Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
All Principal Investigators (PIs), Site Principal Investigators (Site PIs) and Co-Investigators (Co-Is) of research conducted within NHG and partner institutions are required to complete the CITI Program’s Investigator’s Course.
PIs, Site PIs and Co-Is who have completed the Singapore Guideline for Good Clinical Practice (SGGCP)/Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Course do not need to complete the CITI Program. The SGGCP/GCP Course may be used as an alternate minimum training requirement.
The DSRB will continue to accept and review applications from Investigators who have yet to complete the CITI Program or GCP Course. However, the DSRB will NOT grant ethics approval for the applications until receipt of the Investigator's CITI or SGGCP/GCP certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the CITI Program?
2. I’m conducting Biomedical Research (Submission to DSRB Domains A-E), which CITI modules should I complete?
3. I’m conducting Population Health Research (Submission to DSRB Domain F), which CITI modules should I complete?
4. How do I register for the CITI Program?
5. I’ve completed other research ethics training programmes, can I use it to waive the completion of the CITI Program?
6. How do I apply for the waiver of CITI Program?
7. How do I update my Minimum Training Status on the Research Online Administration & Management (ROAM) Portal
1. What is the CITI Program?
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.
2. I’m conducting Biomedical Research (Submission to DSRB Domains A-E), which CITI modules should I complete?
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.
3. I’m conducting Population Health Research (Submission to DSRB Domain F), which CITI modules should I complete?
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.
4. How do I register for the CITI Program?
You can register for the program through the online system at www.citiprogram.org.
It is important to affiliate with “National Healthcare Group – Singapore” 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.
5. I’ve completed other research ethics training programmes, can I use it to waive the completion of the CITI Program?
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:
- History & Ethics Principles of Research Ethics
- Regulatory Framework and Guidelines in Singapore
- Informed Consent
- 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.
6. How do I apply for the waiver of 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.
7. How do I update my Minimum Training Status on the Research Online Administration & Management (ROAM) Portal?
When you have completed the CITI Course, you will need to upload a copy of the completion report, which lists the modules that you have completed, onto your ROAM profile under 'Personal Info' -> 'Researcher Minimum Training Status' section. Please select the appropriate Training Category, either 'Biomedical CITI' or 'SBE CITI'.
A single file upload is preferred. However, if you have multiple files, please upload as separate documents. Please note that zipped files will not be allowed due to security reasons.
Upon receipt and verification, the Administrator will update your Minimum Training Status in your ROAM profile to "Completed". Please allow some time for processing.
Please note that whenever you re-upload a document onto your ROAM profile, the Minimum Training Status will revert to “Not Completed” until the uploaded document is verified.
You can refer to the User Guide here.
List of Available Guides, Forms and Useful Links
- Click here to go to the CITI Program website (www.citiprogram.org).
- Click here to download a step-by-step Guide to CITI Registration.
- Click here to download the CITI Minimum Training Requirement Waiver Form.
