Clinical Trials for participants

Who can participate in clinical trials?

• Patients with a new diagnosis
• Patients with a long term diagnosis
• Healthy volunteers

Why should patients or healthy volunteers participate in clinical trials?

Without volunteers, clinical trials are not possible. By becoming involved in a clinical trial, you will be contributing to new knowledge and future understanding of medical conditions or treatments - allowing Mater researchers and clinicians to improve patient care and health outcomes for the community.

All clinical trials conducted at Mater Research is voluntary. Participants will be made aware that they can withdraw their consent at any time without comment or penalty.

Any research at Mater is conducted in accordance with the local, national and international guidelines for clinical trials research and has approval from an NHMRC certified Human Research Ethics Committee.

Dr Yoon-Kyo An is a Gastroenterologist at Mater Hospital who is the clinical lead of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical trials unit. Dr Yoon-Kyo An explains why clincal trials are important for patient options and improving future treatments for everyone. 

“There are a limited number of medications on the government Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for patients with IBD so we always try to keep clinical trials in mind when we first begin treating a patient to keep all of our options open.”

Having a medication or therapy approved by the Australian Therapeutic Good Association and being accepted by the PBS is a long and highly regulated process that could take years of work to reach and all approved therapies have previously gone through the process of clinical trials.

“Some people are hesitant to participate in a clinical trial due to concern about receiving placebo, or that it may not be safe. We carefully select the studies we conduct at our site choosing the medical therapy that will benefit the patients the most with the most favourable safety profile,” Yoon said.

“Some studies do have placebo but it is important to understand that generally patients with active disease after placebo will receive the trial medication. Safety and efficacy are carefully monitored in clinical trials by the expert team at the Mater, and a global monitoring committee.

“Every medication that is currently approved for IBD was once part of a clinical trial, it was through the generosity of patients who have participated in these trials that we have been able to recommend new medications and therapies for our current patients.

How do I participate in a clinical trial at Mater Research?

If you are a member of the public who is interested in being involved in clinical trials, the first step is to view the list of clinical trials listed below to find a research project that you feel you are a suitable candidate for.

Once you have identified a project that you are interested in, you can then register your interest to participate in the project by contacting the Clinical Trials Unit.

Email the Mater Clinical Trials Unit

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