Dr Alben Sigamani medical professional with a strong commitment to clinical research.
- Initiated and coordinated several global multi-center clinical trials in India.
- Supported and promoted a division focused on conducting clinical research projects and training young health professionals in research methods.
Work Experience Present day
Associate Professor – Division of Clinical Research & Training, St John’s Research Institute
• Academic steering committee member for phase 3 multicenter global clinical trials
o The International Polycap Trial – 3 (TIPS3), a trial evaluating a polycap, aspirin and vitamin D supplementation in subjects aged over 55 years with moderate risk for
cardiovascular outcomes, cancer and fractures.
Developed protocol, initiated and conducted a phase 2 evaluation for finding the right dose of polycap to be used in the TIPS3 trial
Support medical queries, safety report writing, respond to regulatory & ethics committee queries coordinate patient recruitment and follow up.
Present national updates, strategies for improving recruitment and budget at steering committee meetings and investigator meetings.
o Management of myocardial injury After NoncArdiac surGEry (MANAGE), a large international RCT to assess the impact of dabigatran and omeprazole in patients
suffering myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS)
Initiated and conducted a cohort of 3500 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery and contributed to the formation of an internationally accepted definition of MINS
Coordinated submission of a regulatory dossier to the Drugs Controller General – India to obtain permission to conduct the trial in India at 14 multispecialty hospitals
across India.
Negotiated with the sponsors to work out an appropriate insurance cover that supports amended drugs and cosmetics act of India.
Relevant work experience in the past
2004 – 2007 – Country manager for PRoFESS, a multicenter Global clinical trial in secondary stroke prevention
2008 – 2014 – Co Investigator and Program Manager for a NHLBI (NIH,USA) funded program – Global Health Initiative to counter chronic diseases in developing countries.
Co Developed the entire program and the business proposal for NIH Funding
Coordinated submission of regulatory dossiers, ethics committee registrations
and approvals
Managed the program, purchase of research equipment, training and data.
Elected as chairperson for Community Health Worker (CHW) based interventions subcommittee that included other Centers of Excellence running similar intervention programs
Educational Qualifications
Masters in Clinical Trials
• Completed an MSc in clinical trials from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
medicine. Started in September 2010 and completed within 3 years – September 2013.
Graduated in March 2014 from University of London for International programs
MD in Pharmacology
• Completed masters in clinical pharmacology from St John’s Medical College under the Rajiv
Gandhi University for Health Sciences, Bangalore. 2001 to 2004
MBBS Graduate
• Completed MBBS from St John’s Medical College, Bangalore under Bangalore University.
Course completed in 1999.
• 2 years of Rural Health services at Palamaner, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, 1999 to 2001
o Worked as medical officer for National Tuberculosis Control Program and the National Leprosy Eradication Program
o Actively involved in training field workers, conducting field visits and clinics, referring Leprosy patients for rehabilitation surgery.
