Early-career clinicians and scientists across Malaysia often find themselves struggling to balance the many roles they are expected to play. How does one divide one’s limited time between clinic duties, professional development, and research? Faced with intense workloads in the clinic, a challenging funding environment and limited networking opportunities, young scientists often find it difficult to forge a path in research.

Aware of these challenges, The Malaysian Society of Hypertension Sunway University Young Investigator Network (MSH-SU-YIN), in collaboration with the HOPE-Asia Network organized the Meet the Experts of HOPE-Asia Network Webinar on the 18th of September 2021 (Saturday) to provide young clinicians and clinician-researchers with an exclusive opportunity to interact with prominent Asian clinician-scientists and researchers. The webinar was free of charge and attracted 208 registrants from across Asia.

The discussion centred on strategies early-career scientists could take to build a productive career in research. Professor Kario emphasized the importance of forming a sustainable team of motivated experts. “There’s no easy way,” said Professor Tzung-Dau Wang of the National Taiwan University Hospital, who highlighted the importance of establishing a comprehensive database. The speakers also stressed the importance of critical thinking and collaboration. “Although senior doctors can advise you, you have to think about the issues in front of you,” advised Professor Kario. The panellists individually and collectively welcomed collaborations and ideas from young Malaysian scientists, particularly through the HOPE-Asia Network.

The final segment of the webinar featured educational demonstrations and talks by Dr Khoo Wooi Chen of Sunway University and Associate Professor Kelvin Tsoi of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr Khoo walked participants through an overview and demonstration of statistical techniques used for analysing inter-assay agreement, while Associate Professor Kelvin Tsoi rounded out the webinar with a presentation of his work in applying machine learning in hypertension research.

The webinar concluded at 6.00 p.m., with Professor Dr Chia Yook Chin expressing her thanks to all participants in her concluding remarks. The delegates and speakers then bid each other goodbye with their brains full of hypertension research, good advice, and statistics. All polled delegates were satisfied with the organization of the webinar and were keen to see MSH-SU-YIN return with their next webinar. MSH-SU-YIN will, of course, be most happy to oblige.