Award for bright sparks in research at LRH

Excellence in innovation at Latrobe Regional Health (LRH) was acknowledged at recent health sector awards.

In a field of finalists that included the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and research groups from the private sector, LRH’s Research and Clinical Trials Unit won the Site Spark Award at the International Society for Clinical Research Sites event. The awards recognise the team’s work to bring clinical trials to the Gippsland community.

“It was something of a shock when our name was called out,” LRH General Manager of Research and Partnerships Jhodie Duncan said.

“I’m really proud of the work that the team has done and the way we’ve embedded the practice of clinical trials in the LRH culture. I guess a small part of me was thinking, when you’re up against Peter Mac and big private entities, we didn’t stand a chance, so it is really exciting and lovely for the hard work of the team to be acknowledged.

The Research and Clinical Trials Unit at LRH was established in 2019 and by early 2020 had four staff and two active clinical trials. The team now comprises more than 20 staff and recently opened its 36^th clinical trial, bringing new treatment opportunities to Gippsland patients.

“We’re offering trials now, that historically, people in Gippsland either would never have had the option to participate in or they would have had to travel to Melbourne to be considered for. Through incorporating new processes and looking at how the trial can be managed differently, with a focus on how can we get local people on board, we’ve been able to offer the latest treatment options to people closer to home,” Jhodie said.

This approach has seen the team work in partnership with institutions such as Alfred Health’s Trialhub, Monash Health and commercial sponsors and employ new models of care such as teletrials which enable the patient to have some of their treatment locally, to reduce expensive and time-consuming travel.

“When you consider the time and financial burden a four or five hour trip to Melbourne can have for some Gippsland patients, on top of the stress of medical treatment, approaches like the teletrial model have been very helpful in enabling us to open trials we can’t run independently and providing access to care closer to home for some of our trial participants,” Jhodie said.

LRH’s Research and Clinical Trials team is currently overseeing trials exploring treatment options for conditions including stroke, cardiac health, diabetes, and most types of cancer including breast, lung, prostate and leukaemia.

Willow Grove’s Nick Johnson has been part of a clinical trial since 2020 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

“My condition was able to be closely monitored at LRH with regular scans and blood tests which was great. It meant I didn’t have to travel to the city which is often a whole day out of work and life. It was good to have a good rapport with the local hospital care team who was and still are there for me. They have my back,” Nick said.

Further information about LRH’s Research and Clinical Trials program can be found online at lrh.com.au/research-clinical-trials/