Category: <span>Company News</span>
Bellberry is delighted to welcome two new members of staff to the team, Reuben Jacob as Innovation Manager and Jerneen Williams as Early Phase Clinical Trials Manager.
Reuben has a background in science and genetics, and has spent the last decade working in research and in technology commercialisation. He previously worked for a State Government start-up grant program helping early-stage companies to develop and commercialise their intellectual property. At Bellberry, Reuben is responsible for implementing the Innovation Framework – which aims to improve internal processes and systems as well as seeking to solve the pain points of the national clinical trial sector. In the next few months, Reuben will be reaching out to Bellberry users to explore challenges and potential solutions. If you would like to be involved, please contact Reuben at reubenjacob@bellberry.com.au
Jerneen has worked in Cancer Clinical trials for 15 years, with a particular focus on early phase studies. She has a BSc in Genetics and a Masters of Medical Science in Clinical Trials (Research). Jerneen brings significant expertise and knowledge of clinical trials in the public health system to the Bellberry team, along with an understanding of the interactions between Ethics and Governance in the public sector. In the first instance, Jerneen will focus on assisting the training for new NSW-based users through the NSW Health Early Phase Clinical Trial Framework. Jerneen can be contacted at jerneenwilliams@bellberry.com.au
Both Reuben and Jerneen look forward to working with you and supporting you with your research programme.
I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Sonia Harvey as Project Manager to support the Clinical Trials: Impact & Quality (CT:IQ) initiative.
Sonia has spent the first two decades of her career in a variety of increasingly senior roles at BP including as a Strategy manager, Transformation manager and Compliance & Assurance Manager. Sonia then moved into a Business Improvement role at INCITEC before working as a consultant to deliver ‘Building Resilience’ programs into multiple organisations. More recently Sonia has turned her attention to the Health Sector working at SAHMRI as a finance and Strategy Lead for the Wellbeing and Resilience Centre translating the science of psychological health and wellbeing into real world practise within organisations.
Sonia has a wealth of expertise in process improvement, strategy development & implementation, project management and change management within and outside the health sector that will be an incredible asset to CT:IQ.
Leanne Weeks
CT:IQ Programme Director
Our contact number remains the same, 08 83613222, and you can continue to contact us directly by phone or email.
We look forward to continuing to work with you and we invite you to stop by for a tour next time you’re in the neighbourhood.
Given ACTA’s and CT:IQs complementary clinical trials sector-boosting focus, and that ACTA is a CT:IQ founding partner, and that CT:IQ held its launch symposium at ACTA’s Trial of the Year awards event, the ACTA Central Team were never going to say “no” to CT:IQ’s newly appointed Program Director, Leanne Weekes, when she asked if she could co-locate at ACTA’s new offices in South Melbourne!
CT:IQ is modelled on the highly successful US FDA-funded Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI). It is co-funded by MTPConnect and ACTA is one of the foundation partners along with Bellberry. CT:IQ is working to advance projects spanning the clinical trials sector – commercial and investigator-initiated – that are distinct from ACTA’s work supporting clinical trials networks, coordinating centres, and registries.
Leanne would like to thank the ACTA Central Team for making her feel so welcome!
Stay in touch with CT:IQ by signing-up for its newsletter.
In April this year Bellberry recruited two new Operations and Support Officers, Sally Sims and Tess Penglis. The main purpose of this role is to act as a triage service for new studies and to prepare HREC meeting agendas and to support the Committee meeting process. Sally will also talk through any application queries with investigators and assist them in their submission preparation. Sally also runs the montly eProtocol webinar training sessions and works on projects such as the National PICF Project and electronic PICF. Sally was previously a Committee secretary at Bellberry and so brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role. Aside from the triage role, Tess is also responsible for coordinating the review and development of policies and SOP’s, which support:- Consensus on best practice
- Consistency in approach to decision making, service and operations
- Improved coordination of services and delivery, and
- Improved compliance with legislative and professional standards
Bellberry are delighted to announce that we have appointed a Quality Manager to the growing Bellberry team. Alison Barr joined us in this role on the 14th May 2018.
Alison has been in the position of Research Governance Officer at Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (22 sites and incorporating the Lyell McEwan) and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (30 sites) for the last 6 years. Prior to that, Alison spent 6 years as Coordinator in the Heamatology/Oncology Clinical Trials Unit at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Alison started her career in health and research administration and has experience of both public and academic research settings. Alison has been involved in national projects such as the NHMRC Good Governance Pilot Project.
The role of a specialist Quality Manager will take responsibility for policy and compliance; the annual site monitoring plan; continuous improvement projects and HREC accreditation (local and international).
We are delighted to announce that Bellberry, ACTA, NHMRC CTC and The George Institute have formed a consortium ‘Clinical Trials: Impact & Quality (CT:IQ)’.
The consortium’s mission is “to develop and implement recommendations that will improve the impact, quality and efficiency of clinical trials, leading to more rapid, lower cost and higher quality evaluation of healthcare interventions in Australia”. CT:IQ will drive performance and impact improvements in Australian Clinical Trials; together we will be Thinking Smarter about Clinical Trials.
CT:IQ is modelled on the highly successful US FDA-funded Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI). The pilot project is co-funded by MTPConnect and has commitment from a range of organisations and stakeholders from the Australian Clinical Trials sector.
