CITI Training Programme

The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) is a leading provider of research education content that is web-based to facilitate the training of investigators and staff who are conducting research.

Staff from NHG and partner institutions can access the CITI Program’s “Biomedical Research Investigators and Key Personnel” course, amongst other courses such as Responsible Conduct of Research and Financial Conflicts of Interest. The “Biomedical Research Investigators and Key Personnel” course provides a comprehensive selection of 26 educational modules.

It is important to affiliate with “National Healthcare Group – Singapore” so that you can access the correct curriculum.

You should choose to complete the appropriate modules depending on the type of research that you intend to conduct – Biomedical Research or Population Health Research.

Curriculum: Human Research

(A) Core Modules

You will need to complete 7 fundamental research ethics modules and the following 3 modules:

(1) National Healthcare Group – Singapore
(2) NHG – Singapore. Overview of the Regulatory Framework and Guidelines in Singapore
(3) NHG – Singapore. Overview of Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB) Review Process

(B) Elective Modules
You will need to select 5 elective modules from the remaining 21 modules based on the relevance to the nature of your studies and your areas of specialty.

Curriculum: Human Research

(A) Core Modules
You will need to complete 7 fundamental research ethics modules and the following 3 modules specific for NHG Investigators:
(1) National Healthcare Group – Singapore
(2) NHG – Singapore. Overview of the Regulatory Framework and Guidelines in Singapore
(3) NHG – Singapore. Overview of Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB) Review Process

(B) Elective Modules
You will need to complete 5 elective modules out of the 11 Social, Behavioural and Educational (SBE) related modules based on the relevance to the nature of your studies and your areas of specialty. These modules can be identified by ‘SBE’ in the suffix.

You can register for the program through the online system at www.citiprogram.org.

It is important to affiliate with “National Healthcare Group Pte Ltd” so that you can access the correct curriculum.

Upon completing the registration form, you can immediately begin your learning with the CITI program.

Please refer to the List of Available Guides, Forms and Useful Links available for download at the end of this page.

The DSRB also accepts the SGGCP/GCP certificate as completion of the minimum training requirements.

However, if you have completed other research ethics training programmes that are organised and conducted by a reputable body such as NHG institutions, Health Sciences Authority, National University of Singapore etc., you may apply for a waiver of the CITI Program for DSRB’s evaluation.

Any programme that qualifies as a research ethics training equivalent to the CITI Program, should be at least an 8-hour programme and should address most of the following topics:
(1) History & Ethics Principles of Research Ethics
(2) Regulatory Framework and Guidelines in Singapore
(3) Informed Consent
(4) Privacy and Confidentiality Issues

Please note that the National University Health System GCP Training Course cannot be used to waive the completion of the CITI Program.

You can complete the CITI Minimum Training Requirement Waiver Form and email a copy of the waiver form to min_ethics_training@nhg.com.sg. The DSRB will review the submitted form and determine whether waiver can be granted.

Please note that approval for the waiver of CITI certification does not exempt investigators and study team members from completing the FCOI course.

Please refer to the List of Available Guides, Forms and Useful Links available for download at the end of this page.

Please refer to the guidebook to updating your Minimum Training Status on the ECOS system. The guidebook will show ECOS Users how to access the Minimum Training Module to upload their training certificates into their User Profile.

Download here