Tuesday, 21 July 2015

Patient, Recruit Thyself - Clinical Trials

Improving rates of recruitment into clinical trials, especially later-stage trials that require more participants, is a big challenge facing the Australian clinical trials sector. A trial can only be successful with a number of essentials including sufficient funding, talent and clinical know-how, but most importantly, an adequate number of participants.

Recent developments by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Australian Government Department of Industry and Science looked at ways to give potential participants the ability to register for trials themselves. Their recently launched Australian Clinical Trials website (http://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au) allows potential participants to search for a clinical trial for themselves. The website also include information on the what, why and how of clinical trials, including guides, fact sheets and e-learning modules.