20 May was International Clinical Trials Day
International Clinical Trials Day commemorates the day James Lind started his study to determine the cause of scurvy. By dividing 12 sailors into separate groups and testing the effect of providing different treatments to each group, Lind was able to provide evidence of the link between fruit and preventing scurvy. This is the first recorded controlled clinical trial and changed modern medicine. Around the world International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated to raise awareness of the importance of clinical trials and research in healthcare.
In 2017 the following activities were held to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day.
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, announced the 2017 ACTA Trial of the Year at the Clinical Trials National Tribute and Awards ceremony. This event was held by the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA) together with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), MTPConnect, Medicines Australia, Research Australia, MTAA and AusBiotech. Further information can be found on the ACTA website
The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, announced $33 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to fund clinical trials. Further information.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DoIIS) launched enhancements to the AustralianClinicalTrials.gov.au website including:
- Further resources for consumers and health care providers, including
- a new ‘browse for a clinical trial’ feature
- new ‘real stories’ video clips of health care providers talking about their experience of clinical trials.
- An enhanced international focus, highlighting Australia’s capacity and international competitiveness as a destination to conduct clinical trials, through:
- a new Search for an Australian Clinical Trials Site functionality which enables sponsors to find and contact Australian Clinical Trial Sites
- There are over 150 clinical trial sites currently listed
- a new Clinical Trials Toolkit, containing useful information and resources for conducting a clinical trial in Australia
- an overview for international sponsors of how to undertake a clinical trial in Australia
- a new Search for an Australian Clinical Trials Site functionality which enables sponsors to find and contact Australian Clinical Trial Sites
The ANZMTG Australia and New Zealand Melanoma Trials Group hosted a morning tea to thank everyone who is involved in clinical trials. Celebration also included presentations which highlighted achievements over the last year. Further information.
The Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS) hosted two information booths at two Western Health hospital Sites (Footscray and Sunshine) and provided fruit for all visitors, staff and patients. The information booths offered patients the opportunity to find out about current musculoskeletal trials, obtain information to help them understand how MSK conditions occur and speak directly with various team members from AIMSS. For more information contact AIMSS.
Barwon Health held a fun Randomised Control Trial Do sugar free cakes taste as good as cakes with sugar? in their cafeteria. For more information contact Barwon Health
Bendigo Health celebrated the day in the foyer of their newly opened hospital. Clinical trial staff members were available to talk to patients, visitors and staff, raising awareness and participation. Clinical trial information was available and a video of their doctors talking about the importance of clinical trials will be shown on a large TV screen. Further information can be found on the Bendigo Health website
Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia celebrated International Clinical Trials Day with a morning tea with all staff and shared key highlights of the Clinical Trials currently being run in Australia. They also took this opportunity to send a thank you video to their investigators and their research staff to show appreciation for their valuable contribution to clinical research. For Further information contact Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia
Cabrini Health hosted an information stand for patients, visitors and staff. The stand had information and clinical trials staff were available to answer questions on the day. Further information
The Centre of Research Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children at the Menzies School of Health Research acknowledged the contribution of many Aboriginal families and children who have contributed to otitis media prevention and treatment RCTs over the years. There was a function to thank all the staff and slide show promoting research in the Northern Territory remote communities. Menzies School of Health Research Website
GenesisCare held events at all of their sites including display tables in reception area with postcards and information flyers, slide shows on treatment centre TV monitors, clinical trials news stories on all Genesis websites, and the launch of a new clinical trials webpage. For more information contact Genesis Care.
The Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCUH) held a morning tea for all staff involved in clinical trials. Currently at GCUH there are numerous clinical trials in progress in the areas of Intensive Care Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, General Medicine and Oncology. For more information contact Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service
The Clinical Trials Team at Greenslopes Private Hospital held promotional activities on the day. For more information contact Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation.
The Clinical Trials Unit at Hollywood Private Hospital had an information booth on clinical trials for physicians and patients in the main hospital corridor. Trial staff from independent research organisations located at the hospital will be invited to attend. For more information contact Hollywood Private Hospital
The Ingham Institute in the South Western Sydney Local Health District had an information stand located at the main entrance of Liverpool hospital. Further information
Linear Clinical Research had a foyer display at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital where they launched a social media campaign. Linear Clinical Research
The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) promoted International Clinical Trials Day through the MedTech Forum Australian MedTech Innovation - The Clinical Research landscape on Thursday 11 May. Further information
MSD celebrated International Clinical Trials Day across Australia and New Zealand with a morning tea for staff in Sydney and Auckland, where they shared what they are doing at MSD to promote, support and conduct clinical trials. Through Twitter and LinkedIn, they shone a light on the importance of clinical research to the Australian health landscape and acknowledge the investigators, Study Coordinators, site staff and pharmacists who help us conduct more than 100 global clinical trials across ANZ. For more information MSD Australia.
PRAXIS Australia partnered with Bellberry Limited to offer a number of $1000 scholarships to all students across the research workforce as part of their mission to support research and ethics in Australia. For more information contact PRAXIS
The Queensland University of Technology engaged and excited the ‘Tough Mudders’ at the South East Queensland event about clinical trials. There was a tent in the ‘mudder village’ at Woodford which is where they educated and challenged the ‘mudders’ to consider participation in a clinical trial and help bring medicines to safe and effective use in the Australian community. Tough Mudder website
Research4Me held an awareness campaign that encouraged people to share via social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) using the #WhyClinicalTrialsMatter hashtag their stories, photos, videos about why clinical trials are important to them. Reasearch4 Me website
The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service hosted a BBQ commemorating the day. Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital website
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) hosted an information booth in the Outpatient Clinic area to raise awareness and seek interest from any patients who might like to be involved in clinical trials. For more information contact The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
The Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc held a learning and networking event. Registration and further information
The Sydney Local Health District had foyer displays at their RPA and Concord hospitals, which were manned by the clinical trial staff to promote clinical trials to all members of the community and staff that pass through these spaces on the day. Sydney Local Health District website
2016 Activities to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day
2015 Activities to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day