PSYCHIATRY, INCLUDING PSYCHEDELIC, CLINICAL TRIALS SITE OPENS IN PRIMARY CARE SETTING Novel therapies drive demand for new Paratus Clinical site
With
Megan Morrison,
Chief Executive Officer, Paratus Clinical
Professor Paul Fitzgerald,
Principal Investigator, Paratus Clinical &
Head of School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University
Bernadette Fitzgibbon
Director of Psychiatry Research, Paratus Clinical &
Associate Professor, Australian National University
AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT
Filmed in Melbourne | August 2025
Over the past decade, Paratus has been involved in over 200 clinical trials across 4 clinical site locations. Now a fifth site, the newly opened Melbourne site will cater to both primary care and psychiatry, specifically designed for psychedelic studies.
The new Melbourne site will be a focused on primary care studies specifically expanding access to psychiatric research, a growing area of unmet need. Australian Health Journal met with 3 recent hires brought in to support clinical trials across the organisation and in psychiatry in Melbourne.
– Megan Morrison, the recently appointed CEO of Paratus Clinical has 24 years of clinical research experience, industry knowledge and leadership, having worked across sponsor, CRO, and now site-side roles.
– Professor Paul Fitzgerald, the Director of the Australian National University School of Medicine and Psychology, provides senior academic leadership at Paratus Clinical as the Principal Investigator. Professor Fitzgerald is a renowned psychiatrist and researcher with over 25 years of experience leading clinical trials focused on psychiatric disorders. His pioneering work includes the development and evaluation of innovative treatments such as neurostimulation therapies (like transcranial magnetic stimulation) and novel pharmacological approaches. He plays a central role in trials in pharmacological-assisted psychotherapy and psychedelic compounds.
With extensive experience in conducting clinical research in psychiatry, Fitzgerald mentors the trial staff and ensures the integrity of the research protocols.
– Bernadette Fitzgibbon, the Director of Psychiatry Research at Paratus Clinical and Associate Professor at the Australian National University, has two decades experience in clinical research. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Monarch Research Institute and is affiliated with both Monash University and the Australian National University, contributing to national research efforts across psychiatry and psychology. She will collaborate closely with Professor Fitzgerald in running clinical trials in Melbourne.
Talking to Australian Health Journal, both Fitzgerald and Fitzgibbon highlight the growing need for innovative treatments in mental health, one which Paratus aims to address through a focused approach to psychiatric research.
Source: Adapted from transcript and Paratus Clinical news posts
-
Paediatric mental help for children of defence personnel, veterans and first responders
Dr Marg Rogers is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at University of New England (UNE) in Armidale, New South Wales. She is a prominent figure in early childhood education New South Wales, and is also a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Manna Institute, a mental health research organisation within the regional university network across Australia, that is building place based research capacity to improve the mental health of regional, rural and remote Australia.
-
Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Synopsis, including modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
Talking to the Australian Health Journal, Professor Russo states there is a particular concern in joint operations, such as hip or knee replacements, as infections in these areas can have severe consequences, including the removal of the infected joint, prolonged treatment, and significant costs for both hospitals and patients. Despite the substantial impact of surgical site infections, Australia lacks a national surveillance program for these infections, making it challenging to obtain accurate data. However, an estimate suggests that around 45,000 surgical site infections occur annually in Australia, resulting in approximately 900 deaths.
-
Changes in MBS bulk billing incentives address GP capacity in women’s health
Dr. Sneha Wadhwani, a General Practitioner in Bondi, and Conjoint Lecturer at UNSW School of Medicine, is actively involved in enhancing women’s health services across Australia. As the Co-founder and Clinical Director of Evoca Women’s Health, she highlights the significant improvements in funding for women’s health, particularly with the new MBS bulk billing incentives, in new codes, that commenced on November 1, 2025.