CT:IQ will be formally launched by Minister Hunt and Minister Cash on Wednesday 16 May at the Royal Melbourne Hospital from 10.30am. This event is also a collaborative effort and will launch CT:IQ, celebrate the ACTA Clinical Trial of the Year Awards and launch the NHMRC consumer engagement campaign. This will be followed by a CT:IQ lunchtime symposium. Registration is free but numbers are strictly limited: https://acta_awards_2018.eventbrite.com.au
For more information, contact Programme Manager Rebecca Trowman at rebeccatrowman@bellberry.com.au
Bellberry is delighted to share the announcement of 3 Medical Research Fellowships in conjunction with Equity Trustees.
The prestigious annual Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Senior Medical Research Fellowships have been announced for 2017, committing just over $3.6 million to three researchers undertaking leading edge research into fighting cancer, schizophrenia and antimicrobial resistance.
The Bellberry-Viertel Fellow for 2017 is Associate Professor Di Yu from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Australian National University. A/Prof Yu will work on investigating the differentiation and function of novel cytotoxic T cell subset, with the aim of harnessing this newly identified cell type to come up with new ways to treat diseases including HIV and B cell lymphoma.
Click here for the full Media Release – 15 Nov 2017
Applications for 2018 open: Annually on the first day of February .
Applications close: Annually on the last day of April.
Information about the application process can be found here
Michael James has kindly chaired Committee H since its establishment in May this year, in addition to his regular Committee C Chair role.
Bellberry are now delighted to announce that Associate Prof Mark Slee, of Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, has been appointed as the dedicated Chair for Committee H.
Mark is a senior consultant neurologist and clinical academic at Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University. Mark’s main clinical interest is in immune mediated nervous system disease, especially multiple sclerosis. He completed fellowships in Oxford, UK, and Austin Hospital, Melbourne in clinical neuroimmunology and neurophysiology. Mark established the Flinders MS service in 2007, which has grown into one of the largest services of its kind in SA, combining basic and clinical research with clinical care. Mark was the inaugural Chair, Australian MS Clinical Trials Network and he served on the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network ethics committee from 2007 to 2013. He is current Vice-Chair of MS Research Australia grants management committee and has had recent roles as Associate Dean, Director of the Flinders MD and Associate Dean, Head of Medical Science and Technology at Flinders University.
Mark’s work history and academic output can be viewed at http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4323-2453 .
Bellberry will be exhibiting at the AusBiotech conference this week with Kylie Sproston (Bellberry CEO) and Melanie Gentgall (PRAXIS CEO) both speaking at key sessions. Please come and pay us a visit!
AAHMS Annual Meetings 2017
18-20 Oct, South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Adelaide
Bellberry are delighted to be a sponsor of this years event. Bellberry Operations Manager Trina O’Donnell will be attending the joint AAHMS and ASSA Symposium on Oct 20th and Prof Ian Frazer AC FAHMS (AAHMS President and Bellberry board member) and Hon John Hill (Bellberry board member) are both confirmed panellists for the conference. Bellberry will be exhibiting at this years conference with Kylie Sproston (Bellberry CEO) and Melanie Gentgall (PRAXIS CEO) both speaking at key sessions. Please come and pay us a visit!Our September issue contains the latest news about our 8th HREC, our new IT partner, the IMNIS programme, PRAXIS and much more – give it a read!
We are pleased to announce that NHMRC funding for the National Scientific Committee’s (NSC) pilot project has been extended for a further 12 months.
The NSC’s were launched by the NHMRC in January and provide scientific review for the areas of Complex Genetic Research and Medical Devices. Based on the queries received from the initial pilot period, the review areas have also now been extended to include early phase clinical trials. The Committee’s, hosted by Bellberry, provide advice to HRECs, sponsors and researchers on the scientific merit and integrity of a research protocol.
Three applications have been submitted so far with two of these being reviewed at the inaugural NSC meeting held in June. The NHMRC funding extension will enable the project to continue until June 2018.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal to the NSC or for further information about the Committee’s please visit the NSC website or contact the NSC administrator at nsc@bellberry.com.au
BELLBERRY/PRAXIS $1000 SCHOLARSHIPS
In celebration of International Clinical Trials Day Bellberry has joined forces with PRAXIS to offer a number of $1000 scholarships to all students across the research workforce as part of our mission to support research and ethics in Australia. In celebration of the important societal benefits that clinical trials bring, and to express appreciation for the many that are involved with the design, conduct and management of clinical trials. APPLY NOW APPLICATIONS CLOSE 20 MAY 2017. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN THE WEEK OF 22 MAY 2017 These scholarships can be used as part payment for a full course of study or can be used across any combination of modules and electives from the 68 various options that comprise the PRAXIS Australia Research Essentials training model. For further information please contact PRAXIS info@praxisaustralia.com.au
Committee G’s inaugural meeting will take place tonight with Professor Ben Canny as the newly appointed Chair.
Ben is Head of Medicine at University of Tasmania where he is responsible for the Divisions of Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology and Paramedicine. Prior to this he was Associate Dean in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University and President of the Academic Board. Ben is an experienced researcher and we welcome the breadth of research and ethics experience he brings to Bellberry having Chaired the Monash University HREC for five years. Ben will commute to Adelaide for the monthly Committee G meetings.