Research Areas

A thriving clinical trials program is fundamental to delivering innovative and evidence based care, and attracting the best and brightest to work with Barwon Health.

The future of clinical trials and research at Barwon Health has been secured with a $2.5 million donation from the Costa family. Thanks to this extraordinary generosity, we have formed the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre (ACCTC), a vital step towards our goal of embedding research excellence into every aspect of clinical care. As the overarching system and infrastructure for conducting and reporting clinical trials at Barwon Health, ACCTC will improve training opportunities, research capacity and consumer access to novel treatments in the Greater Geelong community.

To find out more about genesis of the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre, please click here.

The Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre (ACCTC) offers a dedicated facility for trial coordinators, support staff, participants and their families at Level 2, 73 Little Ryrie St Geelong.

To read the Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre Vision and Strategic Priorities, please click here.

Keen to find out more about clinical trials at Barwon Health? 

Click here to watch an interview with a clinical trial participant about their experience at Barwon Health: Ms Bree Sarah, Research Operations Manager, Adrian Costa Clinical Trials Centre, Barwon Health (3 min)

 

ACCTC Clinical Trial Support Services

Rooms and equipment

Researchers are welcome to request to book clinical rooms, offices, lab space or the ACCTC meeting room for their clinical trial, trial monitoring or research needs. Rooms have most equipment needed for seeing participants, eg blood pressure machines, stadiometer, ECG, all with current calibration certificates. All rooms are networked to Barwon Health, with wi-fi on its way.

If you are interested, you are welcome to book a time to visit to see if ACCTC meets your needs. All booking requests for tours or rooms should be made via email to Jen Allen at [email protected]

 

Research ethics and governance requirements

The Research Development Unit (RDU) has a strong background in research ethics, governance and research management and provides support and advice on research design, data management and analysis, and ethics applications. RDU also offers training for novice and developing researchers.

Contact the Research Development Unit at [email protected] and a member of the RDU team will get back to you within 24 hours.

 

Research operations and budgets

ACCTC understands that budget negotiations can be complex. Ensuring a timely start up requires sites to have all key documents to accurately assess the resourcing required for a trial, including but not limited to final protocol, study manual, laboratory manual and training requirements (online and face-to-face).

For advice and guidance relating to trial operations and finance, contact Bree Sarah, Research Operations Manager, at [email protected] 

 

Research safety, quality and compliance

Clinical trials are now being embedded and integrated with the clinical services of Barwon Health, with the accompanying requirements of the organisation wide Safety and Quality in Healthcare accreditation. This applies to Barwon Health Departments as well as Deakin Research Institutes that conduct trials at Barwon Health.

For research related safety or quality queries or issues, contact Natasha Savvides, Research Safety and Quality Manager at [email protected] 

 

Clinical Trial Research Support Service – Australian Teletrial Program (CTRSS-ATP)

The Clinical Trial Research Support Service (CTRSS) was developed, funded and established by the Victorian Government in 2019, with a focus on non-cancer clinical trials. In 2020, the CTRSS program was extended through funding for the Australian Teletrial Program (ATP) via the commonwealth MRFF Rural, & Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure Grant. The ATP aims to bring clinical trials to people living in the regional, rural & remote areas in the partner jurisdictions.

For support and guidance on site feasibilities, regulatory submissions, training for clinical researchers, and to set up a Teletrial at Barwon Health, contact Beena Jeevan Raj, CTRSS-ATP Project Lead at [email protected]