults | NTU | A/Prof Lim Chin Leong | NTU Chinese Medicine Clinic |
5 | Randomised placebo controlled study of herbal medication to treat dry eye in peri/ post-menopausal women | SERI | Prof Louis Tong | Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution |
6 | Electroacupuncture for heart protection: clinical application in patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery | NHCS | Prof Derek Hausenloy | SGH Pain Management Centre |
5th Grant Call (3 May 2021 to 31 July 2021)
List of awarded projects from the 5th Grant Call
S/N | Research proposal | Instituition | PI | TCM Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Acupuncture augmentation therapy for in-hospital patients with major depression disorder: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. | Institute of Mental Health (IMH) | Dr Tor Phern Chern | NTU Chinese Medicine Clinic |
2 | Heat and Acupuncture Randomised Controlled Trial to Manage Osteoarthritis of the Knee (HarmoKNEE): An Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Study | Woodlands Health Campus National Healthcare Group | Dr Tan Yijia Bryan | Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution |
3 | Investigating the syndrome differentiation of diabetic and pre-diabetic patients in Singapore using digitalized TCM diagnostic tools: an observational study | Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (SCHMI) | TCMP Ng Hui Ping | NA |
Contact Information
For more information, contact us at MOH_TRAC_Secretariat@moh.gov.sg.