Research Assistant

ABOUT THE UNIT

The Genetic Counselling Unit’s overarching goal is to improve care of individuals with inherited predisposition to disease risk. Our aim is to empower these individuals to make medical and healthcare choices based on their genetic profiles

SUMMARY

The Research Assistant will assist in implementation science research programmes aimed at improving access to lifesaving genetics services. This will include the development and testing of interventions to increase access to and uptake of genetics services in different parts of the patient’s and healthy person’s journey. In particular, the Research Assistant will be involved in projects related to understanding the uptake of risk management strategies in carriers of cancer predisposition genes (MyCarrier study), evaluating the impact of personalised genetic risk scores on genetic counselling and testing uptake (ARiCa study), evaluating and implementing a low-literacy decision aid for genetic testing (Decision Aid Study), and a study related to maintaining the sustainability of the mainstreaming model for ovarian cancer patients (Mainstreaming Sustainability Study.

RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Plan and perform study procedures (e.g study recruitment, data collection and data analysis with guidance) that are necessary to meet direct project goals.

b. Ensure that the research projects meet the defined objectives in time.

c. Assist in retrieving information necessary for reports and proposals for the donors and grant organizations.

d. Assist in ensuring the expenses for research programs are within the planned budget

.e. Evaluate indication for referral and triages cases as necessary.

f. Conduct pre-clinic intakes to obtain accurate family history/medical information and relevant documents from patients.

g. Assist in genetic test ordering administration and operations

h. Attends to inquiry (phone calls, messages or emails) that comes through the department/CRMY and works with colleagues to ensure clients and research participants are attended accordingly.

i. Maintaining patient records in hard and soft copy

j. Complying with safety, ethical and regulatory requirements.

k. Other responsibilities include:

• To represent the team and Cancer Research Malaysia when appropriate
• To undertake other administrative tasks as required

QUALIFICATIONS

1. BSc in Genetics, Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, Counselling or other science subjects with interest in working with patients.
2. Multilingual and able to communicate effectively in Chinese (Preferred), Malay and English to cater to the diverse linguistic needs of our clients
3. .Demonstrated skill in handling data and successfully presenting the data both in spoken (conference) or written (publication) form.
4. Knows when, and who, to ask about a problem, and does so.
5. Able to work with minimum supervision within a team structure.
6. Driven by a strong sense of making an impact, with problem solving skills, including conflict resolution skills.
7. The ability to prioritise own workload and work to deadlines.
8. Adopts a pro-active attitude to work.
9. Assumes full responsibilities within role.
10. Passion for CRMY's mission.