Minister for Medical Research David Harris was in Dubbo today to announce the recently launched Western Cluster Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU).

The new unit will enable rural and regional patients in communities across Western NSW have greater access and much reduced travel time to clinical trials that were typically only available in metropolitan centres outside the region.

The Western Cluster CTSU supports clinical trial units in Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), Nepean Blue Mountains LHD and Far West LHD through the Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trials program.

Since its establishment in May, the CTSU has already delivered or commenced 12 new clinical trials across the district, including oncology and respiratory-based trials, with more than 200 new trial patients able to receive care as a result.

Nine staff have been recruited to build clinical trial capacity and more than 70 local staff have undertaken training or education related to clinical trials.

In Dubbo, the CTSU has been working with oncology, cardiology, critical care and respiratory teams to establish new clinical trials, and is collaborating with other facilities and services such as pathology, pharmacy and clinical trial sponsors, to build on existing trials for the region.

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring regional, rural and remote patients have the same access to clinical trials as people in the larger centres.

“Expanding the number and varieties of clinical trials available locally means patients and their families no longer have to travel long distances to access and participate in this critical component of health care.

“Breaking down the barriers of geographic isolation will help us significantly improve health outcomes in our state’s west.”

WNSWLHD Chief Medical Officer Professor Mark Arnold said:

“Investment in growing clinical trials capabilities in regional centres will be incredibly beneficial to patients by ensuring they have access to the latest clinical developments much closer to home.

“The Western Cluster Clinical Trials Support Unit has been working with clinical trials investigators, clinicians and health services to deliver new trials to patients across the region.

“Importantly, by enhancing the scope and capacity of clinical trials across our district, we also improve our communities’ access to world-class health research and ensure a proactive environment for researchers to work in.”