About MSR-TUI

Targeted Ultrasound Initiative (TUI) is an international effort led by a world-leading faculty of rheumatologists and ultrasound leads to help increase in  the expertise of ultrasonography among a network of rheumatologists. It also aimed to create a network of researchers to undertake multi-national research to answer critical questions in the application of ultrasound to clinical practice. TUI is an educational program initiated by the TUI Group, supported by Abbott (Now Abbvie) and GE Healthcare and, additionally, by Patient Central. Abbott  and GE Healthcare support the planning of the program and fund Patient Central in its role as program director to provide strategic direction and the co-ordination and delivery of its activities according to objectives set by the TUI Group and under its direction.

On the 1^st  August, 2012, the first TUI meeting for Asian countries was held in Hong Kong, led by Prof Paul Emery. It was attended by representatives from 6 Asian countries ie: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China, Malaysia, and Singapore. During this meeting, a TUI ambassador was elected from each country, to establish their respective national steering committees. Dr Ainon Mokhtar represented Malaysia as the first TUI ambassador. Following that, subsequent ambassadors were Dr Nor Shuhaila Shahril and Dr Ong Yew Chong.

On 24^th November, 2012, Malaysian Society of Rheumatology- TUI (MSR-TUI) steering committee was formed. Led by Dr Anwar Samhari as the TUI advisor, Dr Ainon Moktar as the TUI ambassador, and four other committee members, ie: Dr Nor Shuhaila Shahril, Dr Lau Ing Soo, Dr C. Gandhi, and Dr Benjamin Cheah. With the establishment of the TUI steering committee, subsequent MSUS trainings became more structured and focused on train-the-trainers while integrating the use of ultrasound in routine rheumatology clinic practices.

MSR-TUI was established to spearhead the training of rheumatologists in Malaysia, as part of the effort to disseminate the augmented utility of ultrasound in the forefront management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a focus on the treat-to-target approach. Ultrasound has progressively emerged as an indispensable tool for rheumatologists in expediting the diagnosis of various rheumatological conditions, encompassing not only RA but also a spectrum of other rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, it serves as a pivotal instrument for evaluating and monitoring disease activity and serving as a tool for ultrasound-guided joint injection. Over the past two decades, an increasing number of rheumatologists have integrated musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) as a diagnostic and disease activity monitoring tool into their clinical practice.

MSR-TUI has been actively engaged in organizing basic and intermediate musculoskeletal ultrasound training courses tailored for rheumatologists and rheumatology trainees. The aim is to equip all rheumatologists with the necessary knowledge and expertise to proficiently perform and interpret ultrasound findings. Our vision is for ultrasound to be readily available in all rheumatology centers, enabling rheumatologists to enhance patient management strategies towards a targeted treatment approach.