Nine researchers have been announced as winners of scholarships to study Australia’s first Graduate Certificate of Clinical Trials Operations in a special ceremony. Celebrating clinical trials scholarship winners
The NORTH Foundation awarded scholarships to the nine Northern Sydney Local Health District clinical trials staff members to undertake the new course at Macquarie University. Yue Zhao, a scholarship recipient and senior Clinical Research Coordinator in endocrinology at Royal North Shore Hospital, said there was a training gap in the market when it came to clinical trials. While she has received on-the-job training, she said she was eager to learn more. “I want to be able to extend myself and have some proper training.” Erin Li, a clinical trials coordinator in cardiology, said the scholarship would give her the opportunity to learn more about regulations and the whole clinical trial process in general. “It will benefit the hospital and the patients.” Dr Teresa Lee Chang, a lymphoedema physiotherapist, has worked as a clinical trial investigator, but is looking forward to learning how to manage a trial.
“I normally outsource the management aspects to other people, but I want to know what goes on to have a fully sponsored or investigator-led trial,” she said. NSLHD Chief Executive Anthony Schembri welcomed the opportunity for staff and said clinical trials were about “bringing tomorrow’s medicine today.” “Clinical trials are about ensuring that we embed the very best treatments in ordinary care for our patients, and that we strive for the very latest in medical and healthcare treatments,” he said. Professor Patrick McNeil, Deputy Vice- Chancellor (Medicine and Health) at Macquarie University, said clinical trials were a win-win for patients and researchers. “Most importantly, they allow our patients to access devices that are cutting-edge and not yet approved,” he said. The NORTH Foundation provided 80% of the funding for the new scholarships, while Macquarie University contributed 20%.
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