Supporting our clinical trial leaders to improve health outcomes

The Future Leader Fellows for Clinical Trials program was funded through $2 million from our Economic Growth Statement.

It will expand access to clinical trials across the state by increasing awareness and participation among Victorians. It will also support people from underrepresented communities to take part, including those from:

• regional and rural areas
• multicultural communities
• First Peoples communities.

Clinical trials are important for translating medical research discoveries into real-world health outcomes. The Future Leader Fellows program will give more Victorians the opportunity to take part in clinical trials. Greater participation can improve access to innovative treatments and drive the development of new and potentially life-saving therapies.

The inaugural Fellows are:

• Dr Lucy Attwood, Infectious Diseases Physician (Monash Partners, with Alfred Health and Monash Health)
• Dr Michelle Gooey, Public Health Physician (Monash Partners with Monash University and Latrobe Regional Health)
• Dr Anna Watts, Consultant Endocrinologist (Western Alliance with Grampians Health)
• Dr Anna Cunliffe, Consultant Endocrinologist (Western Alliance with Barwon Health)
• Prof Justin Yeung, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon (Melbourne Academic Centre for Health with Western Health)
• Dr Violet Mukaro, Senior Project Officer (Melbourne Academic Centre for Health with University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Melbourne Health)

The Fellows will explore new approaches to reducing barriers to trial participation, developing practical tools and partnership frameworks. They will work with clinical trial sponsors, health services, researchers and communities.

The Victorian Research Translation Centre Collaborative (VRTCC) is delivering The Future Leader Fellows for Clinical Trials program. VRTCC comprises:

• Monash Partners Health Translation Network
• Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre
• Melbourne Academic Centre for Health.

Over the next 3 years, a total of 15 Future Leader Fellows will be appointed.