Clinical Research and Trials

Medical Director

Prof Wilf Yeo
wilf_yeo@uow.edu.au

Clinical research and trials will be a strong component of IHMRI’s research program once construction of the new building has been completed in 2010. 

The Clinical Research and Trials Unit (CRTU) will operate from a dedicated fit-for-purpose designed facility within the IHMRI building and will provide a point of co-ordination and infrastructure for many of the clinical trials conducted in the Illawarra region that do not require an inpatient setting. 

The CRTU has been specially designed to accommodate:

• investigator-initiated lifestyle studies with community populations involving nutrition, exercise, or psychological interventions
• later-stage, (Phase II, III or IV) pharmaceutical-sponsored drug trials involving patient populations in most therapeutic areas, particularly in the hypertension, smoking cessation and the treatment of diabetes.

In addition, the CRTU will provide the following services to support the growth of clinical research and trial activity in the region:

• assistance with protocol design for investigator-initiated trials
• assistance with sourcing and recruitment of study subjects and volunteers
• trial costing, submissions and contract management
• administration of trials including regulatory and compliance requirements
• coordination of participants, clinical staff, and resources
• records and data management
• allocation of facilities and resources.

The CRTU will collaborate extensively with scientific and clinical researchers and clinicians (investigators) in the Illawarra region, as well as with international research partners and pharmaceutical companies with the aim of:

• transferring medical/laboratory-based research into new drug candidates or treatment regimes
• expanding local and international research opportunities in the region
• enhancing research publications and commercialisation opportunities
• accelerating better health care and patient outcomes.