TrialHub
TrialHub partners with outer metro, regional and rural hospitals to establish their own independent and sustainable clinical trial units to increase access to potentially life-saving treatments.
TrialHub was launched by the federal government in 2020 and is an Australian-first pilot program where a metro hospital with a large clinical trial portfolio partners with hospitals to establish, or expand, their own clinical trial unit.
Clinical trials are typically only offered at a city hospital, but long-distance travel and time off work have been barriers for regional and rural patients accessing a clinical trial.
That has now significantly changed through the TrialHub program, which has been supporting six Victorian hospitals; Latrobe Regional Health, Bendigo Health, Mildura Base Public Hospital, Peninsula Health (Rosebud), Bass Coast Health, and Northern Health.
Four years into the pilot program, TrialHub is delivering on its goal of improving access to clinical trials closer to home.
Why are clinical trials so important?
We need clinical trials to prove that a new medication, device or treatment is safe and effective for people.
Without clinical trials, new treatments and medicines cannot be approved for use in Australia.
Find out more about clinical trialsOur role
TrialHub is currently funded until June 2025 and is focused on cancer clinical trials for melanoma, prostate and rare cancers. In the future, with further funding, TrialHub plans to:
- Boost the number of available clinical trials beyond cancer clinical trials
- Partner with more hospitals to boost the number of available clinical trials
- Continue to support the pilot hospitals with what they need to sustain an independent clinical trial unit
Our impact so far
- More than 1000 patients have accessed a local clinical trial
- We have seen significant growth in clinical trial capacity across all partner sites, including more commercial studies
- We’ve supported the increase in the overall multi-disciplinary clinical trial workforce
- We established a rare cancer alliance to tackle the limited access to regional and rural treatment options
- Clinical trial pharmacists at all sites have either completed, or will start, our unique clinical trial pharmacy micro-credentialing program
- We published an Australian-first Clinical Trial Capability Framework, now used by Queensland, Northern Territory and Victorian health services
- We’ve hosted a number of engagement events such as clinical trial information sessions for community members, and engagement workshops between clinical trials staff and sponsors
- We’ve supported the implementation of the teletrial model
- We have partnered with clinical trial participants to redevelop language, initiatives and resources
Leading the way in clinical trials
We are committed to partnering with industries and organisations specialising in clinical trials and research.
Find out moreSiri asks questions about clinical trials
