Research Associate for Genetic Counselling

Research Associate for Genetic Counselling

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 Associate 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 Associate 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 cancer genetic risk scores on genetic counselling and testing uptake (ARiCa study), and identifying barriers and motivators to improve access of genetic services for individuals at risk of Lynch syndrome (GECCO study).

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Plan and perform experiments that are necessary to meet direct project goals.
2. Ensure that the research projects meet the defined objectives in time.
3. Assist in preparing reports and proposals for the donors and grant organizations.
4. Assist in ensuring the financial sustainability of the research program.
5. Assist in the supervision of others undertaking original research leading to high quality publications.
6. Conduct pre-clinic intakes and assist the Consultant Genetic Counsellor/Clinical Geneticist to provide pre-test and results disclosure. Provide comprehensive client consultation, assessment, and genetic counselling which involves diagnosing, communicating and educating clients and/or their families regarding genetic disorders or conditions; reviewing and discussing genetic tests results; outlining and recommending screening or medical availability including participating in research related to their condition; and explaining or arranging a course of action. Meetings can also involve reviewing results of genetic testing, counselling or discussing implications, and completing documentation.
7. Assist the Risk Management Team (consultant surgeon, consultant gynae oncologist, consultant radiologist, consultant clinical geneticist) to provide appropriate risk management to relevant patients.
8. Maintain patient records in hard and soft copy.
9. Comply with safety, ethical and regulatory requirements.
10. Other responsibilities include:

• To deputies for the Deputy Head of Genetic Counselling when appropriate.
• To represent the team and Cancer Research Malaysia when appropriate.
• To undertake other administrative tasks as required.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

1. MSc Genetic Counselling from an accredited program.
2. Experience in study design and grant writing will be an advantage.
3. Multilingual and able to communicate effectively in Chinese (Preferred), Malay and English to cater to the diverse linguistic needs of our clients.
4. Demonstrated skill in handling data and successfully presenting the data both in spoken (conference) or written (publication) form.
5. Driven by a strong sense of making an impact, with problem solving skills, including conflict resolution skills.
6. The ability to prioritise own workload and work to deadlines.
7. Adopts a pro-active attitude to work.
8. Assumes full responsibilities within role.

We are an independent and non-profit cancer research organisation based in Malaysia. Funded by donations and research grants, we conduct research in niche cancers often found in our Asian population.

Cancer — the big ‘C’ — continues to be a stigma, only spoken about in hushed whispers; how it’s bad karma, how much it costs, and that nothing could be done.

Confronting this stigma head on, CRM has been reversing this language of cancer, transforming the big ‘C’ to a little ‘c’, and we plan to develop tools backed by good research to ensure that we can truly fight cancer on all fronts.

Our driving force is held together by these goals:

• Improving the survival rates of Asian cancer patients, focusing on neglected areas of research.
• Empowering Asians to have the proper screening and treatment.
• Improving survival rates by being more accessible, focusing on providing existing cures to patients rather than sit on inaction and potentially losing lives.
• Making affordable and timely treatments by repurposing drugs, acknowledging the reality that developing new cures are costly and risky.
• Putting Malaysia in the global spotlight for cancer research by collaborating with top scientists around the world, and working to nurture the next generation of Malaysian cancer researchers.