Over the past 30 years, 18,000 clinical trials that have been registered in Australia, with the sector contributing $1.4 billion to Australia’s economy annually. Trials are a critical aspect of evidence-based medicine, and are essential for testing how new treatments, tests and vaccines will work. In New Zealand they contribute $146 million to the New Zealand economy.
Australia and New Zealand have established themselves as ideal locations to host clinical trials due to their diverse participant populations, sophisticated healthcare and research environments as well as government backed support. Both countries have adopted the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) Guideline for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to ensure all trials collect high quality and credible data that is internationally recognised.
To capitalise on this unique position and growth, a coordinated multi-site clinical research operation was missing.
Now, three of the largest clinical trial organisations across Australia and New Zealand have united to form Momentum Clinical Research – an end-to-end clinical research network with sites that have been operating for over 20 years. Combined, they have 13 site locations across the Trans-Tasman and are set to open more locations to allow more studies to take place and enable everyday people to access new and emerging therapies.
In February 2024, New Zealand’s renowned P3 Research joined forces with Australia’s AusTrials and Holdsworth House to form Momentum Clinical Research. The combined entity can now provide sponsors a single point of contact for their current 13 sites across the two countries,
Momentum Clinical Research aims to provide quick responses to feasibility requests, faster study starts and accelerated recruitment – all leading to the delivery of high-quality results for Phase 1b-IV clinical trials. Momentum Clinical Research has become the only Trans-Tasman network of clinical trial sites.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Aus Trials Research Director, Dr Munro Neville, on the Australian clinical trial landscape more broadly and reasons for creating a Trans-Tasman clinical research organisation.
Further growth in the industry is expected, with the Australian Government having pledged $750 million to increase clinical trial activity between 2022-2032. Similarly, the New Zealand Government has invested $98 million into health research funding from 2017-2027 to facilitate the conduct of clinical trials.
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Success in WA pilot to observe babies showing delays in social interaction & communication development
Inklings – led by The Kids Research Institute Australia – is a program for babies aged 6-18 months whose communications skills are developing differently to expected milestones. In early 2025 it has completed the first year of a pilot program.
At the time of filming (Nov 2024), Inklings has received more then 300 enquiries across WA and started to deliver services to 160 children, with almost 60 who have completed the program.
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Sovereign capability uplifted
Skilled labour, in particular skilled in the manufacture of MTP products, namely competency in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), was identified as one of the key priorities, according to Jarrod Belcher, Director of the REDI Program at MTPConnect. Through a competitive process, MTPConnect selected additional industry training providers to deliver new programs addressing key skills gaps in the sector workforce.
Launched in September 2022, one of these programs is GMP Uplift developed by the Centre for Biopharmaceutical Excellence (CBE). CBE bring experience across large and small Biologics, Pharmaceuticals and Regenerative Medicine companies, both in consulting and GMP related enterprise training. CBE staff also have extensive experience in GMP operations, compliance, auditing and QMS design, a wide industry network for guest lecturers and readily available case studies.
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Delivering anaesthetic services to countries where surgical services can’t be provided
Dr Wendy Falloon is an Anaesthetist of over 30 years experience and a Fellow of Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA). She studied medicine at the University of Tasmania, and worked in Hobart, Sydney and the Uk while completing her specialist qualifications. Her primary professional focus has always been to deliver the best possible experience of anaesthesia to each and every patient, and for them to know that she sees and values them, and their stories.
Having been born in Africa, she realised even as a child that health and wealth were largely a product of where people happen to be born. This sowed the seed of her ongoing desire to be of help to others in less fortunate circumstances, ultimately leading to her volunteer work with the Mercy Ships charity. This is one of the most fulfilling aspects of her career, and she has volunteered in Africa with Mercy Ships 8 times since 2014.
