Clinical trials and research

Research helps to improve policies, practices and treatments in the healthcare system

Improving patient care through research

Research and clinical trials go hand-in-hand with discovering and improving patient care and treatment.

A clinical trial is a research study where people can volunteer to undergo new treatments, devices or tests to help prevent, detect, treat or manage diseases or medical conditions.

Clinical trials can give patients early access to treatment that has been proven successful well before it’s available to the public. They can improve quality of life for a range of diseases and help to find new and improved treatment.

They are run under strict protocols and participants must first pass eligibility criteria, after which they are closely monitored.

We opened our first clinical trial in 2021 and as we continue to grow, we look forward to inviting our community to participate in the clinical trials that we offer.

This will allow our patients to attend their trial appointments and testing locally, reducing the burden of having to travel long distances to participate in clinical trials.

Our long-term goal is to establish a clinical trials centre of excellence that delivers high quality research.

Our clinical trial unit

Over the next year, our aim is to grow our clinical trials team and build on existing strengths and partnerships to open clinical trials in cancer, including melanoma and cardiology.

We will continue to identify emerging areas of research priority that align with our health service priorities and the needs of our community.

Key features of our unit include:

A dedicated, secure clinical trials office which is home to our Research Unit Manager, Research Governance Officer, Research Nurses and Clinical Trials Data Administrator
A secure clinical room
Secure file storage
Telehealth available, local IT support, Electronic Medical Records for all inpatient areas, REDCap
Accredited external providers of pathology and medical imaging services (MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray) located on-site
On-site pharmacy

We have outlined our Research Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 so you can learn more about our ambitions for the future.

BCH Research Strategic Plan 2024-2029

198KB pdf

Debunking myths about clinical trials on International Clinical Trials Day

Clinical trials are available for everyone

We know it can be hard for our patients to understand what clinical trials are, especially when English isn’t their first language.

That’s why we’re bringing everyone in our community this special video, to explain that clinical trials are available to everyone, no matter your age or ethnicity. These trials can be lifesaving and can improve your quality of life.

We’ve joined forces on this special video with TrialHub and other health services participating in the clinical trial partnership program.

Clinical trials are open to everyone

National Clinical Trials Governance Framework

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has developed the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework (NCTGF) to ensure that clinical trials are conducted in a safe environment and in a high-quality manner for improved health outcomes for patients and the community.

The NCTGF supports the integration of clinical and corporate governance systems for clinical trial service provision into routine hospital care.

The NCTGF is aligned with the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, in particular, the Clinical Governance Standard and the Partnering with Consumers Standard.

There are five components within these two standards:

Governance, leadership and culture
Patient safety and quality improvement systems
Clinical performance and effectiveness
Safe environment for the delivery of care
Partnering with consumers

The actions in the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework are mandatory for health service organisations providing clinical trial services and will be assessed as a part of hospital accreditation.

- Read the National Clinical Trials Governance Framework and User Guide.

The NCTGF has been endorsed by the Board of Directors and is being implemented at Bayside Health Regional.

The Gift of Healing – First Nations clinical trial brochure

Through our involvement with The Alfred TrialHub program, our community was included in the development of a special brochure that will help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities understand clinical trials and their benefits.

The artwork was developed over eight months by Dixon Patten. Dixon is a proud Gunai, Yorta Yorta, Gunditjmara and Dhudhuroa man with bloodlines from Wemba Wemba, Barapa Barapa, Djab Wurrung, Wiradjuri, Yuin, Wodi Wodi, Wolgal and Monaro.

Our healing experiences can sometimes feel isolating and lonely. This art reminds us that we are part of a community with an abundance of strength and resilience.

Our journeys are guided by such deep cultural and spiritual connection to our country’s and each other, and that taking ownership of our healing is a powerful gift we give ourselves and our communities.