MEDIA RELEASE – For immediate release
20 Nov 2009
Hundreds support government efforts to get more clinical trials in Australia
Over the past 6 weeks, hundreds of industry, research and community members have publicly shown their
support for increasing clinical trial activity in the Save Australian Clinical Trials Campaign, thereby supporting
Federal government initiatives to boost clinical trial activity in Australia¹.
As a contribution to Research Australia’s Thank You Day events, the Save Australian Clinical Trials Campaign
closed today, publishing the names and viewpoints of over 350 people who believe it is important clinical trials
are available in Australia.
It is a little known fact that it is increasingly difficult to attract clinical trials to Australia, in light of competition from
countries overseas that can increasingly start up
trials more quickly, run them
less expensively, and deliver
more trial volunteers because of large population bases and increased motivations for participating in research.
The consequence of less trials being run in Australia, include less opportunity for Australian patients to get early
access to new treatments in development
without going overseas, and a brain-drain away from Australia, as
scientists and healthcare professionals move overseas to pursue their involvement in clinical trials and
developing new treatments to help patients.
“Through the Save Australian Clinical Trials campaign, it was hoped that I could
raise awareness of what is at
risk, and provide an avenue for the community to demonstrate their support for government initiatives like the
Taskforce announced by Minister Roxon and Minister Carr on the 27th October¹. I believe the fact that hundreds
of people from all walks of life went on public record with their views
demonstrates having access to clinical
trials locally is valued by the Australian community”, said Dr Janelle Bowden, who launched the campaign.
For more information on this Campaign, and to see what participants said about the importance of clinical trials,
Media Contact: Dr Janelle Bowden, Managing Director, AccessCR Pty Ltd.
Phone: 0406 952 659
Email: JBowden@AccessCR.com.au
Reference:
1. Joint Media Release: Boost for Clinical Trials in Australia, 27 October 2009: Accessed 27 Oct 2009 at
nr188.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2009&mth=10
Background Information
Why was this campaign launched, and by whom?
clinical research to consumers and clinical research professionals, made a
decision to gradually close its
services. The previous 12 months had seen Australia’s attractiveness as a place to run clinical trials significantly
under challenge from overseas
locations able to potentially start trials more quickly, run clinical trials more
inexpensively and attract more trial volunteers due to their increased
population sizes and motivations to
participate in research.
Remaining passionate about the value of clinical trials to Australians and increasing clinical trial activity in
Australia, AccessCR’s MD, Dr Janelle Bowden,
launched a Save Australian Clinical Trials Campaign.
Consumers, researchers and industry around the country were invited to register their personal views
(and
encourage everyone they knew to do the same) on why clinical trials are important to Australia via the website
saveclinicaltrials.com.au.
The government is aware of the challenges and is working to determine how these can best be addressed.
Janelle
felt that demonstrating that the broader community
value clinical research would provide
State and
Federal governments and industry with added confidence that investing further in clinical trials in Australia is
worthwhile.
The campaign
was launched in October and closed on the 20th November, as a contribution to Research
Australia’s Thank You Day Initiative. It aimed demonstrate that the Australian public, researchers, industry and
healthcare professionals are united in their support for more clinical trials in Australia, and that continued
investment by federal and state governments, healthcare providers and overseas organisations in clinical
research in Australia is valued.
The hundreds of people from all walks of life that committed their public support to this campaign, showed the
community do value clinical trials.
Why are clinical trials important?
The promise of clinical research is the hope of finding better treatments and cures for what we suffer with, or
what our children might suffer from in the future.
The benefits clinical trials bring to the community include:
Giving patients access to new treatments in development earlier, without having to travel overseas to
get the same opportunities;
Providing hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into our healthcare system through provision of
equipment, jobs, and training;
Promoting a culture of continuous improvement in our healthcare system, leading to better outcomes for
all patients in general;
Ensuring the best scientists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare practictioners have career
opportunities in research that will keep them in Australia;
Ensuring there is capacity and expertise locally to translate Australian discoveries into commercial
successes;
Maintaining Australia's reputation at the forefront of medical research.
About Research Australia’s Thank You Day
Health and medical researchers save thousands of lives each year and now the community has an opportunity
to acknowledge their contribution. Research Australia’s “Thank You” Day campaign aims to raise public
awareness of the benefits of health and medical research.
Research Australia CEO Rebecca James said the campaign is important as it recognises the unsung heroes of
the health and medical research sector. “”Thank You” Day is about acknowledging the hard work of
researchers, public health officers, support staff, philanthropists, government organisations and volunteers who
make our health and quality of life their top priority,” said Ms James.
All messages received during the campaign will be passed on to the researchers and those who support their
work. This year messages will also be passed on to political leaders to highlight how important health and
medical research funding is to Australians.
The “Thank You” Day campaign runs throughout November and culminates in the annual Research Australia
“Thank You” Day Awards held in Melbourne on Friday 20 November 2009. For more information, Visit
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