Category: <span>Blog</span>

HREC meetings are held every Wednesday for the duration of 2024

The Bellberry Operations Update features practical information in relation to submissions and reviews, along with insights and updates from all sections of the Bellberry operations team and their respective teams.

If you have any feedback or suggestions on what you would like included in these updates please email bellberry@bellberry.com.au

Operations Update – Edition 16

Bellberry consists of a team of highly professional, innovative and dedicated people who are committed to making a difference within the research community.

Our culture is built on shared values:

• Making a difference
• Working together with integrity and respect
• Professional and Responsive
• Future looking and forward-thinking.

That combination helps our professionals make a difference each day both individually and collectively.

Due to our continued growth we have a number of current vacancies:

• Data Analyst
• Project Manager
• Human Research Ethics Committees Officer

Please visit the SEEK website for further information about any of these roles.

We’re delighted to be a state finalist in the Championing Health category of the Telstra Best of Business Awards! We’ve been designated this category for the impact that Bellberry is making in improving the health of Australians.

We are absolutely thrilled that our incredible team of staff and HREC members are getting this recognition for the extraordinary work they do protecting the welfare of the participant and improving the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of research, every day. Well done team!

Telstra Best of Business Awards Finalists (Championing Health)

HREC meetings are held every Wednesday for the duration of 2024

Without the patient or participant we would not have clinical trials. These are the people who, in some cases, are volunteering to have treatments that have never been tried on humans before.

In It’s All About the Participant we hear first-hand about what it’s like to be the participant and ask how could the experience be improved for others?

In Episode 9 of From Lab to Life we take a deep dive into the experience of those that have been on life-changing clinical trials.

1. Clarity: Immediately identifies the type of document, reducing confusion.
2. Version Control: Helps in tracking revisions and updates accurately.
3. Efficiency: Facilitates quicker reviews and approvals by clearly showing changes.

• The administrative closure will occur after the Principal Investigator (PI) and nominated contacts receive automated warnings from eProtocol 30, 14, and 7 days before the expiration date (which is also the progress report due date), followed by an email from Bellberry administration two days before expiry.
• If we do not receive the progress or final report within 30 days of the expiration date, we will inform the PI and nominated contact that we will administratively close the study 45 days after expiry.
• After the 45-day closure, Bellberry administration cannot reactivate the study. If the study is ongoing at your site, you must submit a new application, and new application fees may apply (please refer to BA G6 Application Fees).

Bellberry consists of a team of highly professional, innovative and dedicated people who are committed to making a difference within the research community.

We’re delighted to currently have the following opportunities available to join our team:

Executive Assistant

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Executive Assistant to support our Executive team has arisen. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is eager to contribute to a progressive organisation.

Please click here for the Position Description and visit the SEEK website for further information and to apply.

Human Research Ethics Commitee (HREC) Officer

The HREC Officer will provide a high level of support to the Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee and be responsible for the administration of human research applications utilising the online submission system.

Please click here for the Position Description and visit the SEEK website for further information and to apply.

• Making a difference
• Working together with integrity and respect
• Professional and Responsive
• Future looking and forward-thinking.

Have a question? Get in touch. Contact Athena Seltsikas, HR Business Partner on 08 8361 3222.

In ‘The Quiet Achiever’ we met someone who has made an extraordinary contribution to Australian health in a career spanning over six decades. Professor Emeritus Lloyd Sansom AO started his career as a pharmacist, going on to become Professor of Pharmacy as well as Head of the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia.

In 2002 he was awarded an AO and in 2004 his contribution to the University was recognised with the naming of the Sansom Institute for Health Research. He was also Chair of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council from 1991-2000 and Chair for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee from 2001-2012. Recently Lloyd retired as a member of Bellberry’s Board and in this episode he gives us insight into his life, work and lessons learnt.

The Founding Chair of Bellberry’s Board of Directors, Fraser Bell, has paid tribute to retiring Board member Professor Emeritus Lloyd Sansom AO for his 12 years on the Board.

“Once in a while a Board gets to work with a person of enormous integrity, wisdom, humility, humour and a capacity to roll up his sleeves and get things done,” said Mr Bell.

“Bellberry has had just that opportunity with Lloyd Sansom. Our company made huge strides forward due to Lloyd’s vision with our Thought Leadership Program in particular.

“While that is the obvious legacy, each of his fellow Board members and the executive team are better off for having shared the journey with Lloyd,” said Mr Bell.

Professor Sansom was Professor of Pharmacy as well as Head of the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at the University of South Australia. In 2004 his contribution to the University was recognised with the naming of the Sansom Institute for Health Research.

He was also the Chair of the Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council from 1991-2000 and Chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee from 2001 to 2012.

Professor Sansom said it’s been a privilege to watch Bellberry grow over the last 12 years.

“Bellberry is a company that provides a high-quality service, but it does more than that. It is contributing to the advancement of the discipline of clinical trial research in this country and beyond,” said Professor Sansom.

Professor Andrew Wilson AO, who has recently retired as chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee will be joining the Bellberry Board.

Board Chair Fraser Bell has welcomed Professor Wilson’ appointment, “Andrew’s expertise and insights are well known to us and we are looking forward to working with him”.

Bellberry is Australia’s largest reviewer of human research reviewing more than 40% of CTN Clinical Trials in Australia. It’s a national, independent, not-for-profit organsiation focused on improving the welfare of human research participants and the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of medical research through its HREC reviews and philanthropic activities.

For media queries contact alisonrogers@bellberry.com.au or call 0488 995 868

The ACTA Trial of the Year Awards were established in 2016 to highlight the outstanding Australian achievements that advance clinical practice and save or improve the lives of patients every year. This years awards were celebrated at the 2024 ACTA Trial of the Year Awards ceremony, held on International Clinical Trials Day, Monday 20 May 2024.

Among an outstanding national selection of collaborative, multicenter, investigator-driven trials, the winner of the ACTA Trial of the Year Award was:

ASAP (Australian Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis) Trial: Trial of Vancomycin and Cefazolin as Surgical Prophylaxis in Arthroplasty, Chief Investigator Prof Trisha Peel.

For further details on all the award winners please visit the ACTA website here.

Many congratulations to all the award winners.

International investment strong in Australian early phase trials

Overseas companies invest in two-thirds of all Australian clinical trials reviewed by Australia’s largest reviewer of human research, Bellberry, according to its Clinical Trial Activity Report (CTAR).

Bellberry reviews more than 40% of CTN (Clinical Trial Notification) trials in Australia and each year releases its CTAR on International Clinical Trials Day (20 May).

The data for the 2023 calendar year found that early phase clinical trials (first in human or Phase 1) involved investment from overseas companies (sponsors) with the top countries being the US, China, South Korea, the UK and Switzerland.

Bellberry’s CEO, Kylie Sproston, says the recent data shows that Australia is uniquely placed to attract significant global investment in clinical trials activity due to the high quality of its healthcare institutions and researchers.

“Continuing previous trends, Australia is a lead destination globally for First in Human and Phase 1 trials, with strong interest from overseas sponsors in the Australian clinical trial ecosystem,” said Ms Sproston.

“Less well recognised is the depth in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials, totalling 28% of the portfolio.  Collectively, Australia can be a key partner for end-to-end delivery of clinical development of new health innovations.

“Other countries investing strongly in Australian clinical trials are France, Sweden, Taiwan, Germany and Canada. The data shows that we are a highly desirable destination for this skilled and complex work.”

Of the clinical trials reviewed by Bellberry in 2023, private sites conducted 89% of the research with 11% by public sites.

“This reflects the breadth and vibrancy of the privately based research sector including phase one units, hospitals, medical centres and research institutes,” said Ms Sproston.

More than a quarter of the clinical trials undertaken in 2023 were in oncology (27%) with other key areas of research including infectious diseases, neurology, dermatology, haematology, devices and social science (each within 5-10% of the total).

Download the 2023 Clinical Trial Activity Report

Bellberry is a national, not-for-profit organisation that provides streamlined scientific and ethical reviews of human research projects across Australia.  Its focus is on improving the welfare of human research participants and the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of medical research through its HREC reviews and philanthropic activities.

For media queries please contact alisonrogers@bellberry.com.au or on 0488 995 868.

Opportunities are currently available to join our ever growing HREC review panels. Please refer to the article below for further information and contact Cathy Stevens if you are interested.